Rugby League: JUNIOR Bini Kaeaka, a 17-year-old rugby league talent, has defied the odds to secure a transformative two-year scholarship with Hull Kingston Rovers in the UK. His remarkable achievement is a testament to his resilience, shaped by a challenging upbringing. Raised by his single mother, Pauline Nathaniel, who hails from Rabaraba in Milne Bay Province, Junior departed Port Moresby on March 29, 2025, leaving behind a tearful family at the Jackson International Terminal. He was a star halfback and team captain at Iobuna Kouba Primary School. Pauline Nathaniel, her voice filled with emotion, described Junior as her “man of the house” and constant support. “Junior did everything, helping me do all the work as we lived and faced challenges every day,” she shared. “I’m overjoyed for him, but I can’t help feeling a bit sad that he might not be here. Such a golden opportunity only comes once, so I had to support his decision.” Junior’s father abandoned the family when he was just four years old, leaving Pauline to raise him and his younger sister alone. Despite these hardships, Junior excelled both academically and athletically. His educational journey, from Elimo Primary School to Iobuna Kouba Primary School, coupled with his outstanding rugby skills, paved the way for this life-altering opportunity. “My mother has worked so hard every day to look after me and my sister,” Junior said. “My biggest dream is to build a home for my mother when I succeed.” He also harbors aspirations of playing for a PNG NRL team in 2028 and pursuing a career in accounting.