Jack Goodhue More than a mullet
There’s much more to Jack Goodhue than his rugby and his mullet, such as his mentoring. Richard Knowler reports.
Jack Goodhue understands the value of not trying to be consumed by being an All Black. The international centre understands he needs to do all he can to fulfil his obligations as a professional athlete, but he’s also determined to give back to society in his own unique way.
While the rugby section of the Goodhue story is a familiar one, it doesn’t need to define who he is.
The 24-year old, like many talented sports-mad teenagers in New Zealand, was tagged as a promising rugby player at secondary school.
Good enough to be twin brother Josh’s vice-captain in the Mt Albert Grammar School 1st XV – Jack was also head boy in his final year – he shifted to Canterbury to study at Lincoln University, represented the NZ under-20 team and made his provincial debut for the Cantabs in 2014.
There’s nothing especially remarkable about this. The Canterbury Rugby Football Union is a busy institution when it comes to scouting talent and Goodhue, who was born and raised in Kawakawa in Northland and boarded at Mt Albert Grammar, accepted the chance to study agricultural science.
It seemed inevitable Goodhue would be signed by the Crusaders as he settled into life in Christchurch, and he made his Super Rugby debut in 2017.
Now to shine light on Goodhue’s other interests. His Christian faith helps shape the person he wants to be, rather than, in simple terms, being Jack Goodhue the All Black.
If you’re a rugby star in New Zealand, doors can swing open in a flash. It’s up to the individual to select which one to waltz through.
Being an All Black had nothing to do with Goodhue’s decision to join a volunteer mentoring programme called Big Brothers, Big Sisters that matches adults to young people aged 6-12.
To put it simply he wanted to see if he could set a good example as an ordinary Kiwi bloke, rather than a pro footy player.
After an online search he decided he could spare one hour a week to spend time with a youngster who may benefit from his company.
‘‘It was something I always wanted to do. I always thought mentoring was such a great thing,’’ Goodhue said.
‘‘It identifies kids who aren’t necessarily really bad or really troubled, but just could do with . . . someone to look up to or a role model, a bit of a push in the right direction.
‘‘They identify these kids and match them with personalities they think will suit each other. It works really well because a lot of these kids might not have a father figure or older brothers.’’
Goodhue appreciates the upbringing he had on his parents dairy farm in the Far North.
He makes it sound like a stereotypical rural upbringing in New Zealand; playing rugby on the lawn with his three brothers, hooning around the paddocks on the motorbike and helping out in the shed where his parents now milk up to 350 cows.
He appreciated being raised by supportive parents and being able to hang out with siblings who looked out for him.
‘‘I know for myself how important my dad was and having older brothers, that shaped my hugely for who I am today.
‘‘Mentoring can be tough at times, but really there is no real secret to it. It is just giving someone the time and energy, to see him thrive and blossom.
‘‘It’s amazing just what having a conversation can do. Often we will just go Jack Goodhue
and shoot hoops or pass a rugby ball, or kick a football around. And that’s it.’’
Goodhue also believes mentoring benefits him, too; it can ensure he doesn’t get too carried away with being a rugby star. While he credits coaches such as All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster and Leon MacDonald, now head coach at the Blues but a former mentor from the Crusaders and the NZ under-20 team, as being influential on his playing career he says figuring out how to not get weighed down by the pressures that come with being an All Black has also helped.
In a world where the magic carpets can sweep up top players and take them to places the ordinary bloke on the street can only dream about, he likes the concept of having to think about someone else. Being a mentor, he says, has benefits for him also.
‘‘It’s nice because you can get so selffocused. I think he [his mentoree] likes the idea that I am an All Black and a Crusaders player but our relationship isn’t based on that.
‘‘More importantly it’s the time we spend together. As me, Jack, the person
. . . me and him just enjoying each other’s company.’’
Rugby commitments mean Goodhue isn’t always around.
Being an All Black requires him to be out of town, and if all goes to plan, he will still be in Japan when the World Cup final is held in Yokohama in early November, but he plans on reuniting with the youngster next year. Things have unfolded rapidly since Goodhue was invited to join the All Blacks as a member of their wider squad during the British and Irish Lions series in 2017.
He’s young enough to mature into a highly regarded All Blacks centre and has already played 10 tests.
It can take time for men in the No 13 jersey to master the complex job where reading defences and knowing when, and how, to put wings in space is a priority.
Goodhue has also had his share of setbacks. He suffered a serious knee injury soon after moving to Canterbury, and has been laid low by bouts of glandular fever in recent seasons.
Visiting his parents’ farm provides a welcome break from the rugby roundabout, but he says he doesn’t have a burning desire to work on a diary unit after rugby.
‘‘I like agriculture and I appreciate how important it is for New Zealand and also for people,’’ he says. ‘‘Feeding the world is a constant problem we face.
‘‘I would love to be a part of that solution. How that looks I am not sure.’’
There’s an art to being a good rugby tourist, especially during a World Cup when the constant routine of trainings, meetings, commuting and recovery sessions can take their toll.
During the tournament in Japan the four All Blacks midfielders in the squad make sure they gather once a week, more to chat about what is going on in each other’s lives than to talk rugby.
Goodhue also makes time for bible study and prayers to help unwind, saying it helps ease the pressure.
‘‘You can endure that for a little while, but eventually when you put everything into the one thing – especially work – I guess it becomes too much and drives you crazy after a while.
‘‘By focusing on things that are really important, which are the bible and what it reminds me of, it puts everything into perspective.’’
Goodhue, who became a Christian when he was a teenager, also enjoys sitting down with All Blacks squad members Sonny Bill Williams and Ofa Tuungafasi, who are Muslims, to reflect, discuss their beliefs and the sort of people they want to be.
The All Blacks are a melting pot of different races, religions and creeds and Goodhue welcomes the opportunities to discuss their views on life.
‘‘Me, Sonny and Ofa – we have had some good conversations. They never get heated. It is just learning about what their faith is and what they believe.
‘‘If more people had these conversations and were more aware of what others believed and were, I guess, more considerate and understanding, I think the world would be a better place.
‘‘I think the hate and misunderstanding come from a lack of knowledge and ignorance.’’
‘‘It’s amazing just what having a conversation can do.’’