'Hugged me for ages': Why Laban asked for Samoan chief father's permission to play for the Kiwis

Kiwis debutant Jacob Laban has detailed the emotional exchange with his Samoan high chief father after choosing to represent New Zealand at the Rugby League World Cup.

The Warriors second-rower has received a maiden call-up under Stacey Jones following a breakout NRL season, for which he won Players’ Player of the Year at the club’s awards night.

Laban was born in Moto’otua near Apia in Samoa, before his family shifted to New Zealand when he was 4 years old, going on to attend St Bernard’s College in Wellington.

Many of the 22-year-old’s Warriors teammates are choosing to represent other nations. Chanel Harris-Tavita will play for Toa Samoa, while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Demetric Vaimauga and Leka Halasima will don Mate Ma’a Tonga jerseys.

Laban told the Herald the decision around international representation was always going to be family-focused.

“My dad’s a high chief, so that’s something that’s an important role in Samoa. I didn’t want to disrespect him in any way by saying I wanted to play Kiwis because I didn’t like Samoa or anything like that.

“When he saw me after I told him that I got named in the team, he just came up and hugged me, and he hugged me for ages, like he’s never done that to me. For him to be on the same page as me was pretty cool. For him to back me like that, yeah, it’s cool.”

Jacob Laban has received his maiden call-up for the Kiwis. © Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport

Laban said representing Samoa was always going to be on the table.

“I had a conversation with my dad, and I was leaning more towards the Kiwis. My dad, since he’s Samoan and he’s a Matai, I had a feeling he might favour Samoa, but he gave me the talk and told me that New Zealand gave me everything, my career; it’s given me a life.

“For him to say that to me was like an ease off my shoulders a bit, and I’m just happy that we’re on the same page and not walking on eggshells around him now.”

Laban admitted he was “starstruck” when he received the call from Jones that he was selected for New Zealand.

“I was cleaning, and he called me, and I was like, ‘it’s either going to be really good or very bad.’ So it was really good. And I’m just happy for my bro Tanner [Stowers-Smith] as well. Two years ago we were playing for Kiwis A’s. Fast-track that, and we’re in the Kiwis squad now, so yeah, I’m just happy me and him go through.”

Jacob Laban admitted he was "starstruck" when he got the call-up from Kiwis coach Stacey Jones (pictured). © Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport

Laban was instrumental in the Warriors’ best regular season record of 18 wins this year, finishing level with minor premiers Penrith on 42 points.

However, the edge player feels he has more to prove after an underwhelming NRL finals showing, in which the Warriors exited with consecutive losses.

“I’ve had a good year, but overall I reckon I just didn’t step up when it mattered. It’s something that I learned the hard way and sucks that I had to do it that way, but it is what it is.”

Laban said the disappointment has lit a fire in him to perform in the high-pressure environment of a World Cup.

“Yeah, it’s almost like right my wrongs, but then again if I worry about that too much then I’ll probably be doing more wrong things. So I reckon the Kiwis opportunity, I’ll just try and take it with both hands. I know that the boys will love and support whatever I do and yeah, just be a part of it.”

Laban said he is particularly excited to perform the haka, having discussed it with Kiwis and Warriors teammate Erin Clark,

“Me and Erin having a chat earlier on this year saying, ‘oh, like how was the Kiwis haka?’ And he was just telling me it was mean, like just amps you up, it’s like another pre-workout on a different level.”

Laban was caught off-guard when asked about the historic Kiwis tradition of the new players having to perform the haka in their undies.

“I’ve never heard of that. I’m happy I’m not the only debut, I got my bro Tanner there with me, so he can do it with me. He’ll stand in the front, I’ll stand behind him.”

The Kiwis’ opening World Cup fixture is against the Kangaroos on October 15.

Nathan Limm has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates rugby and netball for Gold Sport.