Nukumai was third in the right-arm while Malachi had the tall order of battling 11-times left-and-right-arm national champion and hometown boy Maateiwarangi ‘The Beast’ Heta-morris in the left-arm final.
“The Beast” lived up to his nickname.
“I really didn’t want to come up against The Beast,” said Malakai, who recently shifted to Tauranga.
“Through the rounds, I faced him twice. I was able to hold him for a little bit but we slipped out, went to strap and then it was over (for me).”
Slipping out is when hands slip and the grip is lost, resulting in the mandatory use of a strap tying hands together.
Malachi, 25, started armwrestling under the guidance of Leach six years ago and has a clear vision for his future.
“I’ve told my family and most of the armwrestling community that in three years time I want to go overseas and compete . . . just like John did (at the world champs in Kuala Lumpur), and see how I go with that.
“That’s my goal but it really comes down to money.”
Nukumai was pleased with his third placing and the overall results of the Tairawhiti competitors against some high-quality opponents.
“Boy there are some big strong units in New Zealand,” Nukumai said. “We managed to represent really well . . . it was really good.
“It was a big tournament — the biggest one we have had yet. It’s cool to see the new blood and some of the ones who have been around for a while and are just getting better and better.”
McMillan won bronze in the right-arm 90-to-100kg class in his second nationals after two and a half years in the sport.
He became intrigued by the sport through watching it, which then led to him hitting the tables.
“I just got hooked on it,” McMillan said. “I armwrestled who I could at work and then entered myself into a tournament after Covid. I bought my own tables and have been training with John and Nukumai.”
Leach won gold in the left-arm 100 to 110kg division but had to settle for silver in the right-arm.
Leach’s left is his stronger arm, which he “storm-trained” to gold after suffering a first-round loss.
A bit of encouragment from wife Darlene Hohipa got his head back in the game, he said.
“I won a couple of matches and came across the guy that beat me again and won.”
As for the right . . . “I was meant to win that one but I just ran out of grunt,” Leach said.
“Congrats to the bro that beat me. He ground his way in that wrestle and it came down to who wanted it more at the end of the day.
“I had just come back from the worlds, too, so I wasn’t really at
100 percent. I was still a bit sore and I only had a week’s training in order to get ready for nationals.
“But I’m happy with the result . . . you can’t win them all.”
Nukumai, McMillan and Leach will be joined by Malachi ai the Covid Bastard Classic event in Papamoa on December 2. Malachi will have another opportunity to match it with “The Beast”.
