Nieces and nephews of Tohu Harris prepare for tomorrow night's grand final. Photo/Duncan Brown
Nieces and nephews of Hawke's Bay's Kiwis and Melbourne Storm rugby league star Tohu Harris are relieved the school holidays start on Monday.
"We might have been struggling to make school ... Sunday night is going to be a big night for us and the Storm," 10-year-old Luca Te Whiu, a nephew of Harris, said earlier this week.
Te Whiu is one of numerous relations of versatile utility Harris who attend Mayfair School in Hastings. If he doesn't follow in his famous uncle's footsteps and crack the big time as a player he will definitely make it as an NRL commentator. This youngster has got the gift of the gab and, for one so young, plenty of league knowledge.
He predicted the Storm will get the victory when they take on the North Queensland Cowboys in tomorrow night's NRL grand final at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.
"It's going to be a close final like last year's," he said referring to the Storm's 14-12 loss to the Sharks, his uncle's first grand final appearance.
"It could even be a one-point game. There will be no extra time as the Cowboys have too many key players injured," Te Whiu said listing playmaker Jonathan Thurston, the best player on the planet, and legendary Aussie test prop Matt Scott.
When the name of in-form Cowboys Kiwi lock Jason Taumalolo and his possible impact was mentioned to Te Whiu he went quiet. So the question was put to him:
Which one of the Storm players is good enough to contain Taumalolo?
"My uncle," he replied.
Like most of his relations Te Whiu has watched Harris, a 14-test Kiwi, live at various stages during his career. He was on the sideline as a 5-year-old when Harris, 25, made his NRL debut against the Dragons in Melbourne in 2013.
He was at Napier's McLean Park when the Storm beat the Dragons again in 2015. On that occasion the Harris clan and members of their Waipatu Marae-based Tamatea club filled almost two blocks in the Harris Stand.
However, none of Harris' Hawke's Bay-based immediate family will be in Sydney tomorrow night.
"A lot of them booked holidays earlier in the year for around this time which they couldn't get out of," Harris' mother Dale explained.
"The young ones like Luca will be all around the television here at home. All the older ones will be over at the clubrooms watching it on television there. I'll be with the young ones and will check on the score every now and then ... I get so nervous during televised live games yet I'm good as gold when I'm at the games."
She agreed a grand final winner's ring would be the ideal send-off from the Storm club for her son before he linked up with the Warriors next season.
Current Tamatea premier side player-coach Jason Robinson partnered Harris in the centres for the premiers during Harris' final season with the team in 2009 before he headed to Melbourne. He remembered Harris' final day with the club well.
"That was the day Tohu played four games in one day. He played for his Hastings Boys' High School 1st XV first, then the Tamatea colts rugby side, the Tamatea reserves league team and our team when he scored three tries in his final appearance."
Robinson predicted Harris will win the MVP award tomorrow night.
"He better ... he's paying $26 and few of us have put money on it. One of our workmates have put $50 on Tohu which means he will get around $1300 back."
Former Unicorns and Magpies speedster Robinson works for Harris' father Paul at P & T Contractors and he said the firm's social club would turn out in force to watch the final at the Tamatea clubrooms tomorrow night.
"We're hoping we win our semifinal against Kahuranaki and that sets us up for a memorable weekend of league," Robinson said referring to Rugby League Hawke's Bay's senior semifinals at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park in Hastings today.
Tamatea will have a tough assignment up against the rapidly improving Kahuranaki side which boasts the services of former Magpies rugby speedster Shannan Chase and veteran Otane rugby pivot Kelly Graham. Robinson's son Ash Robinson, a New Zealand Open men's touch team speedster and Hawks basketball team point guard Mataeus Marsh, will provide the speed for Tamatea.
Defending champions Bridge Pa will take on Dannevirke Tigers in the other premier semifinal. The reserve grade semifinals will see unbeaten hot favourites Maraenui take on Clive while Bridge Pa play Flaxmere.
The women's grade semifinals will see Tamatea take on Dannevirke Tigers and Bridge Pa play Hastings Rugby and Sports.