Aupiki Preview: Matatū

Can they get their first W?

I’m going to start at the beginning and day I think it sucks that the Highlanders don’t have a franchise. Those that argue player numbers would do well to remember that the men’s Hurricanes were beaten by a Hurricanes B team playing in the blue and gold back in 2015. The Highlanders franchise has long been bolstered by wild cards or those whose talent has been overlooked by their home towns. Don’t tell me you couldn’t have assembled a similar women’s side, particularly if you were to pair it with a savvy sponsorship from the local university.

The missing 5th franchise aside, I actually love that Matatū got to create their own identity. They show us what rugby looks like in Aotearoa in 2023. They emerged with a name and haka gifted to them by mana whenua, they established a connection with the trailblazing women who established rugby in their regions. This freedom allowed them to have memberships, merch and their own social media channels all in year one. Can you imagine being catered to like that as a fan of a women’s team? Unreal. They are likely the test case to be studied in future were someone to do research into the launch of this league.

Other franchises are stuck with double barrelled names that are rather clunky. I imagine over time, we will drop the first part of the name and simply call them Poua and Manawa, I know I already have.

So Matatū are winning in terms of identity and fan engagement but unfortunately they are yet to pick up a win on the paddock. Alongside the Manawa, they actually managed to play 3 games and a preseason match in the COVID disrupted season. They went close both times against Manawa, before the games opened up a bit against the Blues and Poua. The Blues took full advantage of the COVID modification in rules to play a rolling forward pack and the Poua had everything to prove in their final match and the return of players out of COVID isolation.

Coming into season two, they are without two of their season one standouts. Liv McGoverne, who I still think was very unlucky not to get a PAC4 call up last season, headed north and is now ripping through everyone in England’s Premier 15s. A versatile back, McGoverne leaves a hole in their inside backs they will be keen to cover. Meanwhile the Bremner sisters double act has come to an end with Chelsea heading up to the Manawa. Having played all their rep footy alongside each other, I’m sure they will relish the chance to face off.

Lucky for Matatū they are not short of options in the midfield. Grace Brooker, who was a bright spot all the way back on the Northern Tour of 2021, is set to make her return. Chey Robins-Reti has been recruited from the Poua and while she is listed as an outside back, is a hugely versatile player. She played a match against Canterbury at 13 last year for Waikato and her combination there with Renee Holmes was just so good that I would LOVE to see it again. Charntay Poko has been rewarded for good form in the Canterbury FPC side. A former leaguey, she knows how to cut a line and chop a tackle.

As for locking options, they have recruited Sera Naiqama from the Wallaroos World Cup campaign. She competed in the Super W for the NSW Warratahs and I hear she will return across the ditch to join them after completion of the Aupiki season. This shows that while the governing bodies may be slow to move to lengthen the competitions they are offering, the players are wasting no time. Another newbie is Cindy Nelles. The Canadian is returning south to her chosen home after being a starter for the Blues last season.

I hear pre-season has continued to focus on strengthening the connection of these players who have the been tasked with the responsibility of building a brand. They have their first contact session this weekend and then will be bringing the noise next weekend in a pre-season against the Poua. Unfortunately, this match does not appear to be televised but for those of you that are Wellington based, it will be kicking off at 11.30am at Jerry Collins Stadium, Porirua.

So I will see you there!

With you,

Alice