Keano Kini
Keano Kini is a professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Gold Coast Titans as a or in the National Rugby League and for New Zealand national [rugby league team|New Zealand] at international level..
Background
Kini was born in Auckland, New Zealand and is of Māori, English and Samoan descent. His family relocated to the Gold Coast where Kini attended Palm Beach Currumbin State High School. Kini was a Northcote Tigers junior.Playing career
In 2020, Kini was signed by the Gold Coast Titans after being spotted playing touch football in Auckland. In 2021 and 2022, Kini played for the Titans' Queensland Cup feeder side, the Burleigh Bears. In 2023, despite still being on a development contract, Kini was elevated to the Gold Coast Titans first grade side.Kini made his first grade debut from the bench in his side's 26–24 victory over the Parramatta Eels at Lang Park in round 10 of the 2023 NRL season. The fullbacks good form also continued for Burleigh where he won the Duncan Hall medal for man of the match in the 2023 Queensland Cup grand final despite playing on the losing side.
Kini scored his first NRL try in his sides Magic Round match against the Newcastle Knights in round 11 of the 2024 NRL season. In round 16, Kini scored two tries for the Gold Coast in their 66-6 victory over the New Zealand Warriors.
Kini played 16 games for the Gold Coast in the 2024 NRL season as the club finished 14th on the table.
2025
On 26 March 2025, it was announced that Kini would be ruled out for an indefinite period after he suffered a neck injury during the Gold Coast's victory over Newcastle in round 3 of the 2025 NRL season. Kini revealed that he was just four millimeters from being paralysed if he had taken another heavy tackle in the next game, and he had neck surgery in early April 2025 to address this issue. On 30 May, the Gold Coast announced that Kini had re-signed with the NRL club until October 2030.Kini played six matches for the Gold Coast in the 2025 NRL season as the club narrowly avoided the wooden spoon finishing 16th.