Former All Black coach John Hart has provided a touching tribute for the late Jonah Lomu at a memorial service held at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Hart, who coached Lomu on the international stage from 1996 to 1999, said that due to a long-standing kidney illness, the game’s most destructive winger only ever played the game at a maximum of 80per cent.
“It’s frightening to think what he could have done on the field had he not played virtually all his career with a huge medical handbrake,” Hart remarked.
Despite suffering from such a serious and worsening condition during his career, Lomu played 63 Tests for New Zealand and was widely considered the first rugby ‘superstar’.
“He overcame tremendous hurdles throughout his life but never, ever complained. He was a fighter until the very end,” Hart added.
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