Hekure records best career figures ever in Aust

 RILEY Hekure and national teammate Lega Siaka are known to sit outside Essendon president Simon Tobin’s house singing in the early hours of the morning. 

At least twice a week, the pair can be heard humming tunes as they wait for a lift to training at the Melbourne Cricket Ground at about 6am.

“They’re a lot of fun, they’re natural singers, like a lot of islanders,” Tobin said. “They just love signing.

“They train a couple of mornings a week in at the MCG with a few other local players from state squads, development squads and Under-19 squads.

“They’re often sitting out the front of our house at 6.30am singing at the top of their voices, their native songs. The neighbours must just think, what the hell is going on at number 49.”

Like many young cricketers, Si­aka and Hekure joined premier cricket’s ranks to test themselves against Victoria’s best cricketers and take their games to the next level.

On Saturday, Hekure announced himself in the Bombers Fourth XI with an unbelievable haul of 8-7 from 12.5 overs.

“I feel very, very good,” the quietly-spoken all-rounder said.

“They were my best bowling figures. Before this, back home, my best was about 6-25.”

The 19-year-old right-arm medium-pacer helped Essendon skittle Camberwell Magpies for 75 at Cross Keys Reserve, before the Bombers stumbled to 5-29.

But Hekure ensured Essendon had little to worry about, capping a man-of-the-match performance with a knock of 28 from No.8.

“I just hit the deck hard and swang the ball both sides,” he said.

“My fielders helped me to shine the ball because the ball was swinging (a lot).”

He said he was able to use variations honed during one-day and Twenty20 matches in Papua New Guinea to claim vital wickets, including the scalp of Magpies topscorer Shubham Bhargave (40).

Siaka and Hekure have had busy schedules throughout the summer, including a camp with their national side this week.

Tobin described the pair as “absolute gentlemen”. “They’re both representatives of PNG cricket and really modest fellas,” he said. “He’s probably not at the same level as Lega, but he’s got talent.” – Herald Sun