Stop the presses
Memories from the keyboaqrd
OPINION: I’ve got to break you the bad news: this column will be one of my final acts writing for the Manawatu¯ Standard and for Stuff.
My role has been disestablished, so Friday is my last day.
In the six and a bit years I’ve been working here, I’ve had a great time and loved every minute of telling your stories, and I’m sorry to be leaving.
So if you’ve enjoyed reading, or thought I’ve been a massive pest, thanks either way. And thanks everyone who’s given me information, interviews and whatever else.
Manawatu¯ has a great sporting pedigree and what a six years it’s been. There has been Olympic and Commonwealth Games, national championships, world titles, World Cups, club reports, history, profiles and everything in between.
But enough sentimental rubbish. I’ll quickly recap some of sporting moments I’ve enjoyed.
The good
Most recently Palmy lad Brendon Hartley driving in Formula One is one of the best achievement’s we’ve had.
But the Turbos 2014 NPC championship final was right up there. The Boneyard was rocking that night for a thrilling 32-24 win over the old nemesis Hawke’s Bay. The Turbos put us through agony, but moments like this make it worth it.
The Manawatu¯ cricket team’s ridiculous, come-from-behind Hawke Cup win over Northland in 2015 was one of the better ones too.
Manawatu¯ were dead and buried, but pulled off an amazing defence of the famous trophy. Mike Mason bowled an incredible 21 overs on the trot on the opening day.
Following on from that, I have seen Navin Patel do some amazing things with a cricket ball.
The Manawatu¯ women’s sevens team’s golden run has been great to watch and part of that has been Selica Winiata.
Winiata has got to be the best women’s rugby player in the world. She is an excitement machine, a great role model, gutsy as hell and always accessible to media.
The Jets’ 2012 playoffs run was special and it wouldn’t be right without mentioning Feilding rugby legend Brad Carr.
The 2015 extra-time senior reserve club rugby final was a cracker too.
The bad
It’s a shame the traditional sports are now a lot different to the glory days. In Manawatu¯ , the club rugby competition is top heavy and predictable, as is netball and others, while some sports like senior club rugby league are struggling.
Football isn’t in the best position at the moment either. Not having a Manawatu¯ team in the Central League is not doing the region any favours.
One of my bugbears is importing and poaching ruining schools rugby. Johnny-come-lately schools with big chequebooks have turned it into an arms race.
On the other side of the Turbos coin, their horrific 36-31 loss to Hawke’s Bay this season, having led 17-0, was a shocker.
The Jets pulling out of the NBL in 2015 after 33 years was sad, so it was great they were able to return. I hope they aren’t just making up the numbers next year.
The unusual
This may belong in the bad file, but I won’t forget the absolute circus of a football game between the now-defunct Youngheart Manawatu¯ and Otago United in 2013, which Otago won 4-1.
There where five yellow cards and three reds dished out that day five men were sent off as the red mist descended - and Youngheart coach Stu Jacobs made a beeline for the carpark on fulltime.
The shock resignation of then CD boss Pods Hood in 2015 is still mysterious and something else that sticks in my mind is the infamous ‘‘cup of tea’’ bowls AGM last year.
And for the non-believers, how about the Dannevirke Tigers’ act of God in 2012. The rugby league team trekked to Taranaki to play the Waitara Bears with only 10 men.
Anyone watching that day witnessed what coach Pastor Charlie Tuhua called a ‘‘miracle’’ and they somehow won 38-32.
That will do it I think. Now I’m off to rediscover something extremely rare for a sports reporter - a weekend.