League star Wairangi Koopu's new gig - comedy acting

Former Warriors player Wairangi Koopu (left) on the set of Only in Aotearoa with co-star Tia Maipi.

Eighteen years after first stepping onto the rugby league pitch for the Warriors, Wairangi Koopu is making a debut of a different kind - acting in a comedy skit for a new TV series.

Alongside experienced Kiwi TV star Tammy Davis, Koopu will appear in a skit in the second season of Maori Television's show Only in Aotearoa.

The 37-year-old - who played for New Zealand's national league team, the Kiwis, as well as in the NRL for the Warriors and the Melbourne Storm - now works as a presenter on Maori Television's sport show #teamCODE and sports commentator.

He's dabbled in acting, making guest appearances on Find Me a Maori Bride and The Deadlands, but Only in Aotearoa is Koopu's first foray into skits.

Each of the programme's eight half-hour episodes features five to eight skits of conversations between two characters and incorporate te reo Maori in an accessible way.

Former Shortland Street star Shavaughn Ruakere is also in the show.

"I don't know if it's something I could see myself doing in a big production sense but it was definitely fun," Koopu said of the show.

"Tammy [Davis] kept changing up his lines all the time. It's pretty true to the name of the show - Only in Aotearoa - I think it's a lot of comedy that only New Zealanders will really get.

"While we shot the skit we were in hysterics pretty much every time we had to do it which was a bit of a problem for the production crew."

He told the Herald on Sunday although he enjoyed being on camera and joking around, he couldn't see himself pursuing serious acting roles, preferring reporting and commentating.

However, he stopped short of ruling put acting all together, saying if the right role came up he'd accept it and would definitely be part of Only in Aotearoa's third season if he was able to.

Co-star Tammy Davis said Koopu gave a good performance in the skit and had a "real natural charisma".

"I think he's got a lot to offer and he's only going to get better. He's taken his role as a commentator, as a TV personality, as a presenter, as an actor really seriously.

"I think we have to give him some kudos and some props and say 'hey man he's doing really well' because it is hard to break that mould - people see you a certain way."