Former Tongan international rugby union forward and Forster Tuncurry club legend, John Vakaahi, walked into the Dolphins’ clubhouse last week, bringing with him a Tongan stranger who just might be the answer to a coach’s annual winter prayer.
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Niaku Honemau moved to the Great Lakes when his partner took up a teaching position, the couple having left Orange where “Ho” played with the local rugby league club.
The 115kg Honemau is beyond the ambitious, teen-age stage of his life, rather the experienced backrower, seeking to continue playing hard, competitive rugby.
By fortuitous chance, the Dolphins will engage in an early-season seven-a-side carnival at Crescent Head this Saturday, February 2, where the new arrival will experience the more explosive form of rugby.
The Crescent Head carnival is a demanding day’s rugby, but the Dolphins should acquit themselves well with players such as skipper Matt Nuku and Mark Hagarty, two inside backs talented enough for Mid North Coast Axemen honours, halfback Liam Brady, MNC representative winger Jesse Logan, the Harris brothers, Tom and Colin, line-out forward Jack Woods, and utility backs Jack Nicholson, Jonathan Paff and Rob Avard all vieing for positions.
Honemau appears a strong ball-runner and with his backrower’s experience, he knows the way to the try-line.
Coach Ron McCarthy is awaiting developments, saying cautiously: “Ho’s got the size and is a receptive type.
“He’s knowledgeable and gets involved in training.
He’s knowledgeable and gets involved in training.
- Ron McCarthy
“We’ll see.”
The Dolphins and the women’s team, the Dolphinettes, will make the two-and a half hour trip north by coach on Saturday morning.
Disturbingly, the Dolphins have been obliged to train on a nearby touch football ground after their Peter Barclay Field headquarters were “aerated” so badly that injuries would have occurred had players used the field.
It appears the damage was done weeks ago, some areas of the playing field scoured so severely, holes gouged out, that they will have to be completely returfed, a process requiring months of stabilisation.
As a result, the Dolphins’ playing arena adjoining the clubhouse is virtually untenable, endangering the season’s program of home games and consequently the club’s sole source of income.
What makes the Barclay Field issue so concerning is that adjoining grounds are in pristine condition, well-grassed and splendidly surfaced.
Another pressing concern for the club is that their women’s rugby team, the Dolphinettes, have received their special jumpers for the carnival, but lack the players to wear them.
The Lower Mid North Coast Kennards Hire premiership for women is being expanded this year from seven players-a-side to 10-a-side, and the Dolphinettes are short on numbers.
“The jumpers look great, but we need women to wear them,” president, Damian Daczko said.
“Players who represent the club at Crescent Head will keep the jumpers so we hope this will attract some girls,” he said.
The Dolphinettes have been training at One Mile Beach.
They have the nucleus of a nice team, but several of last season’s players have moved on or have not trained because of employment requirements.
The Kennards Hire premiership first round will kick off on April 13 with the Gloucester Cockies at home against the Forster Dolphins; the Manning River Ratz will play the Old Bar Clams at Taree Rugby Park; and the defending premiers, the Wallamba Bulls, will meet the Wauchope Thunder at Nabiac.
