Unbeaten Pātea face toughest test in final against Waitara

“Whānau and friends [in Australia] are getting behind the team by painting their Facebook blue and gold and changing their profile pictures to the Pātea Warriors logo.” Coach Tamati Neho

History will be made on Saturday when the Pātea Warriors host the Waitara Bears in Taranaki’s premier rugby league grand final.

Not only will the South Taranaki town host a final for the first time, but it will also be Pātea’s first final.

The team enters the match with an unbeaten record this season.

During the four-week round-robin Pātea played only two matches, beating Western Suburbs 38-18 and Waitara 22-20. They won two games by default, against Whanganui side Boxon and defending champions Hāwera.

Despite the interruptions, coach Tamati Neho said the town was “absolutely buzzing” after Pātea won the semi-final 40-22 against Western Suburbs.

The excitement had stretched further afield and attracted attention across the ditch.

“Whānau and friends [in Australia] are getting behind the team by painting their Facebook blue and gold and changing their profile pictures to the Patea Warriors logo,” he said.

“There’s a lot of excitement in amongst the team because this is a journey we’ve been on over the past three years with re-entering the premier team into the competition after a 27-year period.”

Pātea is not a stranger to finals rugby league. The side lost to Hāwera after the final hooter in the 2021 semi-final and bowed out at the same stage last year against the same team.

The success at the business end of the season was creating a legacy over time for future players and showcasing what Pātea was about, Neho said.

“We have a large junior membership and creating our premier team allowed us to provide a pathway for our younger players to aspire to.”

Training numbers have also been positive during the season driven by an inclusive culture.

But Neho said that will cause a few headaches leading into tomorrow. “Only 17 can take the field. Training numbers have been consistently close to 25 plus.”

He pointed out young players Jamie Close, Brody Potaka-hippolite, new halfback Patrick Pullen and up and coming prop Te Poutokomanawa MatatahiTalitonu, as ones to watch.

Waitara made the final after Hāwera defaulted the semi-final because of a lack of players. The Bears finished in third place after the regular season.

Neho is expecting tomorrow to be tough. “Waitara has been there and done that and have been a powerhouse in the league scene here in Taranaki for as long as league has been playing. They have a great deal of experienced players.

“It’s going to be a great battle on Saturday and we’re expecting nothing less.”

Kickoff is at 2.30pm at the Pātea Domain.

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