Past and present All Blacks were in Porirua to pay their respects to Jerry Collins who was farewelled in his hometown today during a three-hour service at Te Rauparaha Arena.
At Collins' funeral yesterday, Masoe recalled how he first met the man who became Porirua's favourite son.
Image 1 of 10: Pallbearers, including All Blacks, from left, Tana Umaga, Chris Masoe and Ma'a Nonu, carry Jerry Collin's casket out of Te Rauparaha Arena. Photo / Mark Mitchell
"I met JC in '98. As a boy,I was a 'Fresh', straight from the island," he told those gathered in Porirua's Te Rauparaha Arena.
Collins, a rising rugby star, inspired fear in those who played against him.
"They were all scared of him. I tried to show him I was tough - but he showed me he was tougher."
Laughter broke out as the crowd imagined the bone-shuddering encounter Masoe hinted at.
"Since then, we're best mates. And we're brothers," Masoe added.
Holding back tears, Masoe joked he'd probably get a walloping if Collins saw him cry. "I'm so grateful that I had you in my life. I will tell you all about it when I see you again."
Collins' baby Ayla - who remains seriously ill in hospital - and his partner Alana Madill, who died with Collins in a car crash nearly two weeks ago, "stole his heart big time", Masoe said of his friend.
Tim Castle, Collins' manager of 14 years - the "Palagi grandfather" - said: "We never signed a contract. There was never any need to."
He said he took great comfort in knowing how much peace and joy Collins found in recent months with Alana and Ayla. He also revealed Collins spoke of a possible appearance on Dancing With the Stars. But Mr Castle said the thought of his "chicken legs" gracing TV screens was too much.
All Black and Hurricanes stalwart Ma'a Nonu raised the roof with stories of Collins' exploits. "JC, when he used to get drunk, he would bite people."
On tour in South Africa and under strict orders not to leave the hotel at night, Collins ordered Nonu to get a packet of smokes.
With no desire to defy the big man, Nonu obliged, went to a store across the road where a large group of locals watched menacingly. Nonu tried to look as staunch, taking carefully measured steps - before crossing the road and sprinting as fast as he could. When he got back, Collins asked: "What are you sweating for?"
Former All Black captain Tana Umaga, Collins' cousin, said he was often used as a go-between because even full-grown rugby players were scared of Jerry. "He liked it direct. He didn't like airy-fairy stuff."
Jerry Collins was the second-oldest of four children and the only boy. His middle sister, Brenda, invoked her brother's free-spirited nature, and spoke of growing up with a tight-knit family in an often strict but affectionate environment with mum Galuia and father Frank.
Alana Madill's father, Darrell, and sister Nora arrived for the funeral. Mr Madill, from Saskatchewan in Canada, paid tribute to the Collins family for raising a "humble, respectful and devoted" man.
Two days after meeting Collins, Mr Madill ran a Google search on his daughter's new boyfriend. He was stunned. "It was like Wayne Gretzky [a Canadian ice hockey star] came for supper."
