Mike Tamoaieta's moment of magic in Brisbane
In a sport where big men are known purely for their physical qualities, Mike Tamoaieta provided a point of difference.
The Blues and North Harbour prop, whose sudden death has sent shockwaves throughout the rugby world, got through his work in the tight whenever he was plying his trade in Super Rugby or the Mitre 10 Cup, cleaning out rucks and pushing hard in scrums.
However, as is the case with many front rowers, he cherished the rare moments on the park when he got the ball in space to prove his worth as a silky ball player.
There was no moment he would have cherished more than when he found himself in that exact moment at the Brisbane 10s last year.
The stocky, bearded prop managed to dot down under the sticks to spectacularly finish off a try that would normally be associated with an outside back.
Following a big burst down the sideline by halfback Sam Nock against the Panasonic Wild Knights, the ball was flung in-field for Dalton Papali’i, with Tamoaieta running alongside the loose forward in support.
Papali’i fed Tamoaieta the ball 30 metres from the Wild Knights’ tryline, and the latter accelerated through the defensive line, showing a good turn of pace before deceiving the opposition with a crafty dummy pass with about 15 metres to go.
With nothing but pasture between him and the tryline, he scooted on in under the crossbar, crashing over the tryline after a cheeky celebration en route to the in-goal area.
Sizzling prop try from Blues front row Mike Tamoaieta at the Brisbane 10s.
Can't get enough of that cheeky celebration and finish. pic.twitter.com/f7iGAuKwlC
— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) February 12, 2018
His teammates rushed to congratulate him with beaming grins on their faces.
The speed and ball-playing ability required to score the try was so much that nobody predicted that a player like Tamoaieta could have executed that piece of play, but there he was looking immensely proud of himself for what was a quite spectacular try.
The admiration his teammates had for him was evident in that post-try celebration, and that’s why his death will be felt so sharply by his Blues teammates in Buenos Aires ahead of their clash with the Jaguares this weekend.
When they return, they will undoubtedly be back with heavy hearts, looking to pay tribute to a man who is survived by his partner, Helen, and daughter, Aihana.
The Blues are scheduled to play their next home match against the Sunwolves at QBE Stadium in Albany, a fitting piece of scheduling given it was Tamoaieta’s home ground.
It will be a sad, poignant fixture where the Blues will be hellbent on doing their teammate justice with a win on his own turf.
But there will also be a few fond memories of a man who made those teammates and all rugby followers smile with a wonderful try that appropriately summarised his skill and talent.
Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
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
3 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.
55 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.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 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 commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to comments