On Saturday July 21st the Northcote club took out the QBE North Harbour Rugby premier division championship. They beat East Coast Bays 25-20 in the final at QBE Stadium. The coach of the ‘Cote’ team was well known rugby identity Brett Craies. He has a long history with the club, joining from school, playing a couple of prem games, before leaving to join Ponsonby over the bridge in 1985 when Harbour formed.
The goal-kicking first five won Gallaher Shield's with Ponsonby, then moved to Waikato to Hamilton Old Boys to get a crack at rep footy. There was a guy called Grant Fox in his way in Auckland. Old Boys won three club titles in that time and Brett says he was privileged to have captained both clubs to success by being involved in some very strong teams.
Rugby also took Brett Craies travelling as a youngster, he enjoyed off-seasons in San Francisco (USA), with Pontypool (Wales) and Parma (Italy).
Brett played rep rugby for Auckland between 1986 and 1988 and Waikato from 1989 to 1993 before taking up coaching in 1997. He coached at Hamilton Old Boys through the grades – Under 19, Under 21 and Prems before getting involved back with Northcote (playing President’s Grade) in 2003 when he moved back North.
Coaching started again by helping with the Northcote Junior 1 team. He coached a young Sean Boult in that team – now a member of his champion 2018 Northcote squad. Brett has also coached local Harbour school teams, including the Rosmini 6B side in 2010 and then the Rosmini First XV in 2011 and 2012. He coached the Kristin First XV in 2013 before moving back to coach age-group teams at Northcote, progressing through to the prems.
Away from rugby Brett Craies is one of two directors at Greenfire, a boutique accounting firm in Albany.
Aidan Bennett put these questions to Brett Craies about the success at Northcote just a few days after their title win.
AIDAN BENNETT: How long have you been coaching Northcote?
BRETT CRAIES: I have been coaching Northcote Prems with Brett Bedwell for the three years now. In 2016 and 2017 we also had Joe Kurukaanga coaching with us, but this year he stepped back to coach the Under 21s to fill a hole for the club and was a driving force behind our revival in that grade. Prior to the prems, Brett, Joe and I coached the Northcote Under 21s where we were runners-up in 2014 and the champions in 2015.
AB: Who are the stars of the champion team?
BC: We have a few stars but they are away on Super Rugby duty – Bryn Hall, Nick Mayhew, Murphy Taramai and Ben Neenee. Ben joined us this year and got his break, whilst Murphy joined us in 2016 to crack Harbour and made the Blues from his performances at Mitre 10 Cup level.
The success of the team is down to a great leadership group of Ryan Thompson (captain) and older guys like Blake Hall, Nick Regal and Tyler Golightly showing the way to young guys like Danny Drake, Leteru Tolai and Jack Bergin who have all been included in the QBE Harbour Mitre 10 Cup squad this season.
AB: Who played particularly well in the final?
BC: The final was a tough game and the depth of our team shone through. Murphy, Ben, the pack gave us a good supply of ball and wore East Coast Bays down, but it was really our bench that came in and finished the job – guys like Dwayne Polataivao and Zach Clarke. Nick Regal added impetus when it was needed.
AB: What has been the key to your success in 2018?
BC: The keys to our success this year is the mix of senior boys experience and young guys enthusiasm. We have built great depth in the club over the past few years and I guess that is reflected in the fact we have gone back-to-back in both the premier and the reserve competitions. The boys involved in the wider Harbour training group learn things with Tom (Coventry) and Dan (Halangahu), bring that back to training and educate the other players and us coaches. We are always striving to improve and the boys lift the standards.
The depth not only showed from the bench but how we could replace Nick Smith and Curtis Reid, both Mitre 10 cup level players who were injured and bring in Callum Law and Jason Blackett and the team never missed a beat.
Brett (Bedwell) and I are open to ideas and it’s not a dictatorship – the boys have input to trainings. It’s this as well as our game plans and passion that makes this team. We throw ideas around, the boys bring their enthusiasm and skills and they all work hard to achieve both individual and team success. This success is reflected in the selection of plenty of 'Cote boys in the QBE Harbour Mitre 10, Development and Under 19 programs. We have also blooded a few young boys from the Under 21 team this season, so hopefully that shows the pathway to their team mates and school leavers alike.
The success is through the hard work of many and not just this season. Our club is well supported by our three main sponsors, Recreational Services, Rex Industrial and Sue Mayhew – Bayleys, plus we have club members who individually sponsor players and this goes to running the team and allowing us to supply the boys with post match food, alternative training sessions at various external venues and also support the other teams in the club in these areas. The passion at the club is high and the LTC brand strong – but it comes down to lots of people making the success.
AB: How long have you been a board member at NHRU?
BC: I have been a board member on the North Harbour Rugby Union since 2015 when Brett Hollister got me involved. It’s been an interesting experience and one I have enjoyed. It’s great to give back to the game you love and to see it making a difference in so many people’s lives.
AB: Having played for Auckland, who do you barrack for when the battle of the bridge is on?
BC: Although I played for Auckland, my time in Waikato really made me a Waikato and Chiefs supporter. Until I joined the board, I was probably still that – but now definitely Harbour and the Blues are my teams.
http://www.harbourrugby.co.nz/news/north-harbour-club-premier-and-under-21-finals-21-july/
