Kia Ora’s Governing league family
Corey Governor had no gripes when he lost his grip on the Kia Ora Warriors halfback jersey this season, mainly because it was to his own son, Jahlon.
Corey, 34, has long been a fixture in the No 7 jersey for Kia Ora, but mid way through the season he was replaced by 18-year-old Jahlon, who returned from Australia in April, having been part of the Canberra Raiders under-18 team.
That moved Corey, who captained the Manawatu Mustangs last season, to fullback, where he has been the top try scorer with 18, which he puts down to being on the end of good play.
‘‘He’s got my spot,’’ Corey chuckled. ‘‘I don’t mind playing at the back getting some good ball off them.’’
Jahlon said he was enjoying playing alongside his father, in what is a rarity in the senior competition.
‘‘The first game I came off the bench and I didn’t like that too much,’’ Jahlon said. ‘‘From then on I’ve been starting at seven.’’
It was good for the family, having the pair play together, Corey said.
The two have been have been team-mates on the touch field for about nine years now, but it is a first for them playing senior league together, which is a rarity by itself.
‘‘We took him to his first Whakatane [touch] tournament when he was 9 and that was open men’s,’’ Corey said.
They play for Unit Touch Club which has been running for two years but the group of guys has been together for about 10 years. They won the Manawatu competition last year and were beaten in the final this year.
Corey started playing rugby league in 2005, having two seasons for the now-defunct City Titans, before shifting to Kia Ora. Aside from last season when he dabbled with rugby for Freyberg then played for new league club Tainui, he has been a fixture at Kia Ora since.
The only one who Governor has played with the entire time has been Tamu Aumua, who retired after the Coast to Coast final in May.
Corey said he’s feeling the best he has at 34 and is in great shape through rugby league and mixed martial arts.
He trains at the Fight Shop NZ and may have a fight lined up in a month.
‘‘I’ll keep going a couple more years unless I get a major injury. ‘‘
He said it was good to still be running around, especially now Jahlon was playing.
‘‘He’s always there for me making sure I’m at training. He loves it.’’
Corey has another son playing rugby league in Kalos, who plays prop for the Kia Ora under-17 team, and there is also 4-monthold daughter Ciara.
Corey said Jahlon was a different player since he had come back from Australia and he has been impressing while playing for Kia Ora.
The Canberra under-18 team finished eighth equal in the SG Ball competition, but missed out on the playoffs on points differential.
Jahlon found the Raiders a professional set up and welcoming.
He has another Manawatu player with him there in Fabien Kiri, who is in the under-20s side, and Jahlon also found himself one night having dinner with Raiders player and former Kiwis international Sia Soliola.
Jahlon was finding the Manawatu senior competition more physical, but said the Australian competition is faster.
‘‘It’s probably the most fastpaced game I’ve played.’’
He is working at Ernest Adams until he goes back to Australia later in the year.