Why Cortez chose the
IF the shoe fits?
Cortez Ratima – named after the Nike Cortez trainer because of his father’s collection of them – has seemingly fitted into the rigours of elite rugby after a breakthrough NPC season with Waikato in 2020.
The 21-year-old from Piopio, near Te Kuiti, is poised for his third Chiefs appearance off the bench in today’s capital clash with the Hurricanes in round seven of Super Rugby Pacific.
Ratima’s form for the Mooloos since his provincial debut in 2020 attracted interest from the Hurricanes and the Crusaders.
However, the heart of the King Country kid was set on the Chiefs, who offered him a deal for this season.
‘‘I’ve been loving it as a pro. It’s awesome,’’ Ratima told Sunday News.
‘‘I came in beforehand, got a good feel for the environment, and enjoyed it. Also, being able to represent my wha¯ nau, who are down in King Country, was a big positive, too.’’
Chiefs coach Clayton
McMillan recruited Ratima to join All Blacks star Brad Weber and his Waikato team-mate, Xavier Roe, in their halfback ranks.
Ratima has formed an effective double act with the latter for the Mooloos and played a big role as they won last year’s NPC, albeit without Auckland-based teams finishing the competition because of Covid-19’s impact.
McMillan has likened Ratima to former Chiefs and All Blacks halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow, as a ‘‘bigger, combative’’ No 9 with a sharp turn of speed, suiting the modern game which keeps getting bigger, faster and stronger.
‘‘I like being physical, in amongst the big boys, and trying to match it with them,’’ said Ratima, who is 1.79m tall and weighs 87kg.
High praise indeed, although it’s early days for Ratima, who is
ambitious nonetheless. ‘‘Hopefully, I’ll wear the black jersey [for the All Blacks] one day. That’s always been the ultimate goal,’’ he said.
Ratima was playing in
Waikato club rugby for O¯ torohanga as recently as last year, as he recovered from shoulder reconstruction.
His father,¯Peter Lee Ratima, was coach of Otorohanga’s A team when he signed with Waikato in 2020 and has had quite the influence on his career, as well as his standout first name.
‘‘He had a favourite shoe back in the day, a Nike Cortez,’’ Ratima said.
‘‘He collected quite a lot of them and the name stuck with him.’’
Ratima, who is affiliated to the Nga¯ ti Maniapoto iwi, has worn black in representing the New Zealand Ma¯ ori under-20s and the New Zealand Secondary Schools sevens team.
He finished his education at a renowned rugby school, Hamilton
Boys’ High, before joining Waikato.
After playing 31 minutes off the bench when the Chiefs stunned the Crusaders 24-21 in Christchurch last month, he featured for just 11min last Saturday when the perennial champions turned the tables to win 34-19 in Hamilton.
That didn’t stop Ratima from scoring his first Super try, albeit when the Chiefs were effectively beaten in the closing stages.
It was a special moment on the biggest stage of his career so far, with fans also back in the stands at Stadium Waikato for the first time since crowd restrictions were eased.
‘‘It didn’t really sink in because we were chasing the game. It was surreal, especially having all the fans back.’’
Ratima also kicks off his left foot, less common for a halfback, and could face one of the game’s best left-footed No 9s, All Black
T J Perenara, when the Chiefs tackle the Hurricanes today.