10 minute read
Rugby League – captain coach and Friend
from SOUTH - August 2021
by Times Media
With the Counties Manukau Stingrays set to launch into the 2021 NZ Rugby League National Premiership, the squad’s playmaker and skipper, Jethro Friend, spoke with JON RAWLINSON.
Jethro Friend. Growing up, my brother had a poster of legendary Kiwis’ halfback and south
Auckland league star Clayton Friend on his wall, whereas Counties Manukau
Stingrays and Howick Hornet, Jethro
Friend, was raised in the shadow of the real thing.
“Both sides of my family have strong rugby league connections. One of my cousins (Bronson Harrison) played in the NRL and for the Kiwis, as did a few of my uncles as well as my dad [Clayton Friend],” Jethro explains. “I guess there has been a bit of pressure from myself to live up to the name and do my family proud. Sometimes I had to, maybe, work a little bit harder to prove myself because people expected it because of my last name.”
From Clayton to his cousin (Warriors’ foundation captain) Dean Bell and more, Jethro’s extended family has such strong connections to the game that it’s a veritable ‘who’s who’. Even his grandmother, Cathy Friend (who passed away in June this year) was practically rugby league royalty, receiving a Queens Service Medal (QSM) for services to the sport in 2008.
However, to Counties Manukau Stingrays’ fans, Jethro is a Friend indeed, often in the thick of the action. The Hillpark local is likely to play a pivotal role for the team in the upcoming NZRL National Premiership.
Playing at hooker and as dummy-half, Jethro is ideally positioned to lead the squad.
“As a hooker, you have to be a leader regardless of whether you’re also the captain managing the forwards and making decisions from the middle, so it does fit in. I started as a halfback, like my dad, but one year my coach decided to change things up and I’ve stayed at hooker ever since.”
year’s final, with the ‘rays unceremoniously knocked aside by Akarana, 64-18.
“I dislocated my shoulder in the first five minutes – we just didn’t start well overall. We had a lot of confidence heading into it but, against a quality team with a lot of experience, it’s hard to come back from [a bad start],” Jethro recalls. “Akarana has a lot of quality players every year. If we can go the whole way this year it will mean a lot for our region.”
Despite including teams from throughout New Zealand, the National Premiership tends to be dominated by Akarana (Auckland) and Counties. However, Jethro says it is still a useful stepping stone for emerging players.
“You get a lot of support playing local rugby league, for your club – we have a lot of passionate supporters – but that doesn’t quite translate to [regional football]. Traditionally, the game’s not as big outside Auckland but it still has a place elsewhere.”
Rising through the grades with the Manurewa Marlins, Jethro then joined the Howick Hornets at club level. He was also in the Warrior’s Under 20s and represented New Zealand Maori against an England team. Now, at the ripe old age of 29, he’s realistic about his playing future.
“You never say never but, realistically, it’s a young man’s game. I’m just trying to enjoy my football now,” he smiles. “I’m not sure how much longer I’ll play, but as long as I’m enjoying it, have the drive and I’m at my best, I’ll keep going for a while.” is unlikely to give the game away entirely. A teacher at Manurewa High, he is coaching at school and age-grade provincial level (Counties under 16s) where his on-field leadership skills are well placed.
“A year before I left university, Peter Olivetti [former Hornet and Warrior] hit me up to help out at Manurewa High; it’s now my fifth year working there. We’re a smaller school but have some strong talent and I’m doing what I can to develop them further,” he says. “I want to see how junior football goes first, before looking at other levels,” he says. “I’ve been drawing on the example of other coaches and watching more football to see what I can use, while understanding my players’ strengths.”
South Auckland is quite the factory when it comes to generating rugby league talent. And yet, there is power in ‘Union’.
“It’s hard [competing for players] with private schools offering rugby scholarships,” Jethro confirms. “From the families’ point of view, it can be a very good option and they need to do what’s best for their kids. However, a lot of boys who go to rugby come back to league later on, so they’re not necessarily lost completely.”
Talk has recently ramped up again regarding a second New Zealandbased franchise joining the NRL; Jethro agrees this could help retain players at school and club level but only as part of a wider development strategy.
“When the Warriors or the Kiwis are thriving, we get more kids wanting to play,” he adds. “Wherever they come from, we need more opportunities, something for children to aim for, to keep the game growing.” The Hornets’ have their tails up again this season in Auckland’s top club rugby league competition. As last year’s competition was cut short by the pandemic, the Howick-based club’s premiers were (technically) the reigning champs heading into the 2021 competition. However, with the Hornets needing a strong finish to the regular season, as SOUTH went to print, the squad’s captain, Jethro Friend, was gun-shy about overstating their chances.
“I don’t think we’ve been favourites but we do have the talent,” he says. “You have to have the belief otherwise there’s no point playing. Whatever happens this year, we have to forget about the past, not think too far ahead and just concentrate on being in the right mindset.”
