More tributes for Henry Maxwell

CLUB CHAMPIONS: Pirates coach Henry Maxwell (centre right, facing camera) embraces club president Pat Makiri after one of Pirates' Lee Brothers Shield victories, this time against YMP. File picture by Paul Rickard

More tributes have been paid to former Maori All Black Henry Maxwell, who as a coach turned Pirates into a major force in Poverty Bay premier rugby, and who has died after a long period of ill health.

Maxwell had played over 100 first class games for Counties, and was introduced to the Pirates team in the changing room after they had lost by 80 or 90 points.

Pirates president Pat Makiri, who had signed him as coach, said he thought Maxwell might turn around and leave the ground.

But he didn't.

“Boys, I saw a lot of potential out there,” Maxwell said.

There was room for development, but it would take some time, he said.

Makiri said that was the beauty of the man.

“He was a beautifully spoken man; he had a nice aroha about him.

“Players responded to him.”

Pirates were not a premier side at the time. Four years later, they lost the Lee Brothers Shield final 22-21 to YMP.

Before Mawell retired, Pirates had won three of the next four premier titles — in 2011, 2012 and 2014.

Before those finals, Maxwell would tell the players: “It's not the size of the players in the fight, but the the size of the fight in the players.”

Maxwell, a prop, played 13 matches for Poverty Bay in 1980 and 1981 as a GMC club player before moving to Counties.

He also played two matches for the Maori All Blacks and 14 other first class matches.

Makiri said Maxwell was too modest to ever speak of his rugby career, but it helped attract players to Pirates.

Maxwell demanded high standards off the field and was active in club fundraising activities such as house painting and tree felling.

Makiri said Maxwell told him rugby was a simple game and he enjoyed it like drinking a glass of fine champagne.

He loved “champagne rugby” with players running and passing the ball.

Makiri said he was in a state of shock and cried when he heard of Maxwell's death.

“I thank Christine (Maxwell's partner) for letting us have him as long as we did.

“On behalf of Pirates, I extend our condolences to the whanau.”

Pirates rugby and cricket stalwart Allan Nairne knew Maxwell a lot longer than most Buccaneer supporters.

In the early 1970s, Nairne coached the Pirates eighth grade Saturday morning schoolboy team that featured Maxwell.

“I coached a future Maori All Black — that was my claim to fame,” he joked.

He said Maxwell once asked him, “Mr Nairne, what am I in the team?”

Nairne replied, “You are the troublemaker”.

He enjoyed retelling the story to Maxwell at Pirates' 60th anniversary celebration in 2012 when Maxwell was the premier coach.

Another Pirates rugby and cricket stalwart, Kevin Hollis, said Maxwell was the brains behind the club's Lee Brothers Shield titles.

Hollis said he was glad he had recently visited Maxwell.

“He had so much knowledge.

“As a coach he was right up there.”

Former Gisborne Herald rugby writer John Hill said Maxwell was “an absolute gentleman”.

“I never heard him criticise a referee.

“There was no bull or waffle.

“He was happy to talk to you, win or lose.

“You had to be good to play 100 games for Counties in the front row in those days.

“I'm sad to hear the news; I can't believe it.

“My condolences and sympathy to the family.”