Eight questions with the captain: Genesis Mamea Wainuiomata

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Above: Wainuiomata captain Genesis Mamea evading would-be tacklers in their Jubilee Cup match against the HOBM Eagles at the Hutt Rec three weeks ago. A family club, Genesis is one six Mamea brothers and cousins playing for the Green and Blacks, five of whom have played Premier rugby this year.

Club: Wainuiomata

Home ground: William Jones Park

Current Super Rugby players: Piri Weepu (Blues); Frae Wilson (Highlanders)

Last year: Fourth in the Jubilee Cup (beaten semi-finalists)

Swindale Shield this year: Fourth

Captain: Genesis Mamea

Position: Loose forward

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

Playing at the highest club rugby level in Wellington. It’s a really tough competition . Do or die rugby. It tests you as a player.


2. Which club do you feel your team has the biggest rivalry with and why?

Hutt Old Boys Marist and Petone. These two clubs have been the powerhouse clubs of the Hutt Valley. So they’re games we always get up for. The battle of the Valley.


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?

A forward would be Greg Lealofi, our recent openside flanker He’s a big loss to our pack since moving north to Counties Manukau at the start of this year, a work horse who leads by action. A back would be Piri Weepu. Being an All Black he brings experience, leadership and hardtee Wainui passion for the jersey.


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

Fittest will have to be our evergreen 7’s super start Uale Mai. Strongest will have to be out of Tiso Saolele and Teru Time. The fastest is our try scoring machine Jason Love. But our veteran prop Justin Va’a is slowly catching up.

5. Who are the jokers in the team?

Henry Stowers. Being a new lad in the team this guy comes up with the best excuses for being late to training. He was also on form at our court session. Jason Love is up there too. Best story teller -? action, sound effects and everything. It’s like you’re watching a movie.

6. Does anyone in your team have superstitions or pre-game rituals before they take the field?

Before games in our changing room we always have sounds going. Shahn Eru likes to wear his lucky green tights. Tyler Tane always dances around before we get together as a team.


7. What special talents or claims to fame outside of rugby do any players in our team/club have?

We have a lot of talent in the nui .When the music is pumping, drinks are flowing or we a jamming on the guitar(John Monu is the guitar player). We have some undercover white boys M.C rappers. Glen Angus and Jason Love. They have over 20 hits on You Tube/Facebook. These two are Eminem in the making. Tiso Saolele and Kane Gush are the singers in the team. We also have a perms band -? Isaia Mamea drummer, Tau Mamea bass, Anthony Mamea on guitar, Genesis Mamea on the keys and Tiso Saolele singing. We are called the “Mameaz plus Wax”.


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

You know when you’re at a wainui game when you hear yelling, cheering, clapping and sometimes if you’re lucky see supporters dancing when we score tries. Our supporters mean a lot to us. They have been very loyal to us. From when we were in the Senior 1 grade, up to Hardham Cup to where we are today. They have always come in numbers. ?

They are there on a bus at away games and, win or lose, our passionate supporters are? always there. Our club is a very family orientated? club. It will be unfair to single out one person from the club. Everyone does there part to keep our family club going. Omata Hard