A Journey Deep Into The Depraved, Paranoid Mind Of A Hurricanes Supporter
How does it feel to be a fan of the only New Zealand Super Rugby franchise yet to win a title? In this conversation between Scotty Stevenson and lifelong Hurricanes supporter Andrew Mulligan, we learn it can only be described as a kind of living hell.
In the early hours of Saturday morning in Rio De Janeiro, where we are covering the Olympic Games, Andrew Mulligan and I sat in the courtyard of an almost-finished hotel in the middle of some dusty suburb and watched the Hurricanes take on the Chiefs in their Super Rugby semifinal. After the game, fuelled on local fire water – cachaça – we began to discuss his infatuation with the Hurricanes, and the heartache that love has led to. The following is a rough transcript of that discussion.
Scotty Stevenson: You do realise you promised to change your name by deed poll to ‘Tongan Bear’ if the Hurricanes won the Super Rugby title?
Andrew Mulligan: Yes.
And you did that on Australian television, so there is evidence of this promise?
Yes.
What were you thinking?
I wasn’t. That was the problem. Actually, what happened was I knew I had to make a point of how much this title will mean to me, but now I realise that my wife and kid will probably need to take ‘Bear’ for their surname, and that could be problematic. Host of The Other Rugby Show [and regular Rugby Pass Podcast guest] Sean Maloney is not going to let it go. I shouldn’t have said anything. But then a part of me knows I am probably on safe ground.
Which brings us to the heart of the matter. The fact is, you don’t really believe they can ever win a title, do you? That’s why you made that promise!
The problem is I am a vocal Canes fan, and that attracts a certain kind of troll. These trolls are a mix of people I respect, like you, and people I have no respect for, like [The Crowd Goes Wild co-host and former New Zealand cricketer] Mark Richardson, who is also a Highlanders bandwagoner, which says all you need to know about him. Before the semifinal performance, I will admit I had my doubts, as every Canes fan has.
Why do Canes fans have so many doubts?
We’ve had so much talent that you would think we already would have won a title at some point. Historically we have missed the playoffs more than we have made the playoffs, which is arguably worse than getting to a final and losing, which we have done twice. Think about it: in 2006 we couldn’t see anything. Kudos to the Crusaders for organising that fog. Last year the TMO couldn’t see anything. Hurricanes fans don’t get no respect. We’re the Rodney Dangerfields of rugby.
Has there been one moment, more than all the others, that really killed you?
Julian Savea’s knock on in last year’s final. It was the greatest summation of the entire history of the Hurricanes.
Yeah, that was a moment alright. But still, there have been other disappointments. Do you keep a filing cabinet full of Hurricanes head shaking?
It’s Pandora’s Box. Once you open one bad memory, the rest keep flooding back. That’s why so many Hurricanes fans are superstitious. We don’t want to ever say we will win, but neither do we ever want to mention the times we have lost. In this way, we actually try to forget every single game the team has played.
That seems extreme, but then again Hurricanes fans are extreme – and they are very vocal, like you. And high profile.
You would think the Blues would be the most vocal, given their big city status, but Aucklanders are just apathetic, and Canes fans are emotionally invested. Think about the personalities who are legitimate Canes fans. There’s [Radio New Zealand host] John Campbell, who encapsulates the kind of earnestness that we all aspire to. There’s [Radio Sport host] Martin Devlin who is barking mad about everything to do with this team. His is a manic, almost schizophrenic obsession. Most people hope the Canes lose just to make him cry. Taika Waititi is a Canes fan. [His film] What We Do In The Shadows could easily be the Hurricanes fan motto.
And you are superstitious, too. All you Canes fans are!
We blame everybody, and trust no one. Happiness Insurance, Reverse Jinx, Conspiracy Theories, Referee Bias, Substitution Irregularities – this is the coded language of the Canes fan. It’s exhausting. I’m tired of it. I need this title more than anyone. It’s a Wellington thing, mainly. Wellington people are suspicious of the rest of the country.
Have you ever bet against the Canes?
I have never actually put money on a team playing against the Canes, but I will admit I have tipped against them. I know of Canes fans who have regularly bet against their team. It’s acceptable behaviour. We all understand. Highlanders fans are the worst. They all suddenly appeared out of nowhere last year and they make too much noise. They are rugby’s nouveau riche.
You are heavy favourites this weekend. How could this team possibly lose the Super Rugby final?
Where do I begin? Dane Coles may not be fit. They are hiding Julian Savea somewhere. Brad Shields could trip over a camera cable running out onto the park and break his ankle. TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett might suddenly forget how to play together. There could be a meteor shower. The lineout may fall apart. Glen Jackson might be the first referee to notice how offside they are all game. There are a million ways this could all go wrong.
I don’t think the Canes can blow it from here. Although I have tipped the Lions, just because I know it winds you up.
And I know that’s the case and will just embrace that all week long. And when the Canes – no, I can’t say it. You know what I mean. If that happens, I will show restraint and leave the histrionics to Devlin and Campbell. I also have a voodoo doll of [Lions coach] Johan Ackermann that I got in a favela and I am going to stick pins in it all week.
That sounds good, Andrew. Or should I say, Mr Bear.
Just call me Tongan.
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments