Steamers legends share shield secrets

VICTORIOUS: Captain Wayne Ormond holds aloft the Ranfurly Shield after victory over Auckland in 2004.

No-one knows the feeling of adrenalin coursing though the veins of the Bay of Plenty Steamers today better than the squad that beat Auckland to win the Ranfurly Shield in 2004.

Despite numerous attempts, the 33-28 victory over Auckland marked the first time Bay of Plenty had won the coveted shield, propelling the team to rugby star status.

Ten years on, the players can vividly recall the camaraderie and elation of that magic season and agree it was a combination of team chemistry, great coaching and commitment that took them from underdogs to champions.

Then-captain Wayne Ormond told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend it was hard to find words to explain that moment in his rugby career and it had been "pretty special" to lead the side.

The close-knit team was a well-balanced mix of strong, experienced leaders and new players hoping to establish themselves in the game, he said.

"We were just a team that never complained and just got on with things. No-one was bigger than anyone," he said.

"When we do meet up again it's just like nothing's changed."

First-five Glen Jackson, now a professional rugby referee, met the current Steamers' squad on Thursday to share his experience and inspiration with the side.

He said it was a highlight to be part of the first Bay team to bring home the shield and see how much of a boost the win gave the sport.

"It really got Tauranga behind rugby and the shield," he said.

After a tough season to date, winning the shield would be the boost the current side needed, he said.

"Something like that would certainly get everyone back up and running."

Midfielder Grant McQuoid said it was great to be part of the Bay side that finally claimed the shield, etching the team into New Zealand rugby folklore.

He put success down to the camaraderie among the players, "how close we became as a team, as mates. We just started playing really well for each other," he said.

"Team chemistry, if they could bottle what we had, they would," he said.

The coaching talents of Vern Cotter and Joe Schmidt, who now coached the Scottish and Irish international sides respectively, were vital, he said.

"They got the very best out of guys that maybe weren't superstars," he said.

Trainer Keith Roberts, renowned for his pre-season month of death, was with the squad in 2004 and is back 10 years later.

He has fond memories of the family feeling among the 2004 team, who he said trained extremely hard.

"When it came to charge them, everyone was ready to go and fire. There was no-one back in the trenches doing up their boots."

He said the impact the Steamers' success had on the community was exciting.

"Everywhere we went, people were just fascinated. They wanted a piece of it," he said.

This year he said the Steamers hadn't quite connected the little flames around the field with the match and the main source of supply.

"We're got to make sure we're on fire (today) to get anywhere near them," he said.

As well as being reminded of Jackson's talk from earlier in the week, the team also watched an audiovisual presentation of the 2004 win last night.

"When the shield's up for grabs it's completely different," Roberts said.