Verhoeven hails from the West Coast of the South Island and is of proud Tongan and Dutch heritage. He is a very gifted athlete with a strong work ethic who has excelled in representative basketball, rugby league, rugby union and athletics.

Nio was invited to travel to Brisbane to train with the Brisbane Broncos Senior Academy. This led to an opportunity to play with their academy team at the end of April against the North Queensland Cowboys Under 17 Academy team.

Nio was quick to impress and, as a result, has signed with the Brisbane Broncos for two years from 2025. He will join the Senior Academy preseason at the end of this year. Nio has some wonderful opportunities in front of him. We are incredibly proud of all his sporting achievements, and we are looking forward to following where this next journey will take him.