The 2019 final was a nail-biter decided in extra time, with Jethro contributing two tries during a man of the match effort; it couldn’t have been scripted any better. However, it could be suggested being 20 points up after a cakewalk certainly would have been easier. Jethro laughs.
“Yeah, I suppose so! When you’re playing it is better not to have that kind of pressure, but in terms of creating memories it’s not too bad, aye? It was pretty special, definitely.”
When the Hornets won the club’s first Fox Memorial Shield in 2011, it established a legacy of success which still appears to be bearing fruit. However, while proud to be a Hornet, Jethro confirms he didn’t join the club because of the 2011 title win.
“I felt like I needed a change. I was still young, 19 or 20, and looking for a good environment to grow as a player,” he adds. “I went to one training each for Otahuhu, Papakura and Howick and decided from there. I already knew a few of the boys [at Howick] and felt welcome straight away. There was a good culture, good people and a mix of youth and experience.”
Howick Hornets Premiers v Pt Chev Pirates
FRIEND’S FOX HUNTS
MAINTAINING YOUR PETS pearly whites
DR NIKKI FROST, senior vet at Franklin Vets Pukekohe, talks about dental care for pets.
Dental disease affects 80% of cats and dogs over the age of three. It is a progressive condition which, if left unattended, leads to inflammation, pain, infection and loss of the supporting bone around the tooth causing teeth to become loose and eventually fall out. So, how can we keep our pets’ mouths healthy and stop this from happening?
Once there is tartar build-up, a professional scale is required to remove all the buildup both above and below the gumline and to assess the teeth for further disease (see pictures). Once the teeth are clean, or if we are starting with a clean mouth like that of a puppy, we can work on the prevention of the buildup. There are a few different options for this.
Tooth brushing: This is the gold standard for keeping control of plaque in the mouth. It can take a bit of training to get animals used to it so, it’s best to start when they are young. Animal specific toothpaste is required as human toothpaste is not designed to be swallowed and there is a range of brushes that can be used. It does have to be done every 1-2 days to keep good control but has the benefit of treating the whole mouth.
Dental diets (such as Royal Canin
Dental and Hills T/D): These biscuits are designed to break in a way that when crunched will help chip off tartar. They contain substances which help bind calcium in the mouth to help prevent plaque from becoming calcified tartar.
Dental chews: These come in many types but do need to be chewed for at least 2 minutes to clean the teeth. The downside of chews is they don’t clean the front teeth.
Water additives such as Aquadent:
These are added to the pets main drinking supply so, when they drink, it reduces bacteria on the teeth.
While bones do a good job of keeping teeth clean, breaking teeth on them would be one of the main reasons we remove teeth from big dogs. This, and other potential side effects, such as bones getting stuck in the intestine and causing constipation, means we don’t recommend them.
August Special 20% OFF
Pet Dental work
for procedures under anaesthetic e.g. extractions, scaling & polishing
AUGUST IN PAPAKURA
Welcome to Papakura Business Association’s monthly column updating readers on Papakura happenings.
Tracy Shackleton Papakura Town Centre Manager
NEW BUSINESSES IN PAPAKURA
So far 24 new businesses have opened in Papakura since January this year – that’s fantastic news for everyone!
Of course, all our Papakura businesses can be found on our website www.papakura. co.nz – check it out. Listings provide the business name, address and phone number as well as Facebook and website information and, most importantly, their opening hours.
Ours is a highly interactive website, which also features information on the business association, upcoming events, blogs, news and information about Papakura’s murals, art and so much more. Our website is well worth a visit.
We also operate two Facebook pages – LivePapakura and PapakuraTownCentre – and warmly invite readers to join these for daily updates. We are also on Instagram #LivePapakura.
CHECK OUT OUR AMAZING MURALS AND CHORUS BOXES IN PAPAKURA
We now have 24 murals around Papakura showcasing the work of talented, local artists which we are so proud to display in the town. Check out their locations and the artists behind each artwork – we‘re sure you will agree they are fantastic. And, don’t forget to also look for the Chorus boxes around Papakura which have been fabulously painted by students from local schools and kindergartens. They are really lovely and make those plain Chorus boxes bright and colourful. The children just love doing these and we love seeing their workmanship.
FATHER’S DAY – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
Remember to look after Dad on this special day! To celebrate why not take him out to breakfast, lunch or dinner at one of Papakura’s many great eateries or purchase a gift voucher from any one of our wonderful stores? That way, Dad can choose his own special gift – hopefully after a family meal in town!
That’s all for this month – just remember to Shop Papakura!
Papakura Business Association PO Box 272 1783 Papakura 2244, Auckland Phone 09 298 8996
south | august 2021 | 15www.papakura.co.nz
