Legends of the Jubilee Cup: Grant Griffith (Poneke)

Above: Poneke wins the Jubilee Cup in 1975, beating a star-studded Petone in one of the great club rugby final upsets. Poneke captain Don Cederwall pictured with the Jubilee Cup and wing Peter Peilua scoring the winning try. Photo courtesy of the Evening Post. Grant Griffith was Poneke's sole Wellington A representative in the final, returning to action from injury in the second half to help lead them to a famous victory.

Grant Griffith is Poneke's most capped player, with 287 appearances from the late 1960s to 1986. The former Poneke and Wellington Lions midfielder and Poneke captain then hung up his boots and coached the Poneke Premiers for several seasons until well into the 1990s. Following that he moved into administration and was recently Poneke FC President for five years.

You grew up in the Eastern Suburbs and went to Rongotai College?

Yes, I was in the Rongotai College First XV in 1967 and 1968. The Rongotai First XV was unbeaten in 1968, and we had famous wins over both Wellington College and St Pat's Silverstream. A highlight was playing for the Centurions Colts team. We toured Fiji and were unbeaten. Some of my teammates included future All Blacks fullback Joe Karam, prolific try scoring Petone and Wellington wing Vern Winiata, Mike Natusch, Neil Cameron and forward Grant Nisbett who is well known now as being the voice of Sky TV's rugby commentary coverage.

You joined Poneke straight out of college?

I left Rongotai College and went over to Poneke. I played one Colts pre-season match and then I was put straight into the Senior 1 (Premier) side, aged 17. This remained the only grade I ever played for the next 17 years, up to 1986. I also played one year in Nelson in 1985 and played against North Harbour in the NPC Division 3 final.

You are Poneke's most capped player, so apart from a short stint in Nelson Bays was your club rugby career unbroken?

I finished on 287 Premier games for Poneke, but still broke my leg twice, broke my arm, broke my shoulder blade and broke my cheek bone. So I guess I would've played quite a few more games if I'd stayed fit the whole time!

Were all your matches in the midfield, at second five-eighth?

I started at first five-eighth but then moved into the midfield in 1973, where I played much of the rest of my career, moving back in to the 10 jersey for a time in the early 1980s.

What were some of the numerous highlights playing for Poneke over this time? Winning the Jubilee Cup in 1975 must have been memorable?

Winning the 1975 Jubilee Cup was memorable. It was the first time since 1951 that Poneke had won it and they didn't win it again for another 21 years after that.

That season I broke my shoulder blade three weeks before the final. The injury was supposed to sideline me for eight weeks at the minimum but coach Bill Henderson asked me if I wanted to get changed for the final against Petone. Then Richard McKenzie pulled his hamstring and I went on at halftime, to the protest of Petone captain Andy Leslie. I lasted out the game and we had a great win over a near Wellington-strength Petone side that also included such players as Vern Winitana, Jim Brown, Richard Cleland, John Dougan, Ian Stevens, Trevor Morgan and Frank Walker.

As Brian Cederwall, Tony Meachen and Charlie Henderson have all recently said, Petone were the benchmark team for much of your career?

Petone were the team I admired due to the type of 15-man, expansive and relentless rugby they played. I tried to install their style into my game.

Later, you took over the captaincy of the Poneke Premiers?

I captained Poneke from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. I was captain of Poneke during the 1983 Centenary celebrations, with a highlight being the game organised at Athletic Park between Wellington and an invitational Poneke team that had notable players such as Graham Mourie, Andy Haden, Fred Woodman, Hugo Porta, David Campese and Gary Whetton. An amazing weekend. The 125^th year was great, but nothing beat the Centenary celebrations.

Who were some of the Poneke stalwarts that you played with?

Players I played with included Richard McKenzie, Peter Pielua, Bernie Hill, Kit Brooks, Don Cederwall, Gerald Arthurs and my brother Geoff Griffith. These guys were all backs and part of Poneke's revival. In the forwards, Harry Burgon, Fred Baker, Peter Hakaraia, Dave Mahanga and Ray Koopu were all hard and uncompromising.

What years did your Wellington representative career span?

I was never out of a Wellington representative team from 1969 to 1983, whether it was the Colts or later the Wellington A and B sides.

What were some highlights of playing for Wellington?

The best moment was winning Wellington's first NPC title in 1978. I am proud to have played in an era when Wellington were so strong and with players such as Grant Batty, Stu Wilson, Bernie Fraser, Allan Hewson, Brian Cederwall, Ian Stevens, Charlie Henderson, Andy Leslie and Graham Williams? - to name just a few.

Following your playing career ending in 1986 you moved straight into coaching??

I took up the reins as Poneke's coach at the end of 1986 and coached them for the next several seasons. I got the team to two Jubilee Cup finals, against Hutt Old Boys (we were robbed!) and against Petone.

I helped Andy Leslie coach the Wellington Lions in the early 1990s, and assisted with the Wellington Bs and the Colts as well. One notable Wellington Colts team I was involved with beat Auckland in a final and included many future Super Rugby players, with Conrad Smith notable among them. After representative rugby I came back and the coached the Poneke Colts, and we won the first round grade and were pipped in the second round final by MSP.

Who were some notable players you coached at Premier level at Poneke?

There were many talented and hard-working players in Poneke teams in the 1980s and 1990s. To name a few, Richard Watt, Scott Keith, Junior Tonu'u (who's older brother Hennie was also a great player), Michael Burns, Shane Broderson, Maihi Hughes, Tasi Vikialani, Tu Brightwell and Phil Rayasi.

Another special player was Richard Blackmore, who was not recognised by Wellington's representative selectors to my dismay so switched to rugby league and two years later helped the kiwis beat Australia in a famous Test win, running Australian winger Dale Shearer ragged.

As well as playing and coaching, you've also been involved in club administration, and was recently Poneke's President for five years. What's your take on how the game's changed?

Premier rugby has obviously been weakened by professional rugby, which has changed club rugby considerably. The standard has dropped, and to me basic skills and the ability to read the play are lacking.

All clubs have a challenge on their hands at the moment and must adapt to the changing environment. Poneke are doing a great job at the moment in improving facilities for the community to attract more players to the game. But it's a hard job.