'The mullet has been a polarising thing for some time now. But if that's what New Zealand wants, I'll have to oblige.'
Jack Goodhue’s famous mullet has long been credited for making him run faster, boosting overall sporting performance and increasing his attractiveness.
Now the All Black from Kawakawa in Northland with the most talked-about tresses in New Zealand is using his superpower to help Northland’s vulnerable youth as part of a fundraising campaign which will see the public decide whether he keeps his mullet or shaves it off.
Goodhue recently teamed up with the Bald Angels Charitable Trust and launched the Summer of the Mullet campaign which encourages residents to grow a mullet to raise $100,000 for the Far North charity which supports at-risk youth and needy families via its various networks and programmes.
“I wanted to do something special for the kids of Northland that need a bit of direction and hope,” Goodhue said.
“Unfortunately in Northland some kids don’t have positive role models to help them.”
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The social media campaign kicked off this week and aims to get people talking about, and growing, mullets over summer.
There will be categories for the prettiest, longest, vintage and baby mullets, along with sections for w?hine and first responders.
The campaign will culminate in late February with a Mullet in the Park event, likely to be held in Kerikeri, where the fate of Goodhue’s hair will be decided via votes from the public.
Funds raised will help Bald Angels develop its KiwiMana Kai?rahi programme, which, by providing trained mentors for at-risk youth, helps build their self-respect, life skills and resilience.
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Goodhue, who was born and raised in Kawakawa, said he got on board after hearing about the charity’s work from his dad Bernard.
Passionate about mentoring, Goodhue has also been working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Christchurch, a similar mentoring programme, since 2017.
“The Bald Angels is a fitting charity for me,” he said.
“Mentoring gives kids a bit of direction and helps shape positive values in their lives. It gives them life skills to help them achieve what they want to.”
“The boys have grown up playing 7s and coming back from 15s is not as difficult. However, there are elements that are needed for them to be able to compete at that level having moved to 15s."
– @fijirugby 's Gareth Baber talks to @chrisjonespress https://t.co/c8bEcDGTdC
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 30, 2019
Bald Angels founder Therese Wickbom said she’s excited about the campaign.
“All our youth have value and skills and they can be whatever they want to be. But they need us to help and we need to be there walking that path with them.
“We’re absolutely thrilled that Jack feels the aroha for the youth of Northland and that he’s keen to work with us to make a difference. He’s a compassionate young man.”
Goodhue’s mullet made an unprecedented number of domestic and international headlines during his Rugby World Cup debut in Japan.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B52_kY6g6jY/
It was also endorsed by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who wrote on Instagram after the All Blacks thrashed Ireland: “That’s a brilliant win … for the All Blacks and mullets everywhere.”
Goodhue is candid about what makes a good mullet, which is short at the front and sides, but left long at the back and defined the 1980s.
“You need to keep the front business-like and respectful,” he said.
“For the back, just let it be. Don’t try and control the party at the back.”
All Blacks have got their final man just in time for Christmas https://t.co/tUKOMN8uk3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 24, 2019
The advantages of sporting a mullet are many and include boosting sporting performance and making you “50 per cent more attractive”, he said.
“The only disadvantage is everyone looking at you because they’re jealous.”
Ezra McNaught reckons he can run faster too, ever since his mum cut his hair into a mullet a few weeks ago.
The Kerikeri Primary student who is playing in the under 9s this year said: “I thought the idea of growing a mullet was pretty cool.”
Northland YES co-ordinator Gary Larkan said though he’s not confident his hair would grow enough to warrant a mullet he’s supportive of the initiative.
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Larkan reckons Goodhue should retain his famous locks if possible.
“When he came back on the scene with it, I thought good on him because he’s made them popular again. More power to him if he can get it even more radical.”
Goodhue heads back to Christchurch on January 11 to resume training with the Crusaders.
And though he hopes to have more time with his mullet, he is ready to let it go.
“The mullet has been a polarising thing for some time now. But if that’s what New Zealand wants, I’ll have to oblige. The main thing is we’re raising money for the kids.”
Jack’s top 5 mullet-growing tips
Initiate it: make the decision and commitment
Resilience: understand friends and family will give you a hard time to start with
Perseverance: never give up
Use good hair product: Jack suggests a good shampoo and hair oil
Own it.
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
New All Blacks coach Ian Foster has been signed on a two-year contract, which could open the door for new recruitment come the end of 2021:
Comments on RugbyPass
excellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe 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 👍
3 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 comments