Eight questions with the captain: Misipalauni Moananu Poneke

Above: Poneke captain Misipalauni Moananu (centre) rallies his troops ahead of their Swindale Shield match against HOBM earlier this year. Moanau is currently injured, but? remains an integral part of Poneke’s squad throughout the Jubilee Cup.

Club: Poneke

Home ground: Kilbirnie Park

Current Super Rugby players: Reggie Goodes, Charlie Ngatai, Dane Coles

Jubilee Cups won: 1932, 1943 and 1944 (combined? with Oriental), 1951, 1975, 1996, 2003.

Last year: Winners - Hardham Cup

Swindale Shield this year: Eighth

Captain: Misipalauni Moananu (P)

Position: Number 8

1. What is special about playing in the Jubilee Cup?

The intensity goes to a new level with the Jubilee Cup round. There are no easy games because you are against the best, week in, week out.

2. Which club do you feel your team has the biggest rivalry with and why?
Marist St Pats – because all that separates us is Evans Bay Parade. Our games are often referred to as the ‘Battle of Kilbirnie’.

3. If you could choose one forward and one back, either current or past, to join your team for its Jubilee Cup campaign which two players would you select?

Back: Ambrose Plaister – his giant strides were likened to a gazelle bounding across the Serengeti. A brilliant counter attacker with pace to burn and if needed a very big boot.

Forward: Daniel Ramsay – a lineout guru who is a great ball runner with great vision. Never afraid of mixing it up if things get ugly.

4. Who are the fittest, the strongest and the fastest players in your team?

Fittest: Roy McGrathStrongest: Greg Foe and Sam Tui
Fastest: Sosi Tuimavavae.

5. Who are the jokers in the team?

Simon Tevita is always good for a laugh. Kelvin Harper is always keen to hit the dance floor. While Michael Sage and Ben Huntley are the fashion trend setters and hog the mirrors after the game.

6. Describe any superstitions or pre-game rituals that players in your team have?

A lot of the boys like to listen to music before the game. Darren West always wears two pairs of socks, rumour has it it’s to make his legs look bigger?

7. Describe any special talents or claims to fameoutside of rugby of a player or players in our team/club?

There are few talented people from within the team; we have Hennie Tui who is the Bass player for Tomorrow People. Simon “Sy Breezy’ Tevita is the master of pick-up lines. Roy McGrath is always keen for a rap battle too, he’s a lyrical genius.


8. How important are your club’s supporters in lifting your team and who is your number one fan?

Our supporters mean everything to us. We had a difficult season last year but everyone stood by us and supported us each week and this year was about rewarding their loyalty and doing them and the club proud. We have many supporters who turn up each week, wives, girlfriends, children, parents, grandparents supporting us throughout the season. We do have a group of gentlemen who collectively are known as ‘the in-goal boys’ and they provide us plenty of encouragement/motivation during the game.

I think many of the Wellington rugby community know who one of our biggest supporters are;Sherrol is a Poneke stalwart and attends as many games as she can, her loyalty and support never waivers and we as team and a club appreciate her for it.

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