The memories flooded back for Richard Bradshaw as he watched Hawke's Bay's latest world champion, Star Timu, in action yesterday.
Hastings Rugby and Sports centre Timu was Hawke's Bay's sole representative in the New Zealand team which won a third consecutive Under-20 World Cup title in Rosario, Argentina, with a 62-17
drubbing of Australia in the final.
"Star was always a dominant player coming through the grades ... he was always going to do well," said Bradshaw.
He coached Flaxmere's Timu during his junior age-group representative career in Hastings A, B, C and D grade teams which were all unbeaten, the Hastings West Ross Shield team which won the 2003 tournament in Waipukurau, where Timu was named player of the tournament, and in the Hastings Rugby and Sports Hurricanes 12th grade team in 2003, which scored 1206 points and conceded five on the way to an unbeaten run.
"Star is our first New Zealand representative and first world champion from that Hurricanes team," said Bradshaw.
"He'll be happy with that winning margin against the Aussies. I watched him play for the 2008 New Zealand Secondary Schools when the Aussies beat them 15-11 in New Plymouth, so yesterday was a case of sweet revenge for a lot of the boys.
"We played him at fullback back then, but he's been going well at centre these days. Star may not make the Magpies if Sonny Bill Williams ends up in the Bay but he could go close if Sonny Bill goes elsewhere."
For Timu, a product of Hastings Boys' High School and Te Aute College, yesterday's winner's medal was a belated 20th birthday present for Saturday.
He played all 80 minutes in the final, which New Zealand led 25-3 at halftime. Australia didn't score their first try until the 55th minute.
Timu joins Zac Guildford, Trent Boswell-Wakefield, Leighton Price, Shae Tamati, Ash Dixon and Hugh Reed who have been world champion under-20 players while representing the Bay in the past three years.
