Super Rugby: Liam Messam on 20 years with the Chiefs and why he keeps coming back

Liam Messam says he loves the physicality of rugby. Photo / Malisha Kumar

Over the past 30 years, many players, coaches and staff have left their mark on the Chiefs. A lot of them have come and gone, but one who’s stayed is Liam Messam. Waikato Herald journalist Danielle Zollickhofer caught up with him before tonight’s Chiefs v Highlanders match at FMG Stadium Waikato.

Liam Messam has a long history with the Chiefs.

It’s ranged from looking up to them as a high school student, to his debut for the team, becoming captain, winning back-to-back championships, officially retiring, making a brief comeback when the team were in need, and retiring again, as the highest-capped Chiefs player ever, to moving into an official mentorship role with the franchise and being described as the embodiment of the Chiefs mana.

One could say Liam Messam, 42, is the ultimate Chief.

The man himself, affectionately called Koro – Grandpa – by the players, is quick to disagree, however.

“Nah, nah, nah, just the longest dude here – that’s all.”

Messam has been part of the team’s journey for 20 years, and it’s fair to say he’s seen it all: the good, the bad and the ugly.

His first contact with the Chiefs was as a Rotorua Boys’ High School student, watching the team train at the school.

“That really impacted ... my choices in life.

“I was just ... a kid ... in awe.

“They were pushing one of those scrum machines ... up against a tree ... and I was just blown away, I was like ... that’s cool, I wanna be a Chief.

“I was [already] into my rugby and whatnot, but that moment there ... [made me] focused.”

Messam said that aside from the brotherhood of rugby, he loved the physicality of the game.

“It’s brutal ... It’s a combative sport, it’s a gladiator sport.”

Messam became part of the Chiefs’ wider training group before his official debut for the team in 2006 against the Sharks in South Africa.

Liam Messam in a Chiefs v Brumbies match in 2012. Photo / Alan Gibson

“I actually don’t remember the game, but I ... do remember, they had a big ... centipede, this big insect in our dugout where the game was going [on], so all of us were just trying not to get bitten.”

Between his debut and first retirement in 2018, there were many outstanding moments – good and bad.

Among the not-so-good ones that have burned themselves on Messam’s memory is the 2009 final, where the Chiefs got “absolutely smashed” 61–17 by the Bulls in South Africa.

Another is a post-game encounter with a fan.

“We had lost eight or nine [games] in a row. And I remember walking off the home field and a fan, who wasn’t happy at all, ... was just giving it to me, ... saying I’m an embarrassment and all this.

“[It] made me ... try and pull things together.

“I didn’t want another fan to sort of feel like that ... or [another] one of our boys to be [talked to] like that ever again.”

Liam Messam is a Chiefs athlete development coach these days. Photo / Michael Bradley

Messam became captain in the 2011 season, stepping in for Mils Muliana, who sustained a back injury. The following two seasons, Messam shared the duty with Craig Clarke.

The duo led the Chiefs to back-to-back championship wins.

“The first win [in 2012] was more of a relief, I guess. We weren’t tipped to win.

“I just remember the final whistle and I turned around and one of my best mates, Tanerau Latimer, he was right there and we just looked at each other.

“I played a lot of rugby with [him], through Bay of Plenty Under-16s all the way to NZ Sevens, and to have that [Super Rugby championship winning] moment with him was pretty cool.”

Chiefs co-captains Liam Messam and Craig Clarke hold up the winning trophy after the Super Rugby final between Chiefs and Sharks won by Chiefs 37-6 at Waikato Stadium in 2012. Photo / Stephen Barker, Photosport.co.nz

Messam said all Chiefs teams from 2012 to 2026 were very similar.

“I think what 2012 and 13 have taught other teams is that if everyone does their part ... then [winning] can be possible.

“I have been in Chiefs teams that have been way more talented than the 2012/13 team.

“I know it sounds ridiculous if you go through the players [that were in the squad], but those players were just young back then, they weren’t anybody.

“But that team just got really tight and worked really hard for each other.”

When asked why the Chiefs hadn’t won again, Messam said playing rugby at that level was more difficult than it might seem.

“It comes down to a few moments in the game. I don’t think people understand how hard it is to get into a final [and] ... to play in a final.

Liam Messam sometimes still trains with the Chiefs. Photo / Malisha Kumar

“These boys have done a fantastic job in the last four, five years to even get there.

“Hopefully, there’s been enough experience now that the boys can go the next step.”

Messam first officially retired in 2018, though he returned in 2021, aged 37, as injury cover, after season-ending injuries to three loose forwards.

After that season, he retired again, with 183 caps, making him the highest-capped Chiefs player in history.

“I didn’t ever [dream] or think that I would play as many [games] as I did.”

Messam said that across the games and throughout the years, not much had changed.

“Rugby is a very simple game.

“From the [1800s] to 2026, the core fundamentals of rugby have never changed and never will.

“Sometimes people make it more complicated than it is. It’s not rocket science.”

Though he did admit there is more sports science involved and more support for the players these days, which he believes means players will be able to play for longer.

Messam said the 30th-anniversary season of Super Rugby competition had been fantastic and of great quality.

“Hopefully it goes for another 30, or 60, 90 years.”

Liam Messam at a boxing fight in 2023. Photo / Andrew Cornaga, Photosport.nz

Since he retired from rugby, Messam has switched the ball for boxing gloves and also competed in his first Ironman.

He can still be found on the pitch and at Chiefs HQ, as he joined the team as an athlete development coach, a mentorship role.

“I sometimes do training with them just to keep them on their toes ... keep these young fellas honest.

“A 42-year-old shouldn’t be beating them at the fitness stuff, but I do! I let them know about it too.”

Messam said he missed playing in front of the crowds at times – until reality kicked in.

“I went down to [Christchurch for] Super Round and I ... got the feeling ‘s***, I wish I was out there’, but then you see the first contact and [go] like ‘yeah nah’.”

• The Chiefs face the Highlanders at FMG Stadium Waikato tonight – kickoff is at 7.05pm.

Danielle Zollickhofer is the Waikato news director and a multimedia journalist at the Waikato Herald. She joined NZME in 2021 and is based in Hamilton.