Hemopo hoping for a storming show at trials

KENT BLECHYNDEN/The Dominion Post

ON THE BURST: Upper Hutt captain Kimihea Hemopo in action at Pelorus Trust Park during the Stephen Kearney Cup final.

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Kimihia Hemopo promises he won't hog the ball when Melbourne Storm scouts visit Wainuiomata for a training camp.

The 17-year-old halfback and Upper Hutt College captain is aiming for a standout performance at the NRL club's trials on December 12 and 13.

Hemopo, who has been compared to former Australian captain Brad Fittler, hopes to be the next big thing from Upper Hutt College, following in the footsteps of Sika Manu who plays for Kiwis and is a Melbourne first grader.

"I want to go far. If it doesn't happen this year, I'll try again next year," Hemopo said. "I'm not going to hog the ball or anything, I'm just going to do what I have to do, pass the ball, kick the ball."

He has a strong kicking game, which partnered with strong running and vision, won him player-of- the-tournament at the Wellington schools competition, the Stephen Kearney Cup.

Hemopo attended the Melbourne trials in Wainuiomata last year. He feels better prepared after a year playing premier football with the Upper Hutt Tigers.

"Now that I've played premier, and our Upper Hutt side won the under-17s, and Stephen Kearney Cup, I should have a good chance," Hemopo, a year 12 pupil said. He gave away rugby this year to play representative league for the Wellington under-18s and Upper Hutt under-17s.

Hemopo was also proud of his Upper Hutt College side which beat Taita College 28-25 in the Stephen Kearney Cup final last month.

At the start of the competition, he found the switch to schools league difficult.

"The first couple of games were really scrappy, but when we got into the quarterfinals, semifinals and the final it was more structured."

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy and recruitment manager Darren Bell will be in Wainuiomata searching for talent at the annual camp. Players named in the Stephen Kearney Cup tournament team have been invited to trial. Just one or two are expected to receive contracts.

Bellamy played with Wainuiomata stalwart Johnny Lomax at the Canberra Raiders and their friendship led to the connection between the Wellington region and the Melbourne Storm.

Wellington schoolboys Jeremy Hawkins, 16, (Taita College) and Uiti Baker, 17, (Aotea College) picked up contracts last season with the Melbourne Storm.

Hawkins will stay in Wellington next year to finish school, while Baker recently headed across the Tasman.

Stephen Kearney Cup Tournament Team:

Ben Peni (Naenae), Hennie Tui (Rongotai), Michael Ioapo (Aotea), Stacey Malaulau (Tawa), Kurt Robinson (HVHS), Kimihia Hemopo (Upper Hutt), Jaime Garci Meeuws (Heretaunga), Rubin MacCormick (Taita), Evander Waitoa (Wainui), Jarrod Hrstich (Wellington College), Sheldon Akavi (Bishop Viard), Josh Tararo (Mana), Rei Manaia (St Bernard's), Petiaia Tiai (St Pat's Town), Jeremia Isopo (Taita), Murphy Taramai (Upper Hutt), Joshua Iosua (Porirua).

Top tryscorer: Alex Tupuse (Naenae College) nine tries. Top points scorers: Axton Daniels (Taita College) and Tupuse, 36 points.

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