Jamayne Isaako
Isaako in 2019
Personal information
Born (1996-06-05) 5 June 1996
Christchurch, New Zealand
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight95 kg (14 st 13 lb)
Playing information
PositionWing, Fullback
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2017–22 Brisbane Broncos 77 24 217 2 532
2022 Gold Coast Titans 11 3 15 0 42
2023– Dolphins 24 24 73 2 244
Total 112 51 305 4 818
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2018–23 New Zealand 9 7 30 1 89
2019 Samoa 1 0 4 0 8
Source: [1]
As of 4 November 2023

Jamayne Isaako (born 5 June 1996) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays as a goal-kicking winger for the Dolphins in the National Rugby League (NRL). At the 2023 Dally M Awards, Isaako received the Ken Irvine Medal for being the "Top Tryscorer of the Year". He was also the "Top Pointscorer of the Year", and named as Best Winger of the Year along with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak from the New Zealand Warriors.

In the NRL, Isaako has previously played as a fullback for the Gold Coast Titans and on the wing for the Brisbane Broncos. At international level, he has played for both New Zealand and Samoa.

Background

Isaako was born in Christchurch, New Zealand and is of Samoan and Tokelauan descent. He hails from the villages of Falelatai, Lalomanu and Lona Fagaloa. Isaako played junior rugby league for the Aranui Eagles.[2]

Playing career

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (2014-2015)

In 2014 and 2015, Isaako played at five-eighth for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks' NYC team.[3] In May 2015, he played for the Junior Kiwis against the Junior Kangaroos in their 34–20 loss at Cbus Super Stadium.[4]

Brisbane Broncos (2016-2022)

2016-2017

In 2016, Isaako joined the Brisbane Broncos Under 20's team in round 9.[5] In May 2016, he played for the Junior Kiwis against the Junior Kangaroos for a second consecutive year.[6]

In 2017, Isaako graduated to the Broncos Queensland Cup team, Souths Logan Magpies. During the season, Isaako's form for the Magpies prompted Broncos coach Wayne Bennett to debut him in NRL round 19 against the Newcastle Knights, starting at fullback in the 34–22 win at Hunter Stadium.[7] [8] This was Isaako's only appearance for the Broncos during the 2017 NRL season. However, he continued in the Queensland Cup and was named as fullback in the Intrust Super Cup team of the season.[9]

2018

In round 1 of the 2018 NRL season against the St George Illawarra Dragons, Isaako starred as a winger for the Broncos in their 34–12 loss at Jubilee Stadium.[10] In round 3, the Broncos defeated the Wests Tigers 9–7 at Campbelltown Stadium. In total, Isaako kicked four penalty goals, including one in golden point extra time, and a field goal. .[11] In round 6 against the New Zealand Warriors, Isaako scored his first two NRL tries in the Broncos 27–18 win at Mt Smart Stadium.[12] In Round 11 against the Sydney Roosters, Isaako scored two tries and kicked four goals; one of the tries came from nothing after he was pressured from Roosters defenders after an attempt to kick a field goal, so he stepped around defenders in a razzle dazzle fashion and scored a magnificent try to win the match 28-22 for the Broncos with two minutes to go at Suncorp Stadium.[13]

On 24 June 2018, Isaako made his international debut for New Zealand against England in the historical test match set in Denver, USA, starting on the wing and kicking three goals in the 36–18 loss at Mile High Stadium.[14][15]

After showing excellent form for the Broncos in the NRL, Isaako started at fullback during rounds 19–21, and the incumbent fullback Darius Boyd was shifted to centre. Isaako showed some success as a fullback but went back to the wing for the rest of season.[16][17] On 19 July 2018, Isaako extended his contract with the Broncos to the end of the 2024 season, after rejecting a rich offer from the Sydney Roosters because he ultimately believed the Broncos offered the best opportunity to pursue his long-term positional goal of playing fullback.[18][19] Isaako finished his exciting 2018 NRL season with him playing in all of the Broncos twenty-five matches, scoring eleven tries and kicking ninety-seven goals, being the club's highest point scorer with 239 points. On 26 September 2018, at the 2018 Dally M Awards, Isaako received the Rookie of the Year award and his magnificent match winning try against the Sydney Roosters in round 11 was named as the Try of the Year.[20]

International

On 1 October 2018, Isaako was named in the New Zealand squad for their tour of Great Britain.[21] He played in one match, which was the last of the three matches against England, playing on the wing in the 34–0 win at Elland Road in Leeds.[22]

Broncos 2019-2022

In the 2019 NRL season, uncharacteristic errors crept into his game as the Broncos struggled with a 2–6 start leading up to the round 9 Magic Round match against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles. Isaako as wing and James Roberts as centre were dropped from the team for defensive and handling issues.[23][24][25] Isaako returned to his wing spot the following week against the 2018 premiers, the Sydney Roosters, and kicked three goals in the much needed 15–10 win at Suncorp Stadium.[26]

In the 2020 NRL season, Isaako played only ten games for Brisbane. Due to his father's death in New Zealand and COVID-19 quarantine restrictions, he was unable to return to Australia and play for the second half of the season.[27] In round 8 of the 2021 NRL season, Isaako scored two tries and kicked five goals as Brisbane came from 22-0 down to defeat the Gold Coast 36–28.[28] At the start of 2022 NRL season, Isaako played one match and kicked two goals for Brisbane.

Gold Coast Titans (2022)

On 22 March, Isaako signed a one-year deal to join the Gold Coast Titans for the remainder of the season. It was initially believed that Isaako would sign a short-term contract with Parramatta but instead chose to sign with the Gold Coast club as he wanted to remain in Queensland prior to commencing with the Dolphins for their inaugural NRL season in 2023.[29] In round 10, Isaako scored the winning try for Gold Coast in their golden point victory over St. George Illawarra which ended a five-game losing streak.[30]

Dolphins (2023-present)

2023

Isaako commenced a three-year contract with the Dolphins in 2023,[31] and played in every match that year. Even though the Dolphins did not qualify for the finals, Isaako recorded both the highest number of NRL tries and points in the 2023 competition; a feat last achieved by Canberra Raiders goal-kicking centre Mal Meninga in 1990.[32]

In round 1 of the 2023 NRL season, Isaako made his club debut for the Dolphins on the wing in their inaugural NRL game. He scored two tries and kicked four goals as the new club pulled off a major upset defeating the Sydney Roosters 28–18 at Suncorp Stadium.[33] In round 2, Isaako kicked four goals in the Dolphins 20–14 defeat of the Canberra Raiders at Kayo Stadium.[34] In round 3, Isaako scored two tries and kicked four goals in a 36–20 victory over the Newcastle Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium.[35] In round 4, Isaako kicked two goals in the inaugural "Battle for Brisbane" derby at Suncorp Stadium, which the Brisbane Broncos won 18–12.[36] In round 5, he scored one try and kicked two goals in the Dolphins 12–38 loss to St George Illawarra Dragons at WIN Stadium.[37]

In round 6, Isaako kicked four goals and scored his first career hat-trick in the Dolphins 32–22 victory against the North Queensland Cowboys at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.[38] In round 7, he kicked three goals in the Dolphins 14–36 loss to South Sydney Rabbitohs at Suncorp Stadium.[39] In round 8, Isaako kicked four goals in the Dolphins 28–26 victory over the Gold Coast Titans at Suncorp Stadium.[40] In round 9, Isaako kicked five goals in the Dolphins 30–31 loss to the Canberra Raiders at McDonalds Park, Wagga Wagga.[41] In round 10 against the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks at Suncorp Stadium, Isaako kicked six goals for the Dolphins in their 36–16 victory at Suncorp Stadium.[42] In round 12, he scored two tries and kicked two goals for the Dolphins in their 16–24 loss to the Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium.[43] Round 13 was Isaako's one-hundredth NRL game; he scored two tries and kicked five goals for the Dolphins in their 26–12 victory over the St. George Illawarra Dragons at Kayo Stadium.[44][45] In round 23, Isaako scored a hat-trick in the club's 30–28 loss to the Newcastle Knights at Optus Stadium, Perth.[46]

