While a career-best season can create a host of opportunities and rewards for young NRL players, for Canberra Raiders outside back Sebastian Kris, a remarkable campaign has forced him to choose his international allegiance.
After a breakthrough campaign that saw him finish with a career-best 14 tries from 20 appearances and tie with Hudson Young as the clubโs top try-scorer, Kris received a call from New Zealand coach Michael Maguire, asking where his loyalties lay ahead of the World Cup.
Kris has both New Zealand and Torres Strait Islander heritage, which makes him eligible to represent Australia or New Zealand. After a chat with his coach, senior players and โ most importantly โ his mum, Kris had some welcome news for Maguire.
Kris is now one of six Canberra players named by Maguire for the upcoming tournament, and heโs champing at the bit to make the most of the opportunity.
โIt was a good thing for me I was named in the squad,โ Kris told the Canberra Times.
โIโve always looked up to my mum and sheโs from New Zealand. Iโve always been proud of that part of who I am.
โIt wasnโt an easy choice, but it was the right one for me and Iโm sticking with it.
โI did talk to a few of the older (Raiders players) and โStickโ (coach Ricky Stuart) about their opinion. I took that all in and came to the decision that itโs good for my career, my learning, to make the most of this opportunity.โ
Kris has stepped up massively this year in the absence of Raiders club icon Jarrod Croker, and his efforts havenโt gone unnoticed by his teammates.
โSeb is a freak. Heโs had a great year,โ said Jack Wighton.
โIโve got a lot of respect for him, Iโm very proud of him.โ
โHe was tossing up (about his Test future), he had a few chats with me about what to do and heโs gone with his heart. Iโm excited for him.โ
Kris will join fellow Raiders Josh Papalii, Corey Harawira-Naera, Jordan Rapana, Joseph Tapine, Matthew Timoko and outgoing fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in Maguire's squad for the tournament.
Maguire's team kick off their World Cup campaign against Lebanon in Warrington on October 16.