Personalities In N.Z. Sport

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 713, 12 July 1929, Page 7

Personalities In N.Z. Sport

l he Master Craftsman of Maori Football

OF names pre-eminent in the favour of the Rugby public, that of George Nepia stands alone. Acknowledged as a fullback who in his heyday had no peer, he stamped his play with tlie indelible imprint of greatness when he went through the arduous 1924-25 tour without missing a game and, wliat is more, without ever letting his side down.

The hero of amazing feats on the field, Nepia will perhaps be most remembered for his colossal punting and the superlative gallantry of his ruslistopping methods. Gathering a rolling ball from the toes of the oncoming forwards, he ducks his head and charges at full tilt backward through the hunting pack. Such is >epia’s breadth of hip and ruggedness Of physique, that the seemingly risky expedient often does more damage to his opponents than to himself. A fearless tackle, and a beautiful overhead held, he allies these attributes of -reatness to a genial and likeable personality. Eight years ago, Nepia’s name was unknown to the Rugby public. But He was then a mere boy, and by the time he was nineteen had won to a fame peculiarly his own. He was bo.rn at Nuhaka, and played no serious football until he began agricultural studies at the Mormon college for natives at Bridge Pa, near Hastings. Playing for the College fifteen in 10-1, ho scored a try and a penalty against Te Ante, and a try against papier Boys’ High School. At this stage he was playing as outside five-eighth to Luis PaefVui, but won his first representative honours as wing threequarter, playing for East Coast Maoris on May 25, 1921, and scoring one try. The following year he was played wing threequarter for Hawke’s Bay against Wairarapa, but went in to second five-eighth in the second spell, changing places -with Barclay. That day, scoring a try, he began his notable scoring record for Hawke’s F>ay. He was selected to travel with the Maori team to Australia that year, but could not make the trip. Nor did he accompany the Hawke’s Bay touring team which travelled South and won the Kanfurly Shield from 'Wellington, thus initiating the remarkable series of shield triumphs that followed. But in 1923 Nepia played for the Bay in every match. He kicked a peflalty goal in the first strenuous game, won 6—o from Wairarapa, and in 12 games put on 52 points for his side. He was only 18 years of age, and a sound and dependable fiveeighth, leaving most of the fireworks to his friend and partner, Paewai. His first appearance in Auckland was made on October 6, 1923, in the famous war memorial match on the Domain, won by Auckland, 17 —9. Ho played at Auckland in the first trial in the following May, when the Bay group lost another stirring game, IS—9. Then on May 12 he made his first appearance as fullback in big lootball, playing for the Southern Maoris against the Northern Maoris in a match played at Bden Park. This brought him into the fullback position for the North Island probables on May 19, and a faultless display, in the course of which he kicked a penalty goal, a conversion, and potted a remarkable field goal, made him virtuall ya certainty for the fullback position in the All Black team. The probability was clinched when at fullback for the North Island against the South on May 19. he potted another glorious field goal, converted five tries, and hoisted a penalty, 17 points in all, in addition to which he displayed fabulous accuracy with his kicking and fielding, and took the spectators' breath away with his tacking and rush-stopping. None who saw that game was in the least surprised when his name appeared among the 16 “certainties” of the preliminary choice. It would be idle to elaborate on Nepia’s record while abroad. He was a model of imperturbable consistency. After his return he again played for Hawke’s Bay, and on September 12 potted a goal in the famous drawn game against Auckland, when “Shorty” McManus equalised the scores with a mark right on time. Great inducements were being made to draw Nepia to one of the big English League clubs, but he steadfastly refused. Though ;

now a ti'iflo casual, he had lost none of his brilliance. lie converted seven tries and dropped a great penalty goal in the runaway victory over Wellington in 1926, when Bay won 58 to 8, and kicked two conversions and two penalties against Auckland (Bay won. H). Hawke’s Bay was at this period at its absolute zenith, and had All Blacks like Paewai and Corkill standing on the line in alternative games. Nepia was unable to travel with the Maori team to France, and in 1927, having married a native girl. Miss Huinga Kohere, \\.,o has since died, ho retired to Ruatorea, on the Bast Coast, where he played spasmodic, but at times brilliant football. lie was captain and for a time sole selector for the Waiapu sub-union, a remarkable position for_ a player of 23 to hold. Last year Nepia came out of his retirement to play against New South 1\ ales, and won the game with three penalty goals against two tries, one converted. Ilis punting of a greasy

ball was as accurate as ever, and his display made onlookers regretful that he was not in that position where he was so badly needed, fullback for the All Blacks in .South Africa. Perhaps Nepia is now not quite what he was. That wonderful dash and sparkle may have gone from his play. But he is still a very great fullback, and his record is incomparable. Weighing lost 51b in Rugby trim, though n severe illness pulled him down early in 1928, lie was a formidable physical specimen. A talented musieiam. he was a most popular member of the touring party in 1924-25. Back of them, they always felt, was that paragon* of gallantry and accuracy, eulogised in the inspiring little verse of the Hon. W. Pember Reeves: “Kta Too! New Zealand!, See, Nepia guards the gate. A rock and a house of defence is he, A tino tangata great!”