Jordan Kahu

Background

Born in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, Kahu is of Māori descent specifically the Ngāti Toa Iwi (tribe). Kahu attended Wellington College and played his junior rugby union for the Petone Rugby Club with Lima Sopoaga before moving to Australia to attend Keebra Park. While at Keebra Park, Kahu captained the school's rugby league side to win the 2009 Arrive Alive Cup. Kahu played for the Broncos NYC team in 2010 and 2011, scoring 11 tries and kicking 2 goals in 23 games. Kahu’s 2011 and 2012 seasons were shattered by two season ending knee injuries.

2013

In Round 4 of the 2013 NRL season, Kahu made his NRL debut for the Brisbane Broncos against the Melbourne Storm at centre in the 32-26 loss at Suncorp Stadium. In Round 9 match against the Parramatta Eels, Kahu scored his first and second NRL tries in the Broncos 19-18 loss at Parramatta Stadium. Soon after, Kahu extended his contract with the Broncos for 2 years, keeping him at the club till the end of the 2015 season. He scored 4 tries from 10 appearances in his debut year.

2014

Kahu injured his knee again for a third time in four years in a trial match against the North Queensland Cowboys. In Round 19 against the New Zealand Warriors, Kahu played his first match for the Broncos of the 2014 season playing on the wing for the suspended Daniel Vidot and scoring a try in the 28-22 win. He finished off the season playing in 3 matches and scoring one try.

2015

Due to the injury of incumbent fullback Darius Boyd during the off-season, Kahu was selected to fill in at fullback showing promising performances in the early rounds. During a "breakout season", Kahu was rewarded with a 2-year contract extension with Broncos, to the end of the 2017 season. On 4 October, Kahu played on the wing in the Broncos' 17-16 golden point extra time loss to the North Queensland Cowboys in the 2015 NRL Grand Final. He finished off the 2015 season having played in 22 matches, scoring 9 tries and kicking 22 goals. On 9 October, he was selected in the 23-man New Zealand squad to tour England. Kahu was one of four members of Brisbane's Grand Final team to be included in coach Stephen Kearney's squad for the Three-Test tour and one of six rookies to have received an international call-up by the Kiwis. On 2 November, he made his New Zealand international debut against England, playing at centre in the Kiwis' 26-12 loss at KC Stadium. On 14 November, in the third and final test match against England, he scored his first international try for New Zealand in the Kiwis' 20-14 loss at DW Stadium.

2016

On 13 February, Kahu played for the World All Stars against the Indigenous All Stars, playing at fullback in his team's 12-8 win at Suncorp Stadium. In the Round 1 season opening match against the Parramatta Eels, he scored the first try of the 2016 season in the Broncos' 17-4 win at Parramatta Stadium. On 6 May, Kahu played for New Zealand against Australia in the 2016 Anzac Test, playing at fullback in the 16-0 loss at Hunter Stadium. Kahu finished the 2016 NRL season with him playing in 20 matches, scoring 15 tries and kicking 42 goals for the Broncos. On 21 September 2016, Kahu was added to the New Zealand Kiwis train-on squad for the 2016 Four Nations. On 3 October 2016, Kahu was selected in the final 24-man squad. Kahu played in 4 matches of tournament including starting at fullback and scoring 2 tries in the Kiwis 34-8 Four Nations Final loss against Australia at Anfield.

2017

In Round 1 season opening match against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Kahu put his name in the record books by scoring the first try of the 2017 season in the Broncos 26-18 win at Shark Park, Kahu is the first player to score the first try of the season in two consecutive seasons. On 5 May 2017, Kahu played for New Zealand in the 2017 ANZAC Test against Australia where he started at centre and kicked 2 goals in the 30-12 loss at Canberra Stadium.