He's known as a bit of an all-rounder, but local teenager Jacob Haeata admits he has dreams of playing NRL after an exciting winter season of strong results in rugby league and athletics.
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The talented athlete left a positive impression after travelling to compete in Canada throughout June and July as part of an invitational sports travel initiative run for talented athletes.
Jacob teamed up with a group of Australian middle distance athletes to claim a gold medal in the 4x100m B Relay at Okangan's Jack Brow memorial, while individually finishing fifth, seventh and sixth in the finals of 300m, 800m and 1200m events.
He also competed at the British Columbia Championship Jamboree, held in Kamloops.
However, after being named man of the match less than a fortnight ago in the Cowra Magpies' under 15s premiership, and backing that up by taking part in representative duties for Group 10 the next day, Jacob admits that rugby league is inevitably going to be his main focus for the next while.
"I like the contact and the sportsmanship," Haeata said by way of explanation.
Currently in development trials to try and make the Western Rams' under 16s Andrew Johns Cup side, the second-rower admits with interest from development squads in swimming and Australian Rules, remaining grounded can be tricky.
This is especially the case if, as noted by his mother, Tasha Haeata, he has made it to state competition in "basically everything" he's competed in since year three, from swimming through to dance.
However, she also notes that having lost his father when he was young has forced Jacob to be a little bit more self-assured than most kids his age.
"I think that teaches you strength and resilience that you sometimes don't possibly get experience from unless going things through that," she said, making specific mention of the role that mentors like the Cowra under 15s coaches play in Jacob's life.
For his part though, while he jokes about it, Haeata, who has two older sisters, a twin brother, a younger brother and step brother, is clearly aware about the responsibility he has to his family.
"I like to say I'm the man of the house," he said wryly.
With sport set to become a bigger part of his life over the next several months, Haeata says to ensure he succeeds, his aims will be simple, with swimming and athletics competition to fuel his NRL goals.
"When I'm training by myself I'm not really motivated as well as if I was with a team because I'm real competitive," Haeata said of his training program.
"It's just about keeping fit, no injuries and just remember where you come from."
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