New Zealand teams are 8-0 against their Australian counterparts in 2017 and the Hurricanes hope to extend that winning record to nine on Friday night when they host the Waratahs at the Westpac Stadium.
Ngani Laumape is familiar with Aussie adversaries. He played 30 games and scored 11 tries for the Warriors in the NRL. The Warriors are hardly as successful as the Hurricanes.
I asked Laumape, what’s the biggest difference between the two clubs?
“I enjoyed my time at the Warriors. They are down at the moment, but they will be back,” Laumape responded.
“I learned a lot about mental toughness and preparation playing in the NRL. Guys like Ruben Wiki and Simon Mannering are true professionals. I still watch the boys and cheer them on. Sometimes I miss them too,” Laumape continued.
Several teams have missed tackling Laumape when he runs at them this season. The bulldozing second-five has beaten 24 defenders in Super Rugby which is second in the competition. The Hurricanes have scored more tries (38) than any other side.
“I just run hard and try to be the toughest man to tackle. All the midfields are good so my approach doesn’t really change,” Laumape explains of his combative approach which has troubled all opponents in 2017, especially All Black fullback Ben Smith who was unusually bumped off with distain in the recent clash against the Highlanders.
“I don’t remember much of that. All the credit belongs to Jordie Barrett who created the overlap,” Laumape humbly reviewed.
Laumape has made a habit of bumping people off for a long time. The son of Tongan parents grew up in Highbury, Palmerston North and made a big impression at Palmerston North Boys’ High School.
In 2011 he was selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools which included fellow Hurricane Ardie Savea. He scored five tries in one match against Hastings Boys’ High School, was a powerhouse in a 24-5 triumph against then World Champions Hamilton Boys’ High School and appeared alongside future first class reps Jade Te Rure, Jason Emery, Jackson Hemopo, Jamie Booth and Nick Grogan.
“I really loved my time at Palmy Boys. They helped straighten me out and putting on the white jersey was a proud moment. I made friends for life at Palmy and it helped me in ways I didn’t even know at the time,” Laumape acclaims.
Local legend has it during a Boys’ High bye, Laumape – against the will of the school – played an important senior league match for the Feilding Falcons. The Feilding coaches knowing that Laumape would upset the school if he appeared asked the newspaper reporter to change or omit his name from the account of the match. The trouble was Laumape scored two tries.
In 2012 Laumape signed with the Warriors and scored a team leading 16 tries for the Junior team in the NYC. His NRL call up was inventible, but why such a short tenure?
“I had been dreaming of coming back home to play rugby. I was able to add extra dimensions to my skill-set and it was a great set-up to be in at the Warriors, but rugby was always something I had in the back of my mind, “Laumape said.
Laumape played 11 matches for the Hurricanes last year and scored four tries. However Willis Halaholo, now with the Cardiff Blues, was the preferred starter during the finals. Laumape had a storming NPC for Manawatu scoring seven tries in 10 matches and has already crossed the chalk five times in as many matches for the Hurricanes this year.
“Willis and Matt have a lot of experience so it’s been great learning from those two. I just take each week as it comes and try to improve,” Laumape said.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
His dog perhaps ....
ebop
Guest
That's not homophobic. You might actually be gay we don't know.
jeff dustby
Guest
its 2017 players make enough to travel all over the world in their spare time. in RL they can travel to the UK and France and live anywhere on the eastern seaboard or Auckland. i bet they miss living in Dunedin and Hamilton with rushed trips to Johannesburg once a year
jeff dustby
Guest
you really think an average outside back is what the warriors needed to keep? not a half or full back? or a decent forward pack?
jeff dustby
Guest
excellent homophobic attitude there
jeff dustby
Guest
yep, he wasnt a star
nerval
Guest
The following paragraph is what upsets me: "Local legend has it during a Boys’ High bye, Laumape – against the will of the school – played an important senior league match for the Feilding Falcons. The Feilding coaches knowing that Laumape would upset the school if he appeared asked the newspaper reporter to change or omit his name from the account of the match. The trouble was Laumape scored two tries." Is this kind of thing still going on? Really? Jonah Lomu admitted in the preface to his autobiography that he had to do the same thing. Why should school kids have to carry on like this? It's embarrassing and unacceptable.
ClarkeG
Guest
I stand by my comments as well.
milan
Guest
woodart - please accept my apologies for the numpty comment. not called for but I stand by my other comments
Digby
Roar Guru
Thank you Adam, enjoy these insights.
Ben
Guest
Shane..mightve been Albert Vete as i remember him captaining the St Kents 1st xv before being lured to the warriors. Wouldnt have been Francis Saili...whole family are union thru and thru. No way he was ever going to league and im pretty sure he didnt get any offers as the Blues were in before he left school.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Like all those weak soccer players that fall over without being hit :)
Shane D
Roar Rookie
I recall hearing a Auckland rugby bloke say that in reality they knew they were going to lose Hurrell or another player (might have been Saili) & that Hurrell was pretty much told that he was better suited to league that union & to make a career there.
Ben
Guest
Hurrell was always more suited to league than union. When he played for Akld Grammer 1st xv he was really a straight hard runner...all crash and bash. That was it. Francis Saili made him look very average 2 years running. One year when he was playing St Peters at the famous "cage" he kept yelling at Francis "run at me, run at me". Francis was smarter than that. But when Hurrell got the ball he ran straight at Francis who put a huge hit on him, sitting him on his behind. Hurrell didnt get up for ages and was clearly injured for the rest of the game. When he got hit all the St Peters boys started chanting "run at me run at me" and laughing at him. He really acted like a thug on the field. He was also one of the main instigators in the infamous Akld Grammer Kelston Boys all in brawl at Grammer that featured so prominantly in the media. League can keep Hurrell.
ClarkeG
Guest
Yes Milan seems to be insulted by something you didn't say.
ClarkeG
Guest
Another soccer die hard (?) reminding us all .......againnn......that soccer is the true world game......Yes we know. No one that I know has ever said otherwise. "you guys constantly run down other places" - I would suggest that is a gross generalisation on your part.
woodart
Guest
thanks clarke, good that someone understood, and doesnt need to stoop(rise?) to insults
ClarkeG
Guest
He never actually said there was anything wrong with the North of Eng.
Milan
Guest
Don't forget that when the two greatest teams in the true world game (football not union by the way) in England play it is Man Utd v liverpool. Both from the NORTH OF ENGLAND. And you guys wonder why union is seen as a high and mighty elitist game when you constantly run down other places
Milan
Guest
Woodart you numpty.nothing wrong with the north of England. Was born and bred here.climb back int9 your hole