October 14, 2016
Rona delays code switch for Maori game
Many Maori play in the National Rugby League, but they don’t often get a chance to pull on the Maori jersey.
That’s one of the things that makes tomorrow’s celebration of Maori rugby league at Davies Park in Huntly a bit special.
The day features Waikato Maori versus Te Atiawa, Wahine Toa playing a Pasifika women’s 13, and Maori playing a New Zealand Resident’s selection.
John Devonshire from Maori Rugby League says a lot of the players are unfamiliar with marae tikanga, especially those raised in Australia, but at the camp at Waahi Pa they are learning their haka and grabbing at the experience.
One player, Curtis Rona born and bred in Waitara,Taranaki even delayed a switch from league to union to make the game.
"Great centre wing for the Bulldogs and signed with the Western Force, he's off to play rugby with the Barbarians next week in Twickenham but he said he had to tick this box to come and represent his people. He been raised in Australia since he was 9 and he told his club when he signed his contract he's got this game and right or wrong he's going to play, he had to," Mr Devonshire says.
The women’s game is being played as a tribute to rugby league stalwarts Cathy Friend who was the first woman to be named a life member of New Zealand Rugby League and Christine Panapa,NZ Women's Rugby League chair, while the main game is for the Huntly-based former Maori Rugby League chair Bob Tukiri.
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