Raiders fans could be excused for thinking that they are seeing double during the NSW Cup game at GIO Stadium Canberra on Sunday.
It will be a big weekend for the Puru family, with twins Hohepa and Niwhai playing against each other for the very first time.
Hohepa has impressed since joining the Raiders at the start of the 2023 pre-season, while Niwhai joined the Sharks and has been playing NSW Cup for the Newtown Jets.
They played their whole junior rugby league careers alongside each other, culminating in the 2022 Jersey Flegg grand final win for the Penrith Panthers.
Hohepa was named Player of the Final in that match, while Niwhai was also heavily involved, setting up the try that levelled up the game as well as kicking three goals.
Sunday’s NSW Cup fixture marks the first time the twins will take to the field against each other in their respective careers, with Hohepa saying he has mixed emotions heading into the game.
“We’ve practically been together throughout our whole footy career, we came through the ranks together. He was always my halfback and I was playing off him and now I’ll be running at him so it’s a big change.
“We were sort of drip fed throughout our junior ranks that we are not going to go as a pair. It would be a goal if we could debut together and play at the same club but we knew that reality was that we were going to have to split and go our own separate ways if we wanted to make it.”
When it came to parting ways and moving to different clubs, Hohepa said the twins were ‘over the moon’ for each other and the way things worked out.
“I actually held it back from him for a little while just because I didn’t know what he was doing, what clubs were approaching him but once we told each other, we were over the moon.
“I was actually really really happy for my brother. He deserved a shot at full-time training and he was over the moon for me.
“He comes down every couple of weeks and spends the weekend with me. From what I can tell he’s very happy for me and I’m happy for him.”
It will be a family affair on Sunday with plenty of support for the boys in the stands.
“The whole family is coming down, they are actually staying down here in Canberra in the house with me. It will be good to catch up with them on Saturday night.
“I’m going to see my brother Saturday night and the boys are telling me to put some stuff in his food and sabotage his food or make him crook before the game,” Hohepa joked.
“We won’t even think about the game before, we’ll probably just spend quality time together. I won’t see him very often this year, I’m used to seeing him every single day.
“Saturday night I’m going to make it count and spend good time with him and come Sunday he’s my enemy.”
Any last messages for Niwhai on Sunday?
“I’d love to see him perform well because obviously the whole family is coming out, we both want to play good but only one team is going to win so hope it’s us!”
The NSW Cup game between the Raiders and the Jets kicks off at 4pm on Sunday.
