Teme inspired by JT, chases league dream

By ISAAC LIRI
INSPIRED by one of rugby league’s greatest halves Johnathan Thurston, pictured, young Jerry Teme has always wanted to test himself.
And making the SP PNG Hunters has given the 22-year-old a chance to follow that dream.
The Erave, Southern Highlands native will get a chance to play in the Queensland Rugby League’ Intrust Super Cup.
Watching Thurston on TV play every weekend in the NRL whilst growing up in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, Teme fell in love with rugby league.
As the youngest in a family of eight, most of his family members were against the idea of him playing rugby league but Teme was determined and continued to play.
Based off that strength of character, Teme is taking an important step to fulfilling his childhood dream.
He started playing as a teen growing up Mt Hagen when he sneaked out to the rugby league ovals to play the game without his parent’s permission.
“I started playing rugby league when I was in Grade 7, my family didn’t like the idea of me playing but I was so determined to play rugby,” Teme recalled.
“My family wanted me to concentrate on school but I loved the sport so much I had to play.
“In Hagen there was no schoolboys competition at that time so I played with teams like Southern Sons and then we changed our name to Erave Hornbills, I even played in off-season competitions.”
But rugby league wasn’t the only “footy” a young Teme dabbled in — with an insatiable appetite he made time to test his skills in touch football and AFL before coming full circle.
Teme moved to Port Moresby in 2013 and played in the Port Moresby Suburban and even in the Southern Leg of the Ipatas Cup off-season competition.
In 2016, Teme made his first significant step up in level when he was named in the Port Moresby Vipers development squad. He made his Digicel Cup the following year for Southern Highlands flagship, the Mendi Muruks.
With the Muruks experiencing internal management issues, Teme then made a mid-season switch to the Hela Wigmen and playing for chairman Andy Hetra’s side proved a master stroke as he gained the kind of exposure that caught the notice of Hunters staff.
The rest, as they say, is history because despite not being in Marum’s initial off-season 60-man squad he would be drafted in later on.
If Teme had not earned the trust and respect of his family back in his early days, he was now looked with pride and admirations by his family and friends.
“My family are very proud that I am now part of the Hunters squad and their encouragement is to put God first,” Teme said.
“Just like what’s stated in Mathew 6.33: Seek the Kingdom of God and everything will be given unto you; that’s my favourite quote as it motivates me every day while I’m training.”
Playing in the lower grades coming up, young Teme has played as a five-eighth, hooker and even at fullback but says his favourite position is halfback just like his hero Johnathan Thurston.
“Jonathan Thurston is my favourite player. I like him because he was a small player with a big heart who proved everyone wrong.”