Nick Robertson - Turmoil, Tries, Triumphs

Above: Poneke wing Nick Robertson on his way to the tryline in Poneke’s fourth round 40-35 win over Northern United.

“The adversity off the field has made us come together. After all the drama the boys decided to have some fun and just play some footy,” Nick Robertson explains when addressing Poneke’s unlikely resurgence.

On April 5 it was publicly announced Poneke had parted ways with coach Mason Lawrence three rounds into the season. Instead of unravelling, the 2017 Hardham Cup side have won four of their past five matches, including the Cyril Collett Memorial Shield two days after Lawrence’s dismissal against Northern United.

Robertson captures the atmosphere in the dressing room at Kilbirnie Park prior to the Norths fixture.

“It was a bit strange, but Greg Foe took ownership of tactics and motivation. He’s an experienced player and told us to express ourselves and fortunately we got a good result.”

The previous Saturday Poneke had achieved an equally impressive result in upsetting Tawa 25-20 at Lyndhurst Park. Why was Lawrence let go?

“Personally I like Mason. He’s a hard man and we needed that after last season, but not everybody responded to his approach. We’re now lucky to have Misi (Moananu) who’s a legend of the club,” Robertson responds.

The most striking aspect of Poneke’s results this season is their ability to win close games. Four times this year they have won four games by ten points or less. By contrast they dropped four games by 11 points or less in 2017 plummeting in to the Hardham Cup. What’s changed?

“Fitness was a major work on and Mason flogged us. Misi is a hard man too. The extra work has made a difference,” Robertson answers.

Poneke suffered a humiliating 14-71 drubbing to the Upper Hutt Rams in the final round of the Hardham Cup last season. How bad was the culture at this point?

“We thought we were good enough to be a Jubilee Cup side and when we lost our first two games of the Hardham to Upper Hutt and Johnsonville we gave up mentally. It was really hard playing a week after the Jubilee Cup and without a Hardham final,” Robertson observes.

Robertson has observed his name on the scoresheet plenty of times. The winger or fullback has crossed for 20 tries in his last 22 games and has 32 tries in 46 appearances for Poneke. In the Jim Grbich Memorial Shield clash on Saturday, Robertson scored a key try in the 28-25 win against Ories, but it’s not his favourite five-pointer.

“My first club try against Johnsonville was pretty special. I dodged like three players and ran 35 metres. It was good to get just one try,” Robertson reflects.

Robertson is off Filipino extraction, but grew up in Masterton attending Kuranui College until Year 11 and switching to Wairarapa College for his last two years. Robertson was good enough to play First XV rugby at both schools.

“The best year was in 2013 when we (Wairarapa) made the National co-ed top four. That was a big deal for us. Chris Senior was a good coach and my teammate Levi Harmon is the reason I ended up at Poneke,” Robertson, a building apprentice, concludes.

This Saturday the Streetkids play Wainuiomata at home on Kilbirnie Park for the Hakaraia Trophy