Theft of James Fisher-Harris’ NRL grand final winning boots from Far North club angers

James Fisher-Harris, centre, with the Pacific Cup at the Motukohu Rugby Clubrooms, the boots he donated to the club, that have been stolen, are on the wall next to a poster of Fisher Harris

A Far North community has been angered by the theft of “priceless taonga” from a Hokianga rugby club - New Zealand rugby league player James Fisher-Harris’ boots.

Fisher-Harris’, the Kiwis captain, has won four NRL grand finals and finished on the losing side in the final once. He won the grand finals with Penrith Panthers but has returned home to play for the NZ Warriors in this year’s NRL.

Fisher-Harris’ family is deeply connected to the Motukohu Rugby Club in Kohukohu, where he grew up.

He donated his 2021 premiership winning boots as part of an auction to help the club raise money to host an annual Labour Weekend tournament.

The boots were displayed in a cabinet alongside other memorabilia on the walls.

They and four of five precious rugby jerseys were stolen earlier this month.

Club spokesperson Reena Rio-Singh said the clubrooms, on Kohukohu Rd, were burgled between January 4 and January 20 when the break-in was discovered.

She said the offender broke in through a window.

“James, his father, step father and grandfathers on both sides have all played rugby on this field. His mother, grandmother, aunties and sister have all played netball for this club.

“James’ family home and extended whānau are all here in this community. James whakapapas to this club and community. To take what he gave us is like taking from him.”

Rio-Singh said Motukohu has hosted an annual whānau rugby and netball tournament every Labour Weekend for the past 42 years.

She said in December last year one of the participating whānau teams gave a koha to the club in the form of five different game rugby jerseys from the past 40 years in a custom-made frame.

Four of the jerseys were stolen and the collection is so rare that it was the only one of its kind.

Rio-Singh said the club didn’t particularly care who has them or how they may have come across the taonga.

“All we would like is them to be returned ... anonymously if they wanted.”

The jersies stolen from Motukohu Rugby Clubrooms in Kohukohu, Hokianga

Rio-Singh said the club was small, rural and isolated and run by koha and volunteers.

“We hire out the venue for private functions, run monthly markets and charge a $10 annual membership; we struggle to keep the lights on at times.”

Rio-Singh said the club was the centre of community activities.

“Whānau have celebrated 21st, 40th, 50th and even nehu (funeral) after the loss of loved ones. Our club is not just a club, it is an institution.

“Any programmes run out of the club for our rangatahi are free of charge.”

Anybody with the jerseys or boots can drop them off anonymously to the club or Kohukohu General Store which is open seven days a week from 8.30am to 4.30pm.

Rio-Singh said people can call her on 029 02016240 to arrange a pick up, no questions asked.