He's no hustler but he's shooting for the top

Tu Tangata, Issue 24, 1 June 1985, Page 22

He's no hustler but he's shooting for the top

By Michael Romanos

Harry Haeropa Haenga of Porirua is no hustler but he is capable of beating anyone in the snooker world professional or amateur.

This may sound a big statement, but the proof of it is already emerging.

In December 1982, Haenga defeated former world professional snooker champion, Eddie Charlton of Australia 79-51 in a one frame contest. With an ounce more luck and early-tournament confidence, Haenga could well be the reigning world amateur champion.

He was superior to his first two opponents he faced at the 1984 world champs in Dublin, Ireland, but the rookie world championship competitor was nervous beginning and lost both matches. Haenga subsequently tallied seven victories on the trot which gave him a luckless ninth placing among 41 competitors the best a New Zealander has achieved at this level.

Among Haenga’s victims was his section’s top seed, John Wright of England who eventually finished runner-up in the section, losing to Glen Wilkinson of Australia, in the section final.

To make the world champs in Ireland, Haenga was the beaten finalist for the 1983 New Zealand title. His conqueor, Dale Kwok also represented this country at the world champs but could

only finish 23rd overall.

The 1985 world championships are in London this October but Haenga won’t be the New Zealand representative. He dipped out at the national championship last year when he unexpectedly lost to Steve Robertson of Wellington in the semi finals.

Haenga will go all out to take the national title (or at worst runner-up) later this year and win the right to represent New Zealand at the 1986 world championships to be held in Invercargill (of all places).

Harry initially learnt the game and skills through playing at an early age, avidly reading all he could about the sport and showing keen observation. He displays an uncanny touch on the 12ft x 6ft, six pocket green-topped table and like all the modern day champions, he places emphasis on the positioning of his white ball after it is played, rather than the actual potting process. “It’s cue ball control which wins games, that’s for sure,” said Haenga. “It’s an art which conceals art.” Haenga who stands only sft 6in, said his height is considered ideal for the game of snooker, “because one can get down lower to the cue.” Of the 1984 world championships, Haenga said he only missed making the quarter-finals by a single frame. “Wilkinson had to beat Wright by 4-2

in order for me to finish ahead of Wright. Unfortunately, the Australian could only manage 4-3.

“I didn’t feel too good after watching that particular game, but really it was my own fault and inexperience which cost me a quarter final berth.

“The championship winner, 0.8. Agrawal of India (who defeated defending champion Terry Parsons of Wales) was certainly beatable.

“Agrawal is an open-type player and that would have suited me because I’m considered a good break-builder.

“I won most of my seven matches 4-0 by blowing my opponent apart as soon as they let me in.

“I was a bit overawed at first in Dublin but then I settled down, realising the opposition were no better than me.

“When I think about it, playing the world champs wasn’t much different to playing in the New Zealand champs. There must be five or six of our players capable of holding their own with any of the top world amateurs.”

Haenga said he learned nothing new about the game itself from the world championships but he gained most benefit from improving his mental attitude and determination.

His immediate plans are to win his first national title next October at Dunedin and with it the right to represent New Zealand at the 1986 world championships.

“Gosh, I can remember only a couple of years ago that it was my ambition to win the Wellington A-grade title, and here I am thinking in terms of world champs.

“I don’t know whether I’ll turn professional my wife, Carole is not keen on some of the aspects of professionalism.

“I’d like to be a pro. It could mean big money. Just getting in the last 32 at any pro tournament is worth over $2,000.

“For the last 16 years, snooker has been my life and turning pro would be an extension of this. I’d be quite happy to practice eight to ten hours every day. “But Carole is not prepared at this point to live in England or Europe where all the professionals need to reside. “The whole question is in the air.” Mrs Haenga told me she was quite happy for her husband to spend six months of the year overseas playing professional snooker. “If he wants to further his career I won’t stop him, but overseas travel is not for me,” she said. New Zealand has currently only one professional player in Dene O’Kane who joined the ranks last year and has shifted to Britain. New Zealand’s sole other professional was the late Clark McConachy who at one time was the world snooker and billiards champion and world record holder in both disciplines.

