Rugby: Mathewson loving move to big smoke

Shane Howarth (left), the Blues assistant coach, talks with halfback Alby Mathewson during team training at their Unitec grounds, Carrington Rd, Auckland. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Skateboarding was Alby Mathewson's first sporting passion at school.

It was a trickledown affection as elder brother Shane was sharp enough to win the nationals before moving on to a professional career.

But when Mathewson graduated to rugby and the 1st XV at Hastings Boys High, he reduced the amount of time he spent on kick-flip and shove-it moves in favour of spiral passes and box kicks.

"I used to muck around on the board and it was great fun," he recalled.

"I loved it but I had an uncle who hated it because he was a rugby player and he used to break my boards when he found out I had rolled my ankles or done some other damage."

In his final year at school, Mathewson was annoyed he failed to win a trial with the age-group Hurricanes side. He thought about going to study in Dunedin, but eventually changed his plans because he discovered there were greater opportunities for halfbacks in Wellington.

In his first year in the capital, Mathewson won the club player of the year award.

He was getting noticed. He made the national under-19 side, a representative debut in 2006 in the first of 47 games for Wellington and then an All Black debut, against Munster in Limerick in 2008, when he joined the tour as an injury replacement.

But that progression has not been altogether smooth. There were dramas of whether he or Piri Weepu would start at halfback in the capital, or whether they could both be used, with Weepu shifting out a place in the Super 14 and national championship.

In 2008, Mathewson claimed the starting halfback duties and thought his strong national championship form would elevate him to the All Blacks touring squad. It did, but only when Andrew Ellis was injured.

By then, there were strong murmurs around Wellington about signing a first five-eighths, a move which persuaded Mathewson he needed to find alternative employment.

"There was all sorts of talk and then it was clear that Aaron Cruden would be coming as five-eighths, so I knew Piri wanted to go back to halfback as five-eighths was not his favourite," Mathewson said.

Suddenly, Auckland looked attractive.

"I wanted to come up last year for the NPC, but it never worked out."

When Mathewson decided he would shift north, his plan hit some potholes.

"First I read about Jimmy Cowan making the move, then all sorts of other names were in the mix. But they all fell through and I must have been the last resort," he laughed.

"I wanted to give myself the best shot of improving and to do that I needed to get more games. I thought it was a sensible career move.

"If you want to further yourself you can't be happy just sitting and playing every now and then.

"I got a few blokes giving me the traitor call, but there was nothing malicious in it. They said they would have done the same thing."

So far so good. Mathewson and a few other imports flat together and have settled into life in Auckland. They have loved the summer weather and getting to know the city with trips to Takapuna, SkyTower and Mission Bay.

"It is so much bigger than Wellington and completely different, but I've had guys like Luke [McAlister)], Anthony [Tuitavake] and Ice [Toeava] to show me around.

"The rugby has been going well too. My aim was to get regular games and so far so good."

Mathewson saw many similarities between the Hurricanes and Blues. Both had a swag of talented players who liked to use the ball but the Canes probably had a shade more experience.

"This Blues team is young and the loss of Ali [Williams] is a big blow to our experience. But we have John Afoa, Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Jerome Kaino - guys like that with plenty of experience. I have also played alongside Stephen Brett in the Colts and NZ Juniors and we are good mates."

As the starting Blues halfback, Mathewson has been able to mark his form against Weepu and Cowan with tomorrow's matchup against new Reds skipper Will Genia at Ballymore. A year ago Genia was scarcely on the Reds radar, now he is by some distance, the best Wallaby halfback.

Now for Mathewson ...