By the end of the 2023 season, Isaako had scored twenty-four tries and kicked seventy-three goals with a goal conversion rate of 72.3% and a tackle efficiency of 76.9%.[47] At the Dolphins' Inaugural Presentation Ball held at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, he was awarded the Arthur Beetson Medal Player of the Year as well as the Best Back, the Most Consistent, and the Players' Player awards for 2023.[48] At the 2023 Dally M Awards held at Royal Randwick Racecourse[49] in Sydney, Isaako was awarded the Ken Irvine Medal for being the "Top Tryscorer of the Year", named as the "Top Pointscorer of the Year" and Winger of the Year.[50]

International

In October, Isaako was selected to represent New Zealand in the 2023 Pacific Championships.[51] He finished the tournament with forty-two points across three Tests, including eighteen points in New Zealand's 30–0 win over Australia in the Pacific Championship Cup final at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand.[52]

Dolphins 2024

In 2023, the Dolphins extended Isaako's contract until the end of 2026.[53]

Achievements and honours

Individual

Rookie of the Year: 2018[54]
Try of the Year: 2018
Best Winger of the Year: 2023[55]
Top Pointscorer of the Year: 2023
Top Tryscorer of the Year: 2023 (Ken Irvine Medal)
Arthur Beetson Medal Player of the Year: 2023[56]
Best Back: 2023
Most Consistent: 2023
Players' Player: 2023
Highest number of NRL tries (24) and points (244) in a season: 2023

Team

2023 Pacific Champions

Career Stats

Season Team Appearances Tries Goals Goal-kicking Percentage Field Goals Points
2017 NRL seasonBrisbane Broncos10
2018 NRL seasonBrisbane Broncos251197/11782.91%1239
2019 NRL seasonBrisbane Broncos22453/6779.10%1123
2020 NRL seasonBrisbane Broncos10316/2272.73%044
2021 NRL seasonBrisbane Broncos18650/6379.37%0124
2022 NRL seasonBrisbane Broncos101/250.00%02
2022 NRL seasonGold Coast Titans11315/1883.33%042
2023 NRL seasonDolphins24 (Rd 27)2473/10172.28%2244[57]
2024 NRL seasonDolphins

[58]

Personal life

Isaako and his partner Abby Sutherland, a former legal secretary from Melbourne, have two children. On 26 October 2018, their son Isaiah Jamayne Isaako was born at Mater Mother's Hospital in South Brisbane, Australia,[59] and their daughter Iylah was born on 23 February 2021.

References

  1. ↑ "Jamayne Isaako – Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "JAMAYNE ISAAKO – KIWI #808". Canterbury Rugby League. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  3. ↑ "I". Nyc Database. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "Representative Round team lists". NRL.com. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  5. ↑ Tim Costello (26 April 2016). "LeagueUnlimited Holden Cup NYC Under 20's Teams – 2016 Round 9". League Unlimited. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  6. ↑ "Updated: Representative Round team lists". NRL.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "How Broncos debutant Jamayne Isaako found rugby league by accident". Daily Telegraph. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  8. ↑ "Brisbane Broncos storm home to survive scare against Newcastle Knights". 15 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "The development of Souths Logan strike player Jamayne Isaako one of the highlights of the Intrust Super Cup". Courier Mail. 6 September 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  10. ↑ "NRL: St George Illawarra Dragons down Brisbane Broncos in impressive season opener". Nine. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  11. ↑ "Isaako is no Broncos overnight sensation". NRL. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  12. ↑ "Broncos finally find form to give Warriors reality check". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  13. ↑ "Brisbane score remarkable 28-22 win over Sydney Roosters in best match of the year". Courier Mail. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "League: Brisbane Broncos finisher Jamayne Isaako set to debut on right wing for Kiwis in Denver test against England". New Zealand Herald. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  15. ↑ "England storm home to beat Kiwis in Denver Test". NRL. 24 June 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  16. ↑ "Broncos move Darius Boyd to centre to bring in Jamayne Isaako". The Australian. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  17. ↑ "Boyd happy to remain at centre so Isaako can keep firing at fullback". NRL. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  18. ↑ "Why Isaako chose Brisbane over the Roosters". NRL. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  19. ↑ "Broncos re-sign points machine Isaako for four years". NRL. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  20. ↑ "Broncos young gun Jamayne Isaako has won the 2018 Rookie of the Year award". Fox Sports. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  21. ↑ "Five debutants join returning stars in Kiwis squad". NRL. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  22. ↑ "Nikorima stars as Kiwis cane England". NRL. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  23. ↑ "Roberts, Isaako set to be dropped by Broncos". NRL. 6 May 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  24. ↑ "James Roberts, Jamayne Isaako face axe in Broncos shake-up". Courier Mail. 6 May 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  25. ↑ "Magic Weekend can't cure Manly's injury curse as Sea Eagles fall to Broncos 26-10". Daily Telegraph. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  26. ↑ "James Segeyaro scores winning try as Broncos unleash on Roosters". Courier Mail. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  27. ↑ "Brisbane get wooden spoon as North Queensland finish on a high". www.nrl.com. 24 September 2020.
  28. ↑ "Brisbane Broncos launch NRL fightback to beat Gold Coast Titans 36-28, Melbourne Storm thrash Cronulla Sharks 40-14". ABC News. 30 April 2021.
  29. ↑ "Gold Coast Titans pull off NRL blindside, sign Jamayne Isaako for 2022". www.4bc.com.au. 22 March 2022.
  30. ↑ "Titans snap NRL losing run in golden point". 7news.com.au. 14 May 2022.
  31. ↑ "Dolphins set to poach Souths fan favourite Mark Nicholls on multi-year deal: Transfer Whispers". www.foxsports.com.au. 21 January 2022.
  32. ↑ "NRL try-scoring and point-scoring record: Jamayne Isaako closes in on historic achievement". 2 September 2023.
  33. ↑ "'I don't want to take the gloss off... but': Kenty's warning for Dolphins after historic first-up win". www.foxsports.com.au. 6 March 2023.
  34. ↑ "Dolphins v Raiders".
  35. ↑ "Sydney Roosters triumph over Rabbitohs 20-18 in tense NRL battle, Dolphins stay unbeaten with 36-20 win over Newcastle Knights". ABC News. 17 March 2023.
  36. ↑ "Dolphins v Broncos".
  37. ↑ "Dragons v Dolphins".
  38. ↑ "Isaako's hat-trick dominates win". 8 April 2023.
  39. ↑ "Dolphins v Rabbitohs".
  40. ↑ "Dolphins v Titans".
  41. ↑ "Raiders v Dolphins".
  42. ↑ "Sharks v Dolphins".
  43. ↑ "Dolphins v Storm".
  44. ↑ "Isaako chalks up 100 NRL games". 23 May 2023.
  45. ↑ "Round 13: Dolphins v Dragons | Dolphins".
  46. ↑ "'He let his team down': Knights sin bin leads to crazy seven minute hat-trick". www.foxsports.com.au. 5 August 2023.
  47. ↑ https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/dolphins/jamayne-isaako/
  48. ↑ https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2023/09/07/emotional-isaako-sweeps-dolphins-awards/
  49. ↑ https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/09/27/dally-m-awards-2023-live-blog/
  50. ↑ https://www.zerotackle.com/2023-dally-m-medal-full-list-of-awards-163050/
  51. ↑ https://nzrl.co.nz/kiwis-includes-seven-new-faces-for-pacific-championships/
  52. ↑ https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/11/06/rising-stocks-stars-who-shone-bright-on-pacific-championships-stage/?utm_medium=Organic_Social&utm_content=11731401128&utm_campaign=Pacific+Championships
  53. ↑ https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2023/10/10/isaako-extends-until-2026/
  54. ↑ https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/broncos-young-gun-jamayne-isaako-has-won-the-2018-rookie-of-the-year-award/news-story/bb8e1b969c6ff622ee48d5b304c722c7
  55. ↑ https://www.zerotackle.com/2023-dally-m-medal-full-list-of-awards-163050/
  56. ↑ https://www.dolphinsnrl.com.au/news/2023/09/07/emotional-isaako-sweeps-dolphins-awards/
  57. ↑ "Jamayne Isaako - Playing Career - Summary".
  58. ↑ "Jamayne Isaako - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  59. ↑ "Jamayne Isaako and partner welcome baby boy". Courier Mail. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
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