“Hopefully I will get back to Rua some time soon bro, my mum’s got the principal’s job up at Ngata, so will definitely get back up there and say hello to everyone. Thank you again.”
Kuratiwaka says he was so stoked when he saw Milner-Skudder had replied he nearly started crying.
“It was just awesome. He played meanage* in the final too, I was screaming and happy, and celebrating when they won.”
Kuratiwaka watched the final with his dad and grandfather. He says he plays fullback and wing, like Milner-Skudder.
“If Nehe comes to Rua I will give him a hongi and tell my mum to make some cake and kangawaru — and then take some selfies.”
Ms Ngarimu says the attention has been overwhelming.
“He was saying he wished he could tell Nehe good luck, so we thought we would make a video and maybe someone would tag him.
“I just want to say thank you to New Zealand for making this happen for my son.”
Safe to say Kuratiwaka’s video prediction that the game was going to go “meanage” was correct, with a historic 34-17 victory over Australia.
* Translation for older readers: Awesomely (adverb)
