RUATORIA HAVE THE DESIRE

CHALLENGE LAID DOWN: Members of the Waikohu team lay down their challenge in a haka before the club rugby final against OBM last month. Picture by Paul Rickard

Ruatoria want the Barry Cup.

But the Lisa Muller/Ian Logan-coached crew know that to prise the 97-year-old symbol of sub-union rugby supremacy from the big mitts of Waikohu this weekend will not be easy to do.

In 2018, the Tim Barbarich-led Ruatoria challenged holders Uawa first-up in the five-game season and lost 31-17. They lost 80-5 to Waikohu in 2019, having lost 32-0 to Uawa two years before.

Covid-19 made competition for the Barry Cup impossible in 2020, Doone Harrison's Hikurangi being the last team from that locale on the East Coast to try their luck at Te Karaka Domain.

The Jason Tuapawa-coached Waikohu scored 14 tries and won 88-0 on August 18, 2019, yet while Harrison — a good rugby brain — put the Waikohu success down to the hosts' fitness and speed (he felt that The Maunga matched the home team physically), words the holders' captain Geoff Pari used a week later gave an insight into their mentality.

Having made their fifth and final defence, a 24-15 win against immediate past champions Uawa, Pari said: “On behalf of Waikohu, we thank all of the clubs who challenged us this season — we're so happy to be the guardians of the Barry Cup for another year.”

“On behalf of”, “we thank”, “so happy” and “guardians”: these words speak to the holders' modesty and respect for tradition.

That said, even the “traditional” devilment of the Barry Cup — the lengths to which teams would go in order to keep it or win it and the mischief associated with that — has in 2021 given way to the orthodoxy of New Zealand Rugby.

“We're happy with the way things have run so far,” 50-year Barry Cup veteran and Waikohu sub-union chairman Bob Morse said.

“The feedback we've had has been positive but our biggest message has centred around everyone being aware of the eligibility requirements.”

Waikohu coach Russell Burns confirmed last night that his titans are keen and player numbers at training have been good, so he will make the transition from coach to player-coach only as a last resort.

He and his outfit are taking things one week at a time. They don't want to get ahead of themselves.

Logan, Muller's assistant coach and backs coach for both Ruatoria City in the Ngati Porou East Coast club competition and at sub-union level, played for both Ruatoria and Waiapu in the Barry Cup.

“It's tough — a step up from club rugby in that it's knockout footy every match — but our boys are keen, even though it's been a while since some of them last played,” Logan said.

“Waikohu will be good right across the park — they have size up front and speed out wide — but we've proved this year that we, too, are capable.”

Tomorrow's referee is Mark Green, with fellow Poverty Bay officials Royce Maynard and Neville Barwick as assistant referees 1 and 2 respectively.

WAIKOHU: Tulsa Kaui, Geoff Pari (captain), Toru Noanoa, James Rutene, TK Tane, Kimihia Matiaha, Shyann Wylie, Tristan Morten, Ra Broughton, Jesse Fleming, KC Wilson, Jacob Leaf, Leroy Taiapa, Punch Noanoa, Tane McGuire. Reserves: Lance Dickson/Russell Burns, Jarryd Broughton, Hayden Rutene, Tamanui Hill, Kupu Lloyd, Matt Ruru, Shannon Cameron, Yssim Tagivetaua Cimo, Kelvin Smith.

RUATORIA: Pera Bishop (vc), Shayde Skudder, Boss Blackbee, Nate Fox, Tu Te Rangi Ngarimu, Shaun Aupouri, Jack Richardson (c), Tanetoa Parata, Neihana Ratahi-Brown, Travis Tawera, James Te Kahika, Corey Walker, Luke Brown, Dennis Te Kahika, Leethan Tipene-Rawiri. Reserves: James Higgins, Codey Ellis, Tawhai Aupouri, Pakanui Tawera, Grey Mauheni.