Reedy, having been player-coach of Hikurangi and now in his second stint as non-playing coach, said: “When you talk to our boys now about those times — the 60s and the like — you can see the admiration in their eyes. They’ve told me, ‘You fellows set a high standard for us in that jersey’.”
Players in the current generation are keen. It took only three pre-lockdown training sessions for Reedy to decide on openside flanker Tanetoa Parata as captain for his maturity, initiative and the way in which other players responded to him.
Others to impress have included front-row forwards Tahu Walker, Maui Baker and Putahi Morice.
Walker started at loosehead prop last season, Baker has the ability to play there or at hooker, while Morice at tighthead prop is a quality anchor.
Karauria Keelan is seen by Reedy as a potential threat at second five-eighth or centre. He is superb value anywhere on the park.
In Week 5 last year, Keelan’s hard tackling and outstanding support play earned him recognition as Hikurangi’s MVP (most valuable player) in the 12-all draw with Tihirau Victory Club at Cape Runaway.
It was the grit of Keelan and like minds that helped The Maunga go close to unseating TVC at Te Kura Mana Maori o Whangaparaoa, two weeks after a tough first-round loss to defending champions Uawa in Tolaga Bay.
Hikurangi have won the Rangiora Keelan Memorial Shield, symbol of East Coast club rugby supremacy, five times in the past 15 years. Those finals are well-remembered, from skipper Johnny Martin’s retirement game in 2006, to the game against the ultimate underdogs Hicks Bay in 2014, to their last championship, an 18-16 victory over Uawa at home in 2016.
Hikurangi’s last final win at what was then home, Whakarua Park in Ruatoria, was the 26-11 result in 2014; they last appeared in a final three years ago. TVC were crowned champions that day, having beaten Hikurangi 24-21 in extra time.
In 2019, Hikurangi returned to the historic and spiritual home of their rugby, Kahuitara.
TVC, having drawn with Hikurangi twice in round-robin play, ended their season 12-5 at Cape Runaway.
It was The Maunga’s 18th straight top-four showing, and it should surprise no one that for former coach Doone Harrison, the highlight of the campaign was the “huge growth and development” of their up-and-coming players, Baker and Morice being two of the five he mentioned in the immediate aftermath.
Harrison is a smart cookie. He knew that good judges would know better than to take their eyes off Hikurangi.
