Mural features club legends
A giant new mural features Katikati’s rugby greats
Artist Jason Manukau recalls posing for a standard club photo at Katikati Rugby and Sports Club when he was a junior player. Young Jason never imagined that one day he’d be looking up to that same view featuring his own artwork — a giant mural showcasing Katikati’s rugby greats throughout the years.
Jason grew up playing rugby in Katikati so it “means a lot” to be asked to create Katikati Open Air Art’s (KOAA) largest artwork honouring rugby heroes of the past.
Esteemed rugby players now watching over the Moore Park playing fields are David Gallaher (omitted from the photo view), George Henry, Ian Johnston, Greg Davis and Graeme Moore. Four more legends — to be announced — will take their place on the wall early next year.
Jason, the son of local fire chief Joe Manukau, put the finishing touches on the mural last week.
A full-time tattooist in Melbourne, he’s gained a reputation as an excellent airbrush artist. Before switching to tattooing in 2016, he created celebrity and athletic portraits for the likes of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jason Derulo, Tyga, Kevin Hart, Tim Cahill, Cyril Rioli and even Snoop Dog.
He even flew to the Gold Coast to present Johnson’s work to him personally.
The mural is a long time in the making. This is stage one of a project celebrating more than 140 years of local rugby. It began in 2019 as one of three rugby-related projects but a book launch and the rugby club’s celebration weekend were delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic — plus Jason was living in Australia.
The panels have been positioned so that they look over the main field. KOAA’s Steve Graveson says the portraits are there as a reminder to the Katikati players and supporters of the club’s past, its heritage and special link to the community.
Jason will soon start on the remaining four portraits, whose identities are yet to be announced.