Te Kura: 'I want to be a player that kids look up to'

Despite describing pulling on his first Queensland jersey as “so good, pretty surreal”, he felt disappointed he didn’t get to make the impact he intended to.

“I didn't have a very good time down there. Got a concussion, didn't get many minutes. But it was a good experience being around the boys in camp. I was really sick the whole week though. It will be a lot better this year hopefully,” Te Kura said.

“I definitely have a point to prove. Something I want to do is make up for last year.”

Rugby league for the Brisbane Broncos development player started at Redcliffe Dolphins when he was six and that’s where it continued until under 17s.

“Then I signed with the Brisbane Broncos and moved to play Auswide Bank Mal Meninga Cup at Norths Devils,” Te Kura said.

“Made my first rep team in Grade 12 in 2021. My first rep team was Met North Queensland Schoolboys, then Queensland Under 17 City... then Queensland Under 19s in 2022.

“Last season I played Cup at Norths. I'd been training with the NRL side, so playing Cup was good. Not new to what I was used to but a pretty big challenge for me last year, being 17.”

The Wavell State High school product, one of five children, said he wanted to pursue rugby league as a career because he simply loved the game.

“My dad played it, my brothers played it. I started playing because I liked it. Once I realised I was alright at it, I started taking it pretty seriously,” Te Kura said.

“Dad was from New Zealand, mum didn't really follow footy but we always got around Origin. We all went for New South Wales. Don't any more. I was only a kid... I didn't know better.

“The family haven’t converted. But I’m a Queenslander… put that on the record.

“I looked up to players like Matt Scott, Sam Thaiday… really hard workers, I thought they were always really good. I liked watching Greg Inglis... when I was a kid, that's who I thought I was.  

“I want to make my NRL debut this year but if I'm not ready for that, I just want to be able to say I played consistent Cup and established myself as a player that could be looked at for next year, if not this year.”

Te Kura said Pat Carrigan, Payne Haas and Thomas Flegler "help me out heaps" at the Broncos.

"They tell me exactly what I need to do to get better. Tell me how to understand the game, all the things I need to do. If I need to get fitter, they'll tell me straight up... if I need to run this line, they'll correct me and help me fix it up and get better,” Te Kura said, adding he was learning so much at this stage in his journey.

Te Kura said being around Queensland Maroons greats like Queensland Under 19 coach Matt Ballin, assistant coach Antonio Kaufusi and mentors Gavin Cooper and Matt Gillett, as part of the Queensland Under 19 squad, was invaluable.

“Being in and around these Origin greats, there's so much I can learn off them. They bring so much experience. That's where I want to be... where they have been, so that gets me excited for the next camp," Te Kura said.

“The relationships they've made, how much pride they have in the jersey and how much it means to them… I just want to get that same feeling. I didn't really get it last year because I came off the field... first run, knocked out.

“I want to hopefully experience the feeling they felt. It means a lot to them. I want to know what that feels like.

“I love the Queensland culture. Representing the Maroons is a dream of mine in the future.

“My ultimate goal would be... me looking up to players as a kid, I want to be a player that kids look up to. I want to be there, I want to earn that. To be the player kids aspire to be like.”