KEY POINTS:
You'd never guess that Monty Betham and Temepara George will compete against each other in the final of NZ 's biggest entertainment show.
The netballer and rugby league star-turned-boxer have formed what they call a "Breakfast Club", which involves getting together for a bite to eat when they
are in Wellington filming Dancing With the Stars.
"When we're away, me, Temepara and [her dance partner] Stefano all get together at a cafe," Betham told the Weekend Herald.
"Us three are probably the tightest on the show. She's a bit of an idiot on the netball court as well as on the dance floor."
The pair had met a few times through George's partner, Sione Faumuina, with whom Betham played league at the Warriors, but it's only since they started dancing that they've become close.
"Me and Stefano have had a bit of a talk about it and if we did lose we actually wouldn't mind losing to Monty," George said.
The "best mates" will go head to head on Tuesday, performing three dances they choreographed this week in an attempt to convince thousands of viewers to vote them the winners.
But it hasn't been an easy road. Betham had only ever danced at "family functions or after a few drinks at a nightclub" and George had only ever had "a boogie with the girls".
"I've had some really hard days where I just want to give up," Betham admitted.
Actor Shane Cortese, the partner of Betham's dancing partner Nerida Jantti, has been at some rehearsals offering moral support. "It's good to have Shane there to remind her sometimes that I'm not a dancer.
"But she's very similar to me, very focused, very driven, a really nice girl," Betham said.
Both hope to carry on dancing after the show is over. "I'd love to get Sione into it," George said. "He's got the groove, I just don't know if he's got the ballroom part down. It's funny for me to watch anyway."
The sporty, fit finalists have managed to bypass the common injuries that are expected with amateurs cramming as much dancing into a short amount of time as possible.
TEMEPARA GEORGE
Age: 32.
Height: 170cm.
Weight: 68kg.
Boyfriend: Sione Faumuina.
Children: Jusdean, 14, and Erin-Wayne, 10.
Credentials: 59 test caps with the Silver Ferns, Player of the Match in the 2003 Netball World Championships final, vice-captain of the Silver Ferns in 2005, commonwealth Gold Medal in 2006, captain of the Northern Force in the National Bank Cup. Currently playing for the Northern Mystics.
Previous dance experience: "Having a boogie with the girls."
Dance partner: Stefano Olivieri, winner of season 3 of DWTS with partner Suzanne Paul. Dancing since age 10, has won every major national Australian Dancesport Championship and represented Australia in prestigious international events, including the World Latin and Standard Championships. Is currently dancing professionally with Natalie Lowe, the winner of season 5 of Australia's DWTS. Has also spent the past four years touring with stage show Burn the Floor.
Support base: Netball community, young mothers, Samoan community.
Judges combined score so far: 326.
Highest score for one dance: 36, waltz, episode 7.
Charity: Autism New Zealand.
MONTY BETHAM
Age: 29.
Height: 183cm.
Weight: 94kg.
Children: 15-month-old son Riley.
Wife: Jaymie.
Credentials: Captained the Warriors, played over 100 NRL and Super League games, nine test matches for the Kiwis, captained the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in England, secured five wins from five fights in the cruiserweight boxing division. Currently the manager and a personal trainer at Boxing Alley.
Previous dance experience: "When forced at family functions or after a few drinks at a nightclub."
Dance partner: Nerida Jantti, finalist in season one of DWTS with partner Shane Cortese. Started ballet and jazz at age 5. At 15, she began dancesport and has competed in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany and Latvia. Also trained in bellydancing for two years.
Support base: Teenage girls, rugby league community, boxing community.
Judges combined score so far: 276.
Highest score for one dance: 35, paso doble, episode 7.
Charity: The Royal New Zealand Plunket Society
