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- Jahream Bula won’t play Origin for Queensland
- Is eligible, went to Keebra Park High on Gold Coast
- Made NRL debut for Tigers in 2023, instant fan favourite
Wests Tigers fullback Jahream Bula has declared he won’t ever play Origin for Queensland – despite attending high school on the Gold Coast at famed rugby league nursery Keebra Park State High School.
Bula, 23, was born in Auckland and moved to the Glitter Strip as a teenager, making him eligible for the Maroons.
But this week he poured cold water on any chance of him playing alongside the likes of Reece Walsh and Harry Grant.
‘I don’t claim to be one, I don’t want to play for Queensland,’ he said.
‘My family are Koori and from NSW – they are from around the Coffs Harbour and Macksville areas – and I’ve always gone for NSW.’
Bula made his first grade debut for the Tigers in 2023 under then coach Tim Sheens and quickly became a crowd favourite at the joint venture club.
Wests Tigers fullback Jahream Bula has declared he won’t ever play Origin for Queensland – despite attending high school on the Gold Coast (he is pictured, with wife Aaliyah)
Bula made his first grade debut for the Tigers in 2023 under then coach Tim Sheens and quickly became a crowd favourite at the joint venture club
It was an impressive first season – Bula was named the Kelly-Barnes Player of the Year, as well as Players’ Player and Rookie of the Year.
But after ‘winning’ back to back wooden spoons, the livewire is hoping 2025 sees his team challenge for a top eight spot.
Given they recruited the likes of Jarome Luai, Terrell May, Sunia Turuva and Jack Bird, Tigers fans have reason to feel optimistic.
Off the field, Bula recently married his partner Aaliyah, whose father happens to be former rugby league enforcer Solomon Haumono.
Understandably, keeping his new father-in-law happy is a priority.
‘He was a scary figure on the field, but away from footy he’s one of the most gentle blokes, Bula told Fox Sports when chatting about the one-time professional boxer.
‘We get along well, so it wasn’t too hard….he’s been through it all, not just in footy, but boxing as well, so he knows what it’s like.
‘It’s good to get some advice from him.’
Aaliyah is also a professional footy player, on the books of the Parramatta Eels in the NRLW.
