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This one's for mum: Puru eyes magic Māori moment

After representing his Indigenous heritage in last year’s NRL All Stars game, Sharks recruit Hohepa Puru is keen for the chance to also pull on a Māori jersey.

Puru, who is a triplet, is eligible for both cultures as their father is Aboriginal and mother is Māori.

“Mum was born in New Zealand and moved over to Australia before I was born, so all three of us were brought up here in Australia,” said Puru, who was raised by his mother on the Gold Coast.

“I'm so proud to be Aboriginal and every chance I get to embrace my culture, I do so, but we’re stronger with our Māori side because of mum.

"I've already played for the Indigenous All Stars and I loved it so I would never say no but if the chance arises that the Māori called me into camp I would immerse myself in that environment like I did with my Indigenous culture.

Hohepa Puru represented his Indigenous heritage during the 2024 All Stars game in Townsville.
Hohepa Puru represented his Indigenous heritage during the 2024 All Stars game in Townsville. ©NRL Photos

"When I represent Māori culture and who I am, my mum is so proud and northing gives me more joy than seeing mum happy and giving back to her in any way I can."

The 22-year-old, who captained Penrith to the 2022 Jersey Flegg premiership, celebrated both his Aboriginal and Māori heritage at Cronulla’s season launch on Thursday night, which focused heavily on culture.

Players from across the club’s NRL, NRLW and male and female pathways teams were in attendance and those with Indigenous, Māori, Tongan and Samoan heritage performed traditional dances.

Puru (Māori) joined Nicho Hynes (Indigenous), Sione Katoa (Tonga) and Ronaldo Mulitalo (Samoa) in speaking about the significance of culture on their lives and football, with the former Raiders forward introducing himself in Māori.

“No matter what culture you are, just be proud of who you are,” said Puru, whose brother Niwhai also plays for the Sharks.

“I wasn't always proud of both my cultures. Growing up, there were times where I'd shy away from cultural dance and from speaking Māori but I'm fully immersed now. I want to learn as much as I can.

“Every opportunity I get to embrace who I am, I'm going to do it, so I can show the boys coming up in the grades to be proud of who you are, to live and breathe your culture and be proud whether you are Tongan, Samoan, Sri Lankan, Fijian or whatever you are."

Puru, who made his NRL debut for Canberra in 2023, said being in the Indigenous camp for last year's All Stars match had inspired him to want to learn more about Aboriginal and Māori culture.

Since then, he has formed a close relationship with former NRL star Dean Widders and members of the Muggera dance group, who also performed at Cronulla's launch.

Hohepa Puru (2nd R) will reunite with brother Niwhai (2nd L) at the Sharks this season.
Hohepa Puru (2nd R) will reunite with brother Niwhai (2nd L) at the Sharks this season. ©Sharks Media

“I made connections that I want to take with the wherever I go. They're the best mentors I could ever ask for," Puru said.

"They teach me more about my culture, how to be a good man for society, how to be a good husband at home, and how to be a good dad for my future children.

"They want good men before good footy players. You can't be a good footy player and a bad person off the field, so if I can be the best person I can be, in my culture, for my wife and in society, then it is going to correlate to better footy."

At the Sharks, Puru has role models to look up to each week in Hynes, Will Kennedy and Braydon Trindall, who are proud Indigenous leaders. 

"They're massive advocates for the game and for Indigenous boys," he said. "If they're proud and they stand strong, all of us boys are going to follow their lead.

"I too one day want to be a strong advocate for Indigenous boys in the community, be proud of who you are, and it will correlate to better footy."

Acknowledgement of Country

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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