Eight questions with the captain: Eugene Smith Petone

Above: Petone hooker Eugene Smith leading the charge in the mud on Saturday against Hutt Old Boys Marist. Photo courtesy of Chris Clifton Freelance www.ccfreelance.photoshelter.com

One of three current or former Petone captains in the current side (the others being Chris Molenaar in 2005 and 2006 and Mateaki Kafatolu 2012 to present), Eugene Smith has played 140 games for Petone since 2001 and captained the side to Swindale Shield success in 2004 and 2009.

Club: Petone

Home ground: Petone Recreation Ground

Current Super Rugby players: Brad Shields (Hurricanes); Mike Kainga (Chiefs), Ross Fillipo (Chiefs) Adrian Barone (Crusaders)

Jubilee Cups won: 1930, 1935, 1938, 1942, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1982 (shared with Wellington), 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2005

Last year: Eighth in the Jubilee Cup

Swindale Shield this year: Sixth

Squad? Captain: Eugene Smith

Position: hooker

?

1. What is special about playing in the Jubilee Cup?

Following in the footsteps of some of our past champion teams and players.


2. Which club do you feel your team has the biggest rivalry with and why?

For out and out rivalry it would be Hutt Old Boys Marist, especially since they were promoted back up to premier status a few years ago and especially at McBain Shield time where bragging rights are on the line and Hutt Valley is split down the middle as to what team you support. Traditionally it would be Poneke due to the long history both clubs share as stand alone clubs.


3. If you could choose one forward and one back, either current or past, to join your team for its Jubilee Cup campaign which two players would you select?

Past players that I would have join our team would be Ken Gray and Tana Umaga during their prime. From what I hear Ken Gray wasn’t too bad to have around in a tight spot and everyone knows what Tana could add to a side.Two New Zealand legends who were good Petone club men and leaders.


4. Who are the fittest, the strongest and the fastest players in your team?

Fittest would be Sam ‘Lizard’ O’Leary, often the last man standing in yoyo testing.

Strongest and fastest would probably be Nick Grigg. Small of stature and not much over 5 feet tall but he packs a lot into that wee frame.


5. Who are the jokers in the team?

Hayden O’Toole has a quick wit and is always leading the boys on a Saturday night.


6. Does anyone in your team have superstitions or pre-game rituals before they take the field?

Mateaki Kafatolu always likes to recite poetry to himself before he heads out, he thinks it calms him and allows him to stay focused on the job at hand.

Donal McNamara always has to use at least one roll of tape to bandage up his aging and broken body so he can get through a game.


7. What special talents or claims to fame outside of rugby do any players in our team/club have?

Tui Hunt competes in the North Island Pool Championships when not racking up centuries for different rugby clubs.

Nick Grigg once played the role of Eddie Munster in his school production, purely for the fact he looks like him and nothing to do with his acting abilities.

Our team manager Ezra Iupeli is a vocalist for the famous Wellington Band Brown Hill and has quite the large female groupie following.


8. How important are your club’s supporters in lifting your team and who is your number one fan?

It’s pretty hard to single out just one as we have a large support base both locally, nationally and even internationally but one person who put’s in a special effort I know of is Jenny Gray. She first started going to games with her father as a little girl and in over 50 years she’s missed one game in 1985 and hasn’t missed a game since, this made all the more remarkable by the fact she does not have a driver’s license and on occasions has to take a bus to get to games. Great dedication that is greatly appreciated by the team. Of course there are many others who are just as supportive and we appreciate them all.