“That set the tone for the weekend because they had some pretty sharp players in their team and we had no idea of how they would play,” Koro said.
Whanganui picked up three more wins in the pool matches, beating Wellington (10-7), Hawke’s Bay (12-5) and Nelson College (7-6).
Koro said the win against Nelson was a “great battle” because Nelson have historically been one of the favourites to win the championship.
“It was a good grinding game, that was a standout game for us,” he said.
Whanganui’s only loss in the pool games was against Te Tai Tokerau Touch, based in Northland, 10-8.
Whanganui brushed aside Kāpiti Horowhenua (10-8) in the semi-final to lock in a grand final spot.
Koro said the semi-final was a particularly pleasing result because the two teams played each other in a pre-tournament game a week before the nationals, with Kāpiti Horowhenua winning.
“Going into that game, we had an idea of how good they were going to be so we turned up with a nothing-to-lose attitude,” Koro said.
Whanganui lost 10-7 against Te Tai Tokerau in the final, which Koro said was a “well-deserved” victory for the opposition.
There was no regret from his side after just falling short.
“The team were happy enough that they gave it their best shot,” he said.
“When you come off a field, not exactly getting a win but feeling like you gave your best is just as good as a win.”
Despite competing in the open grade, the Whanganui team ranged in age from 15 to 30 years.
Koro believed if his young team stuck together, they could go one step further in the future.
“That is what you hope for; that we come back and have a crack at it by maintaining 80% of the team,” Koro said.
He was particularly proud of his side’s championship efforts, considering Whanganui does not have a touch module.
To play touch rugby, the team must mainly train against themselves.
“I’m very proud of ourselves for [shining] on the big stage - number two in the country,” Koro said.
Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.
