NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Rugby

Rugby: Looking up to his brothers

Vaimoana Tapaleao
By Vaimoana Tapaleao
Pasifika Editor·NZ Herald·
6 Jul, 2015 05:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Mackenave Pisi says seeing his brothers play at international level inspires him to chase an All Blacks jersey. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Mackenave Pisi says seeing his brothers play at international level inspires him to chase an All Blacks jersey. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Massey High School First XV player inspired by older siblings taking on the All Blacks.

Being named after your three older brothers - all of whom have had successful rugby careers - can be a burden for a teenager.

But Mackenave Pisi takes it all in his stride and for him, the challenge is not to be like his brothers, but to be better than them.

The 16-year-old plays in the number 12 jersey for Massey High School's First XV rugby team.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He is the youngest brother of Manu Samoa players Tusi, George and Ken Pisi - all of whom are former Massey First XV captains.

"I'm named after them. Tusi's other name is Makesi, George's other name is Ave, and then Ken.

"Knowing they've done so well has put pressure on me to do well too. But it's been good to grow up with role models like them."

Ken and George Pisi. Photo / Getty Images
Ken and George Pisi. Photo / Getty Images

Asked what made him different from his brothers, the year 12 student points out personality traits and abilities off the field.

"I'm probably better at school than them. Well, George anyway," he said, laughing.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

George is out injured so will not be available for the All Blacks' first test in Apia tomorrow. But Tusi and Ken have been named in the squad to take on the All Blacks.

Mackenave said seeing his brothers play at international level helped to inspire him to chase a revered jersey too.

Not the blue jersey, however.

"The goal right now is the black jersey. That's what I'm chasing.

Discover more

All Blacks

All the pressure is on the All Blacks - Nanai-Williams

05 Jul 09:02 PM
Travel

Samoa: The first XV

06 Jul 09:00 PM
All Blacks

Sonny Bill ready for pandemonium

06 Jul 01:55 AM
All Blacks

Manu Samoa coach thanks Hansen for selecting strong All Blacks

06 Jul 02:05 AM

But you never know what happens. I'd like to play for the blue jersey too."

He did, however, hope Manu Samoa put up a good contest against the world champs.

Tusi Pisi. Photo / Getty Images
Tusi Pisi. Photo / Getty Images

If a career in rugby doesn't happen for the youngest of the Pisi brothers, there's another field he is interested in pursuing - that of the medical kind.

"I wanna be a doctor one day. I wanna do well in school and do that later. So yeah, It's not all about rugby."

The details

Who: Manu Samoa v All Blacks.
When: Tomorrow 2pm (NZ time).
Where: Apia Park, Samoa
What: All Blacks will play Manu Samoa in Samoa for the first time.
Watch live: Sky Sport 1, from 1.15pm.

Hot ticket
• All Blacks arrived last night.
• 29C and 77% humidity, wind 19km/h is forecast for the game.
• The test match will be played in front of 8000 fans.
• The Samoan public have a half-day off for the test.
• The All Blacks last played Samoa on September 3, 2008, winning 101-14 in New Plymouth.
• Mils Muliaina, born in Samoa, scored a hat trick.
• Four All Blacks who are set to play tomorrow - Dan Carter, Tony Woodcock, Jerome Kaino and Keven Mealamu - also played in the New Plymouth test.
• Richie McCaw missed the 2008 test because of a rib injury. He has never faced Manu Samoa.
TAB
• Head to head
• New Zealand: $1.01
• Samoa: $15
Extra
For live coverage of the game, visit our live blog from 1.30pm at: www.nzherald.co.nz/sport

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Rugby

Premium
All Blacks

All Blacks vs France: Where the second test can be won

11 Jul 02:51 AM
All Blacks

All Blacks wing stocks take another hit as Caleb Clarke scratched from second test

11 Jul 02:34 AM
All Blacks

'Bringing that impact off the bench': McKenzie on battle for No 10 jersey

11 Jul 12:21 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rugby

Premium
All Blacks vs France: Where the second test can be won

All Blacks vs France: Where the second test can be won

11 Jul 02:51 AM

Ardie Savea assumes the captaincy, and one of the most anticipated AB debuts awaits.

All Blacks wing stocks take another hit as Caleb Clarke scratched from second test

All Blacks wing stocks take another hit as Caleb Clarke scratched from second test

11 Jul 02:34 AM
'Bringing that impact off the bench': McKenzie on battle for No 10 jersey

'Bringing that impact off the bench': McKenzie on battle for No 10 jersey

11 Jul 12:21 AM
Updates on the All Blacks second test with France LIVE from Wellington

Updates on the All Blacks second test with France LIVE from Wellington

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP