Dargaville High old boy makes Kiwis

The hard work during this year's NRL season paid off for Penrith's Sam McKendry on Saturday when he got the nod from coach Stephen Kearney to join the Kiwis squad for the Four Nations Series.
The former Dargaville High School student was originally picked for the New Zealand Maori team but was elevated into the Kiwis squad after it was discovered that Parramatta prop Fuifui Moimoi had fractured his arm and would miss the series.
McKendry has been one of the success stories for Penrith in their road to the playoffs this season and was re-signed until the end of the 2015 season last month. He had already been contracted for next season but the West Sydney club took the unusual step of extending his contract by a further three years.
The big prop, known almost universally as "Big Sam", had played just a handful of games for the club until he made a decision in the off-season to "lift his game" at training and the 21-year-old said that was the main reason for his success this year.
"I think you'd have to put it down to working hard and doing the extras and paying attention to the little things," he said.
He started his season with brief periods of play from the bench but soon impressed coach Matthew Elliott, who began to start the giant 188cm and 115kg prop. McKendry ended up by playing in each of the Panther's 26 games.
"Getting the game time helps you gain experience and it all helps you get better," McKendry said.
It is his first international call up since he was selected to play for the New Zealand Maori in 2008 and he is likely to enhance his reputation during the upcoming series - but McKendry isn't too worried about what others thing about him.
"I don't really worry about that sort of thing to be honest, I don't care too much about what the media thinks," he said.
He is sure the Kiwis can perform well in the series.
"We've got the team to do it, that's for sure, and the Australians are missing a few players but I don't know too much about the other teams so we'll just have to wait and see," he said.
Parents Rae and Kevin Souter were thrilled with the big prop's elevation to the Kiwi's squad, saying it was a great reward for his great season.
"I think he improved every game he played in and all the family are just thrilled for him. He's worked very hard to get there and it's all credit to him," Rae said.
The Kiwis will be in camp all week ahead of their first warm-up match for the Four Nations Series, a match against Samoa, at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland on Saturday.
The Four Nations competition features the Kiwis, Australia, England and Papua New Guinea and begins on October 23.