All Blacks lure strong for Bronco Isaako

He's on track to top the NRL's points-scoring list and is being groomed as Brisbane's next long-term fullback.

But you can chalk up Jamayne Isaako as another league star with ambitions to one day become an All Black.

"I always wanted to be an All Black growing up, always been a union kid": Jamayne Isaako.

“I always wanted to be an All Black growing up, always been a union kid”: Jamayne Isaako.

The super-fit Broncos back leads the competition with 213 points this season – ahead of Latrell Mitchell (204) and Gareth Widdop (191) – with 10 tries and 86 goals at an 84 per cent conversion rate.

So prolific has the 22-year-old been that only Darren Lockyer and Michael De Vere have managed a 200-point season haul at the club before him.

Isaako recently signed a four-year deal to remain at Red Hill and has played every game in a season that also saw him earn a New Zealand Test cap.

But, like Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga did just last week, the goal-kicker admits a return to rugby union isn't out of the question.

"Absolutely. I always wanted to be an All Black growing up, always been a union kid," said Isaako.

Isaako grew up playing rugby in Christchurch against current All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown and fringe Test backrower Akira Ioane before being recruited by Cronulla scouts and moving to Sydney as a 15-year-old.

A shift to Brisbane last year led to an NRL debut but despite establishing himself in the 13-man code Isaako admits there is a rugby itch that still needs scratching.

"Sometime down the future, if I get the opportunity to come back home and play rugby I'd probably look to take that," he said.

His more immediate focus though is converting the Broncos' late-season form into a meaningful finals run and capping a breakthrough individual season.

Isaako has regularly won games off his boot this year, labelling the early- season defeat of Wests Tigers as a personal turning point.

"I think I've done myself proud," he said.

"The points-scoring thing wasn't necessarily something I was chasing this year but it's pretty hard to not know about it coming into training with the boys letting me know I'm top of the list."

"It's been an incredible year."

AAP

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