Tamati v. Tamati

Press, 4 May 1984, Page 16

Tamati v. Tamati

The Kiwi league cousins, Kevin Tamati and Howie Tamati, will create a little bit of history when Widnes meets Wigan in the Rugby League Challenge Cup final at Wembley on Sunday morning (N.Z. time). With Kevin propping the Widnes scrum and Howie hooking for Wigan, it will be the first time that cousins have appeared in the British game’s most prestigious event. But Kevin said there would be little room for sentiment when the two sides step out on Wembley’s lush turf.

The pair have packed down against each other frequently in provincial matches in New Zealand, Kevin for Wellington and Howi& for Taranaki.

“And there have been times in the past when we’ve come up fists flying at each other in those games,” Kevin said. “But we’re supposed to be professionals now and so there’ll be none of that at Wembley. Fists won’t win the cup.” British league pundits have rated Kevin Tamati as Widnes’s outstanding forward this season and he said he was generally satisfied with his play and standard of fitness.

“The only problem is that I’m feeling the drag a bit. The British season is a long one and the only time I’ve had off has been for a suspension a couple of months ago,” Tamati said. !