Let’s get things in perspective after Watene death
Last updated 11:48, Friday, 17 October 2008
WE sportswriters really must stop labelling a missed goal-scoring opportunity or a try conceded as a tragedy.AUSSIE legend Wally Lewis is apparently claiming that the World Cup would benefit from having the home nation split in to the two hotbed states, Queensland and New South Wales.MY trusty Haven historian, who does a superb job in keeping me up-to-date with the latest Recre record-breakers, has been in touch to apologise.
The true meaning of the word hit home this week with the sudden death of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats prop Adam Watene after a weight-training session. He was 31 and leaves a wife and two children.
Anything else that I could write about rugby league in this column today would pall in to insignificance compared to the death of this much-admired professional.
Ex-Recre boss Steve McCormack, who had seen Watene at close hand during Haven’s epic battles with Castleford in 2005, was planning to bring him to west Cumbria if Haven had beaten the Tigers in that season’s Grand Final.
My only recollection of him from that day – it’s not a match, or a performance from Haven, that I try to recall too often - was actually during victorious Castleford’s post-match celebrations, with a child in his arms, jigging up and down on the pitch. A happy man.
The rugby league community is tight-knit, and I’m sure Trinity and fans across the nation will rally round Adam’s family.
Perhaps a collection during the opening pro matches of next season is appropriate. Certainly a minute’s applause across the league nation, to celebrate his life.
McCormack and John Kear, his coach at Wakefield, both used the same word to describe Adam Watene. He was a gentleman, they agreed.
The Cook Islands international’s body will be returned to New Zealand for his funeral.
It was no surprise to learn he was a decent guy. Most Maori and South Seas Islanders I’ve known seem cut from the same cloth. Hard as nail on the pitch, nice as ninepence off it.
Ex-Haven prop David Fatialofa, who recalled to me this week facing Watene in 05, was like that. Former Workington Town pair Hitro Okesene and Lokeni Savelio were similar.
It may mean little at present to the Watene family, but in time they might gain a degree of consolation from the fact that Adam was held in such high regard. On the pitch and off it.
I’d like to blast the former Test stand-off for being a little patronising to the rest of the league world. But he is correct.
It will never happen for one good reason. The State of Origin rivals would more than likely contest the final, and how would that look for the world game?
Not all Australian players who come to these shores to ply their trade turn out world-beaters. But the Aussie game, as seen in the NRL, remains streets ahead of ours.
I watched our Super League Grand Final and the Aussie equivalent virtually back-to-back on TV, and the difference in quality was striking.
To be fair, this was due in part to the conditions, which may go some way to explaining why the game Down Under is a superior product to our own. Leeds beat St Helens at Old Trafford in a rainstorm that would have made Noah think twice about venturing out.
It would be fantastic to see England bring home the World Cup next month. But the odds are against them.
The Aussies enjoy such strength-in-depth. How many Englishmen would force their way in to an Aussie World Cup XV11?
Skipper Jamie Peacock for one, but I’m struggling to think of another.
Just after Howard Hill was struck by his recent illness, I was told the forward had played 199 times for the club.
Turns out that two seasons-worth of appearances had not been counted and Howard has in fact played 250 times. A proud landmark indeed. More importantly, Howard is on the long road to recovery following his life-threatening condition. At 33, and just before being taken ill, he signed a new two-year contract at the Recre. So here’s hoping that in late 2010 he has his 300th appearance in his sights.
MARTIN MORGAN
