3 weeks ago
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Demolition worker, Bulldogs junior and aspiring engineer – that’s who Jethro Rinakama was eight months ago.
He would haul scrap, debris, concrete and rebar around construction sites for a living, pocket $1200 a week from his NRL train-and-trial deal and put his maths prowess to work in his studies at Macquarie University.
Rinakama is still an aspiring engineer, but that part of his identity has taken a back seat to “NRL player”as he prepares for the Bulldogs’ elimination semi-final against the Panthers on Sunday.
“I’m studying civil engineering at Macquarie, so just juggling that part-time with footy,” he said. “I do it online, so it’s probably the best for me to just do it online and chip away at it.
“I was kind of good at maths at school and my dad had done a little bit of engineering, so I decided to do that and give it a shot. Before I was [playing] full-time I was labouring last year, and as well I was in Jersey Flegg. Just doing that on the side. I was just a demolition labourer on a construction site.”
Jethro – a biblical name that comes from Moses’ father-in-law – was on the NRL’s train-and-trial base wage with the Bulldogs at the start of the year, but has since become part of coach Cameron Ciraldo’s starting side after injuries to Jacob Kiraz and Marcelo Montoya.
Jethro Rinakama has gone from a train-and-trial deal to a starting winger.Credit: Kate Geraghty
Since making his debut in round 19 against the Cowboys, Rinakama has scored three tries, made three line breaks and run an average of 137 metres a game in his five appearances.
However, it was his pre-season performances, with three tries in two games for the Bulldogs, that landed him a full-time contract with the club through to the end of 2027.
“I grew up in Lidcombe and I was a Bulldogs junior, came through the development system, so it’s definitely surreal to come up and play NRL ... ” he said.
“It was definitely a goal just to play first grade, and I was happy to play one game, but to play finals is definitely an achievement, and I definitely wasn’t expecting it. But yeah, just got to be ready.”
With Montoya still sidelined with an ankle injury, Rinakama has been named to play in the biggest match of his career, and the biggest game for Canterbury since 2015 – the last time the club reached the second week of the finals – against Penrith on Sunday.
It’s a huge accomplishment for the teenager, who is still eligible to play for the club’s under-19s SG Ball team, and a big reward for his family, who Rinakama says have sacrificed a lot for him to be in this position.
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“They came from Fiji in their 20s, so it’s pretty difficult for them to be able to provide for me and my brother,” he said. “So I’m definitely grateful for them, and everything I do is for them.”
One of Rinakama’s long-term goals is to represent Fiji during the international window at the end of the year, and play alongside Viliame Kikau – one of his idols who he plays alongside at the Bulldogs.
“It’s pretty mad because I used to watch them, watch their grand finals, especially Kiks coming through Penrith, I used to watch him a lot,” Rinakama said. “So it’s pretty surreal to be able to play on his edge and be at the same team.”
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