Rivers close to league star’s heart
Nelson Asofa-Solomona grew up in the Hutt Valley. It’s a place that remains close to his heart despite having flown the coop to Australia where he was a member of the Melbourne Storm team which won the 2017 NRL Grand Final.
Years ago while playing for the Upper Hutt Tigers, Asofa-Solomona had attracted the attention of Melbourne Storm scouts and officially signed in 2013, his last year of school. Now 21 years old and built at 200cm and 120kg, he is physically dominant but comfortable in the test environment too, as his Rugby League World Cup performances for the Kiwis have been unstoppable up front.
Making a combined 315 metres in wins over Samoa and Scotland, he started again on Saturday’s crunch match against Tonga in Pool B. Even teammate Russell Packer says he’s grateful he doesn’t have to stop him in his tracks.
He is back in New Zealand as he and the Kiwis strive to win the Rugby League World Cup. If things go to plan, he will likely feature in a quarterfinal clash at Wellington Regional Stadium on November 18. Where do you go to feel inspired?
It might sound strange but Wellington College. I did my year 9 to 13 schooling there and there were lots of inspiring people.
What do you miss most about Wellington when you are away? First of all, I really miss my family but I also miss the rivers in Wellington which I really like. I’m going to do a few bombs with the boys when I’m back in Wellington, maybe at a place in Upper Hutt called The Tablet, which is part of the Hutt River.
What’s your favourite public space?
In Wellington City, it would be Oriental Bay beach.
Where do you go for a night out?
I haven’t been back since I left school when I was too young to go out nightclubbing. I was no chance of doing that. But I do like the Cossie [Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan] Club in Upper Hutt. Where do you take out-of- towners
when they are visiting? I’d get them to come to my house for a barbecue.
We have a place with a massive deck, so they could come over for a feed with my family and have a good time.
Describe your perfect weekend?
I’d go to the Hutt River in Maoribank and Oriental Bay beach, and then go back to school to see people I haven’t seen in a while. That is important to me, seeing people who have had a massive influence on me.
Best pick for a cheap and cheerful meal to the Wellington region?
When I was at Wellington College, there was a McDonalds by the Basin Reserve. If there was a special on, the boys would be there.
Where do you go for good coffee?
I’m not really into coffee in Melbourne but they tell me it starts with mochas. I’ve recently got into vanilla lattes but to be honest I’ve never had coffee in a Wellington cafe.
What’s your favourite neighbourhood haunt?
I used to skate when I was a little lighter, and I used to go to the skatepark – Maidstone Max. My parents used to spend a lot of money on skateboards and stuff like that. It was a big part of my life. What’s your favourite place for a walk or to get into nature?
There’s a bush walk in Totara Park, where you go up to the peak and see the whole of Upper Hutt. That’s a great place for a walk. There’s a nice waterfall there too. The last time I went was before I left for Australia, to have a look over my hometown. What’s your favourite shop?
There was a kebab shop on the main drag of Upper Hutt – I’ve forgotten the name and they’ll hate me for that – where I used to get rice and mixed meat. It was my go-to for sure.