Wellington Axemen: All Hands on Deck for the Jubilee Cup

Above: Adam Deck calling the shots for the Wellington Axemen in a recent Swindale Shield match at Hataitai Park. Photo by Greg Hughes.

The Wellington Axemen have enjoyed a rapid rise to success in 2015, punching their ticket to the Jubilee Cup in emphatic fashion. Tomorrow they play their first Jubilee Cup since 1995, against Old Boys University at home at Hataitai Park, kick-off 2.45 pm.

One man who has been integral to their change in fortunes is halfback Adam Deck who returned to the capital in late 2014 after spending most of his life in Australia.

After first finding the game in Adelaide, Deck has now come full circle, back in his city of birth and pushing for higher honours.

“I played club rugby there (Adelaide) for a fair few years and then decided to move north to Queensland and play 1st XV at a boarding school, just to try and play in a stronger competition of rugby because it isn’t that strong in Adelaide,” Deck said.

An offer to link up with his uncle at the Wellington club seemed too hard to pass up.

“Since I finished school it had always been an option to come back over and the opportunity to have a pre-season with the Wellington academy was probably the main reason I came back over.”

Those opportunities have already proved fruitful after Deck played a full half of rugby for the Wellington XV in their win over Wairarapa Bush on Tuesday.

Deck’s selection is well deserved after consistently providing his team with direction and skill right throughout the Swindale Shield which saw him top the Billy Wallace Best and Fairest points tally thus far.

Although the Axemen playmaker has slotted into Wellington rugby seamlessly, it is a different type of rugby than he was used to back in Queensland.

“It’s probably more physical here, the Premier grade, there’s a few bigger bodies getting around but I think the conditions obviously play a factor in how the games are played between here and over there, Australian pitches are drier and quicker obviously,” Deck said.

As for the Axemen’s fortunes, Deck doesn’t believe there is one key element producing the results, rather a collective effort week in week out.

“It’s been a really good feeling at the club, the boys have been working really hard since the pre-season, I came over early December and we started training early January.

“Obviously Vaea Fifita has been outstanding for us all season but I just don’t think we’re a team that has those standout players, it’s a matter of us working as a group and working hard for each other.”

“Hilton (Mexted) and I are starting to form a really good combination, we haven’t overplayed our hand too much, we just use the players around us to launch a bit of attack.”

The Jubilee Cup offers a different beast and a fresh challenge to the club that has withstood strong tests already this season, one I’m sure the black and yellow will be eager to be involved in.

“I can’t wait to get involved in that, some guys who have come from other clubs have had a bit of Jubilee Cup experience have said it’s a lot harder than Swindale so I think we’re all pretty prepared to start, the hard work begins now.

“A few of the teams probably wrote us off a little and we’ve probably caught them by surprise playing the underdog card, it’s worked well for us I think.

“Every team in the top eight is going to be very solid and they’re all hard games.”

Deck plays his role and kicks the goals, and will be integral to their ongoing success in 2015 and beyond. Representative footy beckons for a young lad who has made his way back to where it all began.