Rugby league: South Taranaki excited about first league final

Will Johnston 

History will be made on Saturday when the Patea Warriors host the Waitara Bears in Taranaki’s premier rugby league grand final.  

Not only will the South Taranaki town host a final for the first time, but it will also be Patea’s maiden finale after being unbeaten during the season.  

Throughout the four-week competition, Patea has only played two matches with wins against Western Suburbs 38-18 and Waitara 22-20 but won two games by default against Boxon and defending champions Hawera.  

Despite the interruptions, coach Tamati Neho said the town is “absolutely buzzing” after Patea won the semi-final 40-22 against Western Suburbs.   

The excitement has stretched further afield and attracted attention across the ditch.  

“Whanau and friends [in Australia] are getting behind the team by painting their Facebook blue and gold by changing their profile pictures to the Patea Warriors logo,” he said.  

“There’s a lot of excitement in amongst the team because this is a journey we’ve been on over the past three years with re-entering the premier team into the competition after a 27-year period.”  

Patea isn’t a stranger to finals rugby league. The side lost to Hawera after the final hooter in the 2021 semi-final and bowed out in the play-offs last year against the same team. 

But the success at the business end-of-the-season has been down to creating a legacy over time for future players and showcasing what Patea is about, Neho said. 

“We have a large junior membership and creating our premier team allowed us to provide a pathway for our younger players to aspire to.”  

Training numbers have also been positive during the season driven by an inclusive culture.  

But Neho said that will lead to a few headaches leading into Saturday.  

“We need to select a team given only 17 can take the field. Training numbers have been consistently close to 25 plus.”  

He pointed out young player Jamie Close, Brody Potaka-Hippolite, new halfback Patrick Pullen and up and coming prop Te Poutokomanawa Matatahi-Talitonu as players to watch.  

Waitara made the final after Hawera defaulted the semi-final because of a lack of players.  

The Bears finished in third place after the regular season with one win against Hawera 24-22, two losses, the other to Western Suburbs 20-18. 

Neho is expecting Saturday to be tough.  

“Waitara has there and done that and have been a powerhouse in the league scene here in Taranaki for as long as league has been playing. They have a great deal of experienced players. 

“It’s going to be a great battle on Saturday and we’re expecting nothing less.”  

Kick-off is at 2:30pm.