South Island sporting recap: South Kiwis fly home to hunt kangaroos at Christchurch rugby league tests

“Probably Reg,” Jordan laughs, before changing his mind.

“No. I’ll probably do that.”

The return of the athletic second rower has been a long time coming.

“I think the last time I played here was, yeah, 2017. I played in the grand final (under 18s) for Hornby against Halswell. That was the last time I played rugby league in Christchurch,” says Ricky.

The resurgence of South Island rugby league is in full swing and Ricky has played a big part in that, showing youngsters that it can be done.

“I had players I looked up to like Cody (Nikorima) and Jamaine (Isaako) who obviously helped lay the platform. And before them it was David Kidwell,” says Ricky.

“I just want to be one of those players who can help kids lift their heads and say, ‘Oh yeah, he’s from Christchurch, he can do it.’

Both Nikorima and Isaako are on the team along with Ricky, as well as two West Coast players, Griffin Neame and Phoenix Crossland. Newcastle Knights’ Crossland was born in Wellington and raised in Australia, but his family connections come from the coast.

“From my grandmother, it’s kind of the opposite. She, her mother and grandmother are all from the West Coast, Coal Creek area. All in all, Greymouth,” says Crossland.

The west coast of Nîmes is about the same as coal. The burly front-rower carved out a career in tropical North Queensland and made his Kiwi debut last year.

He was heavily involved in the 30-0 rout of the Kangaroos the last time the two sides met, scoring a memorable try late in the final. He expects many to travel over the passes for Sunday’s match.

“I was in Greymouth last week and I think everyone I spoke to said they were coming down to have a look at the weekend, so to know half of Greymouth will be here is pretty cool and I have a lot of family in Christchurch. because well, says Nim.

Neame is keenly aware that he is part of the remarkable history of West Coast rugby league and wants to inspire its future.

“I grew up on the coast, damn it, and I never thought I could wear this jersey. It was always a dream, but obviously there was a lot of self-doubt. But talking to kids on the coast, you know that’s all they want to do, too. If you work hard, anything is possible,” says Nim.

Both Nim and Ricky came through the South Island Scorpions representative teams before teaming up again as Junior Kiwis.

“Yeah, we played for the Kiwis (under 19s) against Australia and I’ve known him probably since I was 13 or 14 when we played against each other and it’s great to be in camp with him,” Neame says.

Jamaine Isaako also enjoys having a tribe of fellow Southerners at camp.

“We don’t play international games in the South Island very often, it’s always up north. So to come home and represent not just Christchurch but the whole South Island is pretty surreal too,” says Isaako.

The well-traveled defender found a home with the Dolphins after stints with the Gold Coast Titans and Brisbane Broncos. Educated at Shirley Boys High School, he last played for the Kiwis in Christchurch in 2019.

“And, you know, my father was also around that time to be able to go back and visit him, his grave and kind of play with him, being there in spirit,” Isaako says.

South Island Team

Jordan Reekie featured for St Thomas of Canterbury’s 1st XIII in 2017 as they began to make a name for themselves, reaching the semi-finals. Since then the youth game has boomed in the South Island with the ultimate goal being to have an NRL team there.

“You know, it’s great to see rugby league growing here. I saw there were a few applications here for a rugby league team,” says Ricky.

If the South Island bid proves successful in the near future, home-grown players such as Ricky and Nim will be prime targets. Recruitment has already begun in Ricky’s family.

“My mom tapped me on the shoulder one day,” Ricky laughs. “So, who knows? But I’m very happy to be playing for the Brisbane Broncos now.

Nim also supports the South Island franchise.

“With the Warriors selling out all their games, a second team here would be great.

They’ll probably sell out all the games here at the new stadium. So they got my vote for Christchurch,” says Neame.

Would he come home for this?

“I haven’t thought about it yet. I’m with the Cowboys now, but yeah, we’ll see what happens next,” Neame says.

Empty cabinets

For the first time in the professional men’s era, there is no one in South Island rugby’s provincial cabinets. No Super Rugby title, no provincial national championship, no Meads or Loughare cups, no Ranfurly Shield. 1995 was the last time all major trophies were locked up in the North Island.

Everything could have been different. West Coast were a ball away from winning the Lohore Cup conversion with time running out in Te Kuiti. The shot ricocheted off the left post and into the goal. Overtime went against them as King Country prevailed 46-44 in an epic contest that saw the lead change hands several times.

Te Aroha was almost as dense. Mid Canterbury, fresh from a semi-final win over neighbors South Canterbury, were unable to repeat their Mids Cup final heroics. Thames Valley put in just enough effort to take the title 37-29.

NPC Canterbury’s late run also came to a halt in Tauranga, where Bay of Plenty were beaten 32-20.

Ford Trophy

The typical match between rugby and cricket is found here.

Both Canterbury and Otago started their 2024/25 Ford Trophy campaigns with convincing victories.

Otago are top of the table after beating Northern Counties in Whangarei in the first round. With the score at 316-9 in the first innings, Otago then bowled out the hosts by 141 runs.

Dale Phillips was the Southerners’ top scorer with 89 goals, but it was quick cameos from captain Luke Georgeson (40 from 23) and Ben Lockrose (21 from 11) that secured their impressive title.

ND’s chase never got going, the first partnership of 28 between Caitin Clarke and Fergus Lellman being their best innings.

Andrew Hazeldine (2-24) and Matthew Bacon (3-20) cut North’s lead to 61-5 before Dean Foxcroft (3-36) and Lockrose (2-18) finished things off.

At the Basin Reserve in Wellington, Canterbury won the toss and sent the home team there.

Their decision immediately paid off as Zac Fowlkes removed Tim Robinson with his second ball. Foulkes (3-24) is understood to have picked up the pace in the off-season and added the wickets of Muhammad Abbas and Logan van Beek in his seven-over spell.

However, the main destroyer was Angus McKenzie’s medium pace with sensational figures of 5-14, including Wellington captain Nick Kelly scoring the opener.

Canterbury then reduced the total in the 23rd over with Chad Bowes (48*) running close and Matthew Boyle (45 off 34) hitting the ball over the fence.

Canterbury and Otago meet in Round 2 at Hagley Oval today.

Mike Thorpe is a senior multimedia journalist at the Christchurch-based Herald. He worked as a television and radio journalist for 20 years and joined the Herald in August 2024.