Manase Kaho feels at home again in the latest step in a football journey from tropical north Queensland to chilly Canberra and back to Brisbane.
Kaho, 23, is enjoying the friendship of a Norths Devils squad that has turned the toughest early draw in the Hostplus Cup into a 7-3 win-loss record.
The popular Kaho is tied for second for the most tries in the competition this season with seven in as many games, raising the winger’s profile.
His darts through the middle of forward packs have been a constant threat when the Devils have been making their way out of their own territory.
This time last year, Kaho was wearing a Canberra Raiders jersey in his fifth year in the national capital.
He had completed a full pre-season with the Raiders’ NRL squad and was fighting for time in the NSW Cup squad when he began thinking of home again, signing with Norths midway through 2023.
Kaho hadn’t lived in Brisbane since 2018 when he finished school at Wavell State High and figured in a Devils’ Under 18 grand final team with the likes of Zach Brooks, Jordan Riki and Ethan Bullemor.
But moving wasn’t a new experience for Kaho.
The fifth of seven children in his family, Kaho moved from Brisbane to Townsville at age three before returning south for his high school years.
His first junior rugby league team in Brisbane was Norths St Joseph’s, a proud note for a long-standing junior club that sadly folded last year.
Kaho’s speed and power was noticeable from an early age along with the smile and gentle nature that light up his conversations.
“Right from the start, I just had so much fun playing football,” Kaho said.
“I just really enjoyed it and I still do now.
“I learnt a lot living away from home when I went to Canberra and I enjoyed my time there.
“I thought it was time to come home last year and I’ve loved being back here. It’s good to be around family again.”
Norths fans have been getting to know new players this season with 16 Devils making their club debuts in the first seven matches. Only a handful of players from the 2022 premiership squad remain with the club in a change of era.
That has sparked plenty of enthusiasm in the squad but also the need for patience on the field as new combinations take time to develop.
“It’s a lot different to last year and that’s been a good thing for me,” Kaho said.
“I probably tried to a bit too much to impress a few of the older players last year and I put pressure on myself. I was trying to get accepted but I didn’t have to worry about that at Norths and with those players last year. They were accepting.
“This year just feels a lot different. We’ve started afresh. I had the pre-season here so I really felt part of the group and much closer to the players and the coaching staff.”
Kaho and Brooks first played together as representatives in the 2018 Metro North team that won the state schools championship, defeating a South Coast team with the likes of Tom Dearden and Xavier Coates.
Metro North included former Devils junior representative players Daejern Asi, Josh James and Danny Heenan.
Kaho linked with the Raiders in 2019, playing in their SG Ball team and then in a Jersey Flegg grand final loss to South Sydney.
Kaho is working at Kedron State High School and remaining determined to take his path into the NRL, helped by an impressive performance for the Dolphins in an NRL pre-season trial this year.
