Boots and all:
Sky’s Honey Hireme-Smiler talks about her love of sport.
Sky Sports presenter Honey Hireme-Smiler has represented New Zealand in rugby league, rugby union and rugby sevens. She tells Sarah Nealon about how her love affair with sport began, why her family were crucial to her success and how she feels about being a role model.
Honey Hireme-Smiler was five years old when she started running around on a field with an oval-shaped ball. Back then the child who would grow up to represent New Zealand in league and rugby wanted to play sport alongside her brothers. “I come from a small community,” says Hireme-Smiler, a Sky Sports presenter. “I grew up in Put ruru. I suppose the whole town can be seen as a sporty community. There is not a lot else to do down there. “My family was right into rugby and rugby league. So it is kind of natural that all of us kids just played one or both of those codes. Initially my brothers were playing. They are younger than me but I sort of tagged along to their trainings and kind of got involved that way. “For me, I just fell in love with it really early and never really thought it was just for boys because even though it was only boys on my team, and it was probably quite uncommon for girls to play, I just loved it. It never really fazed me to be the only girl in the team.” As a child, Hireme-Smiler played league for the Putaruru Dragons and dreamed of sporting success akin to the famous players she saw in the media. “I wanted to be the next sort of Stacey Jones or Ruben Wiki,” she says. “I grew up kind of idolising male sportspeople, because I never really knew of any female (league) sportspeople.” As an adult, Hireme-Smiler’s long list of sporting achievements include
playing in multiple Rugby League World Cups such as in the UK in 2013 where she was named Player Of The Tournament.
She has also represented New Zealand in a Rugby World Cup and in a Rugby Sevens World Cup. Thanks to her talent in the two codes, she was nicknamed ‘Honey Bill’ in reference to New Zealander Sonny Bill Williams who played top-level league and rugby.
Like many athletes of her calibre, Hireme-Smiler has had to make sacrifices for sport.
“I had my son when I was 23 and I’m really grateful to have a pretty supportive family that helped me to raise him when I had to go away and train really early in the mornings or train late at night and then (go) away every weekend.
“You know, Saturday playing rugby and Sunday playing rugby league,” she says.
“That was kind of my son’s life for probably 15 years. He’s had to live that life of constantly being on the go.
“You know, ‘Mum being here and then she’s not and then she’s on the go’. So (it was) a real big balance but I have to put that down to having a great support network in terms of my family.”
These days Hireme-Smiler’s son is more interested in playing basketball than league.
The mother and son live in Hamilton with Hireme-Smiler’s wife and her two teenage sons.
In last year’s New Year’s Honours, Hireme-Smiler was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby league.
That was also the year she stopped playing.
“I officially retired in October,” says Hireme-Smiler. “It was the last time I put the boots on. (I’ve got) no regrets so far actually.
“I’m starting to navigate my way through, I suppose, different areas where I can impact the game because I’m still heavily involved. Not just in the Sky Sport role and being able to commentate and things like that but also looking at the coaching side of things as well as the governance side of things. Just wherever I can help I suppose (to) increase and support the women’s game both in rugby and in rugby league.” As a result of her accomplishments, Hireme-Smiler (Ng ti Raukawa, Ng ti Haua, Waikato-Tainui, Te Arawa) has been called a role model for M ori sportswomen, a label she doesn’t take lightly.
“Being a role model is a privilege and a responsibility I take seriously and graciously,” she says.
“I am passionate about mentoring and empowering M ori to pursue their dreams, so that we can build positive futures for our people.”
Besides her work for Sky TV, Hireme-Smiler also works for the Halberg Foundation as a disability sport adviser.
“Disability sports advisers engage with young people with physical and visual impairments to try to connect them with either sport, recreation or active play,” she says.
“We also connect with schools or sporting communities to help them to ensure that they’re being inclusive.”