A legacy that can never be replicated

Jonah Lomu has died, aged 40. Photo / File

Jonah Lomu was a "true gentleman", a Napier City Councillor says.

Graeme Taylor said his fondest memories of Lomu came in 1994.

Mr Taylor got to know Lomu while coaching a sevens team. He was a young man still finding his feet on the footy field.

"When he first emerged from Wesley College I took him to a Dubai sevens tournament."

"I got to know him and he was just a tremendous guy," Mr Taylor said. During the trip to Dubai one of the team sponsors was disabled so Lomu took it upon himself to carry her up every flight of stairs on tour.

"He was a true gentleman," Mr Taylor said. "He did some amazing things on and off the field."

"It was fantastic to see him demolish Mike Catt but my very favourite memory was seeing him demolish a 25 piece pack of fried chicken, that was quite an experience."

Today the country mourns the loss of one of its greatest ever All Blacks. Lomu died yesterday morning, aged 40. He leaves behind his two children, Brayley, 6, Dhyreille, 5, his wife Nadene, and a legacy that will never be replicated.

The South Auckland product of Tongan descent etched himself in rugby folklore with his blockbusting display in the 1995 World Cup, scoring four tries against England in the semi-final.

Mr Taylor said the country will feel tremendous sorrow at the news of Lomu's passing.

"He was one of the most outstanding players of the game, but unfortunately his tenure was cut short." Mr Taylor said Lomu sparked the trend of big, fast, strong wingers replacing the smaller, more fleet-footed players of the past. Lomu dominated defences and reinvented the wheel of what a modern day winger should be.

Norm Hewitt was devastated by the loss of his former All Black and Wellington teammate.

Hewitt and Lomu played together in the Lions side that won the NPC against Canterbury in 2000, the first for the province since 1986.

Lomu made a memorable run down the touchline throwing two powerful fends on Marika Vunibaka to score in the corner and secure the win.

"I'm just talking it through with the boys, trying to let it settle in," Hewitt said.