Skudder made his debut in 2007 under coach Denzel Moeke at just 16 years old. He played second-five in a season that was cut short by half when he broke his leg.
Following rehabilitation, he made his return in the
Senior 1 division and moved back up to Premier in 2012 as a loose forward.
In 2014, YMP coach Patrick White shifted him to hooker where he has played ever since.
He was named captain in 2020 and remains in that role.
Skudder led YMP to Lee Bros Shield glory last season with a man-of-the-match performance. He was the first YMP skipper to hoist the shield since 2010 when his father Colin Skudder and current coach Kahu Tamatea were part of the winning squad.
Skudder earned his first Poverty Bay cap inin 2015 and, with the exception of 2017 and 2019, has been in the Bay squad every year since.
He was named co-captain with first five Kelvin Smith for their King’s Birthday Weekend Derby 29-17 victory over Ngāti Porou East Coast at the Oval.
Skudder has played 37 games for his province — 20 of those in the past two Heartland seasons —and scored six tries.
The man himself said his 150th was “just another game to me” and stressed he could not have reached that number without the support from his whānau and teammates.
“I’ve wanted to tap out (retire) a lot of times but I’ve got a rubber arm for the bros,” said Skudder, who is also a talented golfer, having represented Poverty Bay-East Coast
“There’s been times I’ve wanted an early hang-up of the boots to give golf a nudge but there’s a core group in our team that probably while they’re there, I’m there while my body allows it. Hopefully, I’ve got a bit more in the tank.
“I just want to focus on helping the bros and club lock this shield away for another year. If it didn’t feel like home I wouldn’t be still going now.”
YMP head into tomorrow with a perfect record of nine bonus-point wins from nine matches, and nine points clear of second-placed OBM, who they crushed 52-7 in the first round.
They have set the benchmark and it will take something special from OBM to end that run.
Waikohu have had a turbulent season after Cyclone Gabrielle devastated Te Karaka but have consolidated third place on the table — beaten only by YMP (twice) and OBM in the first round.
Fifth-placed Pirates’ season will come to an end at Te Karaka Domain. They have been building week on week, culminating with their first and only win of the season against HSOB two weeks ago.
Considering most, if not all of their squad were playing Senior 1 last year, Pirates can be well satisfied with their progress..
Bottom-of-the-table HSOB will also play their last game of the season against fourth-placed Ngatapa at Patutahi.
The blue and whites have had only one win this season — over Pirates in Week 3 —but have played some of their best rugby in recent weeks.
Korey Love’s wonderful backline-inspired try in the loss to Pirates two weeks ago shows they have the talent and skills to execute. They just need time for their predominantly young team to develop and realise their potential.
It is also been a season of development for the Dan Law-led Ngatapa, who have won three matches and nabbed the fourth and final spot in the top-four playoffs.
Stand-outs for the green and whites have been first five Ricardo Patricio and second five Khian Westrupp who made his Poverty Bay representative debut against the Coast, playing alongside Patricio.
other milestone.