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'The mullet has been a polarising thing for some time now. But if that's what New Zealand wants, I'll have to oblige.'
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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.”
Continue reading below…
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.
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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.
Goodhue, who was born and raised in Kawakawa, said he got on board after hearing about the charity’s work from his dad Bernard.
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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.
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.
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
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments