James Segeyaro (born 11 November 1990), also known by the nickname of "Chicko" is a Papua New Guinean-Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a for the Bradford Bulls in the RFL Championship.
He previously played for the Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys, Penrith Panthers, Manly Sea Eagles and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the National Rugby League, and briefly for the Blacktown Workers and Newtown Jets in the NSW Cup. Segeyaro also played for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. He has played for the PNG Prime Minister's XIII and the Prime Minister's XIII, against Papua New Guinea. He also played for Papua New Guinea at international level.
Early years
Born in Papua New Guinea, Segeyaro moved to Cairns, Queensland, Australia with his biological mother at the age of seven. He was adopted by his best friend's parents soon after.
Playing career
After playing junior football for the Cairns Ivanhoes club, Segeyaro moved to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2007. After being cut from the Souths' roster due to disciplinary issues, he returned to North Queensland to play for the Cowboys. Segeyaro was captain of the Cowboys' Toyota Cup team in 2010 and played for the Northern Pride in the Queensland Cup. Segeyaro was selected in the Junior Kangaroos at the end of the 2010 season.
2011
Segeyaro broke into the North Queensland NRL squad in 2011 after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction at the end of the previous season. Segeyaro made his NRL debut in Round 3 against the Melbourne Storm playing off the interchange bench in North Queensland's 34-6 win at 1300SMILES Stadium. In Round 15 against the New Zealand Warriors, Segeyaro scored his first NRL career try in North Queensland's 30-10 win at 1300SMILES Stadium. Segeyaro made his first start at hooker in North Queensland's 42-8 Qualifying Finals defeat by Manly-Warringah at SFS. Segeyaro went on to appear in 19 matches and score five tries for the North Queensland Cowboys the 2012 NRL season. At the end of the season he made his debut for the Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister's XIII in a 36–22 defeat by the Australian Prime Minister's XIII.
2012
On 15 June 2012, Segeyaro announced that he would join the Penrith Panthers on a three-year deal from 2013 to till the end of 2016. In Round 13 against the Gold Coast Titans, Segeyaro suffered an ankle syndesmosis injury in North Queensland's 28-12 loss at Cbus Super Stadium ruling him out until Round 26 in the Cowboys 36-22 victory over Cronulla-Sutherland at Remondis Stadium. Segayaro played in the Cowboys Week 1 and 2 finals matches. Segeyaro played in 14 matches and scored three tries for the North Queensland outfit in the 2012 NRL season.
2013
Segeyaro made his Penrith Panthers club debut in Round 1 against the Canberra Raiders playing off the interchange bench, scoring a try in Penrith's 32-10 win at Penrith Stadium. In Round 24 against the Brisbane Broncos, Segeyaro scored a hat trick in Penrith's 28-12 win at Penrith Stadium. Segeyaro played in all the Panthers 24 matches and scored 10 tries in a stellar debut year for the Penrith club in the 2013 NRL season. Injury prevented Segeyaro from representing Papua New Guinea in the 2013 World Cup.
2014
On 22 August 2014, Segeyaro lost his biological father Iffysoe Segeyaro, who represented the Kumuls, after he died suffering an aneurysm, with Segeyaro missing Penrith's match against the Melbourne Storm at Penrith Stadium and travelling to Papua New Guinea. The Panthers wore black armbands and held a minute silence in honour of Segeyaro's father. The Panthers lost the match 24-10. Segeyaro returned for the Panthers in Round 26 against the New Zealand Warriors, scoring a try in Penrith's 22-6 win at Penrith Stadium. Segeyaro finished off the Penrith Panthers 2014 NRL season with him playing in 25 matches and scoring 10 tries. On 29 September 2014, at the 2014 Dally M Awards, Segeyaro was named 2014 Dally M Hooker of the Year.
2015
Segeyaro finished off the 2015 season having played in 18 matches and scoring 6 tries for the Penrith side. On 26 September, he was called up by club coach and 2015 Prime Minister's XIII coach Ivan Cleary to play against the PNG PM's XIII. He explained that he changed his allegiance to Australia due to perceived disrespect from PNG rugby league officials after his father's death. During the match, he received boos whenever he touched the ball.
2016
On Australia Day, Segeyaro received Australian citizenship from Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, having lived in the country for the past 19 years.