Haenga believes he has what it takes to succeed as a professional. “It takes guts, guile and ability,” he said. In Haenga’s case, it also requires finance. Haenga unofficially holds the New Zealand amateur break record (scored against an opponent) of 143 points. That effort constituted clearing a full table by potting 15 reds and 15 colours in sequence and then all the colours. The maximum or ultimate is 147 points. Recently, he potted 15 reds and 14 blacks (113 points), just failing to pot the 15th black when he used too much sidespin to get positioned onto the yellow. Haenga has scored the greatest volume of century breaks by any New Zealander apart from McConachy. His total stands at 307 to the end of February. Harry Haeropa Haenga was born in Waipiro Bay on the East Coast 31 years ago. His father, Jan of the Ngati Porou tribe, lives in Tiki Tiki. Harry was raised as a child by his grandparents, Toi and Awanipiki Karini in Mangatuna (north of Tolaga Bay) and when they passed away, he shifted to Wellington 21 years ago to live with his uncle, Jim Karini. Eventually, he married Carole, and the couple have one child, Daniel. “I used to be a loner,” Haenga said, “It’s the way I’ve been brought up perhaps that’s why I took to snooker. It’s an individual sport.”

Unemployed for over two years, last February Haenga was finally slotted into work for the Porirua City Council as a labourer. But it’s hardly the ideal occupation leading up to a professional career in snooker. “It’s good that I have been able to practice every day for more than six hours at the Porirua Club while I was unemployed, but I was under pressure because I always had financial difficulties.” Haenga started playing snooker as a 15 year old. “I use to sneak into the Victory Pool and Snooker Hall (formerly the largest pool rooms in New Zealand with 18 tables. Now it’s the Wellington YMCA health and fitness centre) when the manager wasn’t watching and get in a few games without the lights on, before I got caught and kicked out.

“I enjoyed the improvement I was showing almost every time I played and by the time I was 18 (the legal age to enter a public pool room) I was able to clean up the regulars at either pool or snooker and I had already notched up about 10 century breaks.” Haenga said he has never been a hustler. Hustling is when a pool player feigns his true ability to lure an unsuspecting opponent into a cash deal on the outcome of a game. “I just play my best all the time,” he

said. Haenga said he’s been influenced most by his friend and rival player, Clint Polamalu. “Clint has a marvellous touch of the cue ball. I learned a lot from playing with him.” Rata Prince, the veteran Wellington tournament controller and referee, said there are a large number of Maori players prominent in snooker and billiards because they have the patience and ability to sit back and learn just from watching. “Maoris enjoy snooker and pool in the manner that it is a contest, a personal competition," said Prince.

“I think this one to one basis is an inherent trait of the Maori people. “Harry is very well read on the subject, which is unusual for a Maori player. This indepth study has helped to make him the player that he is. “Harry has been a little bit careless in his approach to his personal life, but snooker could be his way out. “He gets no recompense from those daily six hour sessions he puts in. As a pro it could reap reward. “I recognised his potential many years ago and at 31 it’s a good age to

develop as a professional. He’s more of a complete player now, a far better tactitian. He has an excellent playing temperament and even away from the table, Harry can’t be flustered when it comes to snooker.” Haenga agreed with Prince that snooker and pool are natural sports for Maoris. “Probably because Maoris are prepared to practice simply because they enjoy the game,” he said.

There is no doubt that Haenga is gifted. He is the best Maori snooker player that New Zealand has yet produced. He stands out through devotion to the cause. He is prepared to practice solo for hours and hours. Harry is part of the Haenga clan who are chasing a claim for an eighteen billion dollar estate in Brazil. But if the claim succeeds it’s Harry’s father, Jan who will be entitled to part of the spoils, not Harry or his two brothers and sister. But Harry is not too concerned. “I don’t think the Haengas’ will be able to get the legacy out of Brazil. “They might just be able to do a deal on a couple of bags of coffee,’’ he said with a typical grin.