Keano Kini Explained

Keano Kini
Birth Date:14 April 2004
Birth Place:Auckland, New Zealand
Height:177cm (70inches)
Weight:84kg (185lb)
Club1:Gold Coast Titans
Year1start:2023
Year1end:present
Appearances1:21
Tries1:5
Goals1:4
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:28
Source:[1]
Updated:19 August 2024

Keano Kini (born 14 April 2004) is a professional rugby league player who plays for the Gold Coast Titans as a or in the National Rugby League.

Background

Kini was born in Auckland, New Zealand and is of Māori, English and Samoan descent. His family relocated to the Gold Coast where Kini attended Palm Beach Currumbin State High School.[2] Kini was a Northcote Tigers junior.

Playing career

In 2020, Kini was signed by the Gold Coast Titans after being spotted playing touch football in Auckland.[3] In 2021 and 2022, Kini played for the Titans' Queensland Cup feeder side, the Burleigh Bears. In 2023, despite still being on a development contract, Kini was elevated to the Gold Coast Titans first grade side.

Kini made his first grade debut from the bench in his side's 26–24 victory over the Parramatta Eels at Lang Park in round 10 of the 2023 NRL season.[4] The fullbacks good form also continued for Burleigh where he won the Duncan Hall medal for man of the match in the 2023 Queensland Cup grand final despite playing on the losing side.[5]

Kini scored his first NRL try in his sides Magic Round (NRL) match against the Newcastle Knights in round 11 of the 2024 NRL season. In round 16, Kini scored two tries for the Gold Coast in their 66-6 victory over the New Zealand Warriors.[6]

Statistics

!Year!Team!Games!Tries!Goals!Pts
2023 Gold Coast Titans6
2024 *51412
Totals111412
*denotes season competing

source:[7]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/keano-kini/summary.html Rugby League Project
  2. Web site: Learning About Kiwi-NRL Juniors Keano Kini and Karl Oloapu. The Niche Cache. 28 October 2022.
  3. Web site: Keano Kini and Karl Oloapu share Justin Hodges Medal for Langer Player of the Year. Courier-Mail. 24 October 2022.
  4. Web site: Titans teenager Kini told he was 'too small' for NRL. Canberra Times. 9 May 2023.
  5. Web site: Duncan Hall Medal winner Keano Kini . 18 September 2023 .
  6. Web site: Titans join exclusive club in record-breaking victory. www.nrl.com.
  7. Web site: Keano Kini - Playing Career - RLP . 2024-05-26 . www.rugbyleagueproject.org.