
Why NRL star changed his name mid-season
The Sharks will welcome back one of their brightest stars at Magic Round, but there'll be a subtle change when the team sheet is shown before kick-off with Kayal Iro deciding the time is right to go by his unofficial birth name.
The strike centre will now go by KL Iro, although his name will remain Kayal on official documents.
Iro revealed that this was something he always wanted to do, with KL the initials of his famous father Kevin Leslie Iro, who dominated for New Zealand.
The Cook Islands international returns from a hamstring injury against the Eels on Friday night and hopes the change will make it easier for people to pronounce his name. KL Iro with Kevin Iro. NRL Images Credit: The Daily Telegraph
It's a name we'll be saying for the next decade, with the young gun one of the most promising exciting backs coming through the system after a breakout 2024 and an even hotter start to this season before he got hurt.
'When I was a baby, KL was originally my first name. But my mum wouldn't let me leave the hospital until we changed it, so she changed the spelling of it,' Iro said.
'All my life, my dad would write KL ... When I moved over here (to Australia), my dad always wanted me to change it, but I've just been too shy to bring it up.
'I feel like it's just easier to see and easier for people to pronounce.
'It's just KL – that's how it's pronounced. It's probably just more memorable, too.
'People will know me by my proper name.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
Taylan May gets NRL lifeline with Wests Tigers on train-and-trial deal
Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson believes Taylan May deserves a second chance in the NRL, after signing the outside back on a train-and-trial deal. The Tigers on Tuesday formally won the race for May's signature, with the Samoan international agreeing to a deal for the rest of this season. The contract is May's first since he was released from Penrith last season, after the Panthers attempted to rip up his contract over a number of off-field indiscretions. The 23-year-old also had domestic violence charges against him dropped in March, after his wife who had accused him of punching did not show up in court. May had pleaded not guilty to the charges and has since spent time in a mental health facility undergoing treatment. The former Panther will not be able to immediately return to the field, with the NRL only conditionally approving his comeback. In a statement on Tuesday, the Tigers said training and off-field standards needed to be met before May could play again. 'Taylan, like all our players, will be joining a club which has a culture of putting healthy relationships first,' CEO Shane Richardson said. 'Taylan has made enormous strides since we first met with him 10 weeks ago through voluntarily attending education and counselling sessions. 'All players deserve a second chance and we think this is the environment which gives him the best chance of success both on and off the field.' May's move to the Tigers came after he had met with South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett and toured the club's Heffron Park facilities. But the Tigers signing will allow him to play alongside his brother Terrell, with the duo and older brother Tyrone May all keen to one day play together. 'Clearly, Taylan is a quality player who will further strengthen our squad in the back end of the competition,' Richardson said. 'But we also believe his best chance of success on and off the field is if he is around family and friends. 'He will now have the chance to not only return to a team environment but also to play alongside his brother Terrell – which is important to him.'


West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Haas opens up on Broncos future, 'weird' Origin opener
Payne Haas couldn't imagine himself playing for another NRL club, shutting down the possibility of a move from Brisbane. The best prop in the NRL is without a contract beyond 2026 so could negotiate with rival clubs from November, including the cashed-up Perth Bears franchise that enters the competition from 2027. Haas would be a contender for the NRL's highest salary if he made the move west and has the chance to scope out the city next week, when he spearheads NSW's bid for a State of Series series win at Optus Stadium. But after Haas' agent told AAP last week his client was settled in Brisbane, the 25-year-old reiterated he was hopeful of a new deal at the Broncos. "We want to stay in Brisbane. That's the main priority," Haas said at the Blues' camp in Leura. "We know where we both stand and I couldn't see myself playing for another club. Hopefully we get that deal done. If not, it is what it is. "My family's there (in Brisbane), we love it and there would be no point in my leaving." The Broncos' recent struggles have not swayed Haas from his desire to play on at the club who signed him as a teenager. But Haas admitted he breathed a sigh of a relief after Saturday's emphatic defeat of Gold Coast, which snapped a four-game losing streak for Michael Maguire's side. "It's a bit of relief. We're in a bit of a crap patch there," he said. "(The scrutiny) is a bit intense up there. I haven't seen anything like it, to be honest. But all the boys are doing well up there. It's pretty easy to manage when you've got a good group. "Honestly, it helps, winning. We're working so hard in club land. It just hurts not winning. To get that win, coming into (NSW) camp, it's a bit easier." A quadriceps injury troubled Haas during camp for the Origin series opener but he nevertheless took man of the match honours in a dominant win for the Blue. Haas is relishing the chance for an uninterrupted week at training ahead of Origin II on June 18. "It was a bit weird, that first camp, I wasn't sure if I was playing or not at the start of the week," he said. "I'm pretty grateful that I get to train with the boys all week and get the combos right because I felt a bit underdone going into that first game. "I was bit worried but it all turned out well."


Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Haas opens up on Broncos future, 'weird' Origin opener
Payne Haas couldn't imagine himself playing for another NRL club, shutting down the possibility of a move from Brisbane. The best prop in the NRL is without a contract beyond 2026 so could negotiate with rival clubs from November, including the cashed-up Perth Bears franchise that enters the competition from 2027. Haas would be a contender for the NRL's highest salary if he made the move west and has the chance to scope out the city next week, when he spearheads NSW's bid for a State of Series series win at Optus Stadium. But after Haas' agent told AAP last week his client was settled in Brisbane, the 25-year-old reiterated he was hopeful of a new deal at the Broncos. "We want to stay in Brisbane. That's the main priority," Haas said at the Blues' camp in Leura. "We know where we both stand and I couldn't see myself playing for another club. Hopefully we get that deal done. If not, it is what it is. "My family's there (in Brisbane), we love it and there would be no point in my leaving." The Broncos' recent struggles have not swayed Haas from his desire to play on at the club who signed him as a teenager. But Haas admitted he breathed a sigh of a relief after Saturday's emphatic defeat of Gold Coast, which snapped a four-game losing streak for Michael Maguire's side. "It's a bit of relief. We're in a bit of a crap patch there," he said. "(The scrutiny) is a bit intense up there. I haven't seen anything like it, to be honest. But all the boys are doing well up there. It's pretty easy to manage when you've got a good group. "Honestly, it helps, winning. We're working so hard in club land. It just hurts not winning. To get that win, coming into (NSW) camp, it's a bit easier." A quadriceps injury troubled Haas during camp for the Origin series opener but he nevertheless took man of the match honours in a dominant win for the Blue. Haas is relishing the chance for an uninterrupted week at training ahead of Origin II on June 18. "It was a bit weird, that first camp, I wasn't sure if I was playing or not at the start of the week," he said. "I'm pretty grateful that I get to train with the boys all week and get the combos right because I felt a bit underdone going into that first game. "I was bit worried but it all turned out well."