The Paekakariki Express: How Christian Cullen became the greatest attacking fullback of all-time
Matt Burke remains the best all-round fullback I have seen in nearly 40 years of playing, watching and writing about the game.
But the mantle of the best attacking fullback of them all remains on the shoulders of Christian Cullen. I was reminded of this watching the documentary Christian Cullen – A Salute to Greatness, which screened on New Zealand TVs last night. It was a veritable highlight reel of Cully’s greatest hits in a career cut short by injury, while his days in New Zealand rugby were ended by the vagaries of selectors John Mitchell and Robbie Deans in 2003. They deemed the likes of Leon MacDonald and Ben Blair, even Ben Atiga, as superior footballers at that stage.
In truth, neither of that trio was fit to even lace Cullen’s boots at his peak, which was 1996-2000. Incredibly, he went to just one Rugby World Cup and ended up at centre.
Cullen, aka the Paekakariki Express, is long retired, and has moved into the commentary box. One of his colleagues, Grant Nisbett, rates him as the best player he has seen, and that’s saying something given that Nisbo has seen over 300 Test matches.
The bare stats show that Cullen scored 46 tries from 58 Tests. Only Doug Howlett has more for the All Blacks. In 85 Super Rugby games for the Hurricanes, he notched 56 tries and often in a side that occupied the lower reaches of the log. Just three players have scored in the competition’s 24 years.
Inspired by the 1986-89 All Blacks fullback John Gallagher – there’s a man who could run a line outside his centre – Cullen made an early impression on this hack. As a pint-sized fullback in the Central Region Under 19s against their Northern Region counterparts, he showed he could step off both feet and was surprisingly strong for one who was less than 80kg. I was in the Northern Region No 15 jersey and attempted a shoulder charge as he was nearing the tryline. Guess who came off second best and looked like a goose?
Cullen made an art form out of making tacklers look like geese. One of the best tries I ever saw live, not televised, was at New Plymouth’s Rugby Park in 1995 for Manawatu against Taranaki. He scored a brace that day, but one of them showcased his pace, swerve and an in and out that Joeli Vidiri could have patented, embarrassing the home defence. The Naki won, but those who saw Cullen that day went away with his names on their lips.
Some of the tries he scored in 1996 defied belief, and this was highlighted nicely in the documentary. It may have been five or six, I lost count, defenders that he beat in a mazy, 97m run to score for the Hurricanes against the Waratahs. He beat more than six for the All Blacks against Scotland in Dunedin, though some of the tackling was flaky in the extreme.
Cullen wanted the ball, from anywhere, and had to call for it, often against his natural instinct, which saw him borderline taciturn. He forced Jeff Wilson to stay on the wing and forced Glen Osborne from fullback to wing. Great angles, accelerating through contact, no discernible loss of speed when stepping, off either foot.
Rugby had never seen such a player. The Hurricanes were up and down like a yoyo in the early years, but Tana Umaga and Cullen just kept setting tries up for each other.
Dane Coles revealed that his early inspiration was not a Sean Fitzpatrick or Norm Hewitt, but the small in stature kid with the shaved head from the back. Beauden Barrett, too, watching his Dad wind down his rep career, was entranced by Cullen.
Matt Burke was a truly great footballer, who scored 878 points, including 29 tries, in 81 Tests for the Wallabies. He scored three solo tries versus the All Blacks. That’ll do me, I thought.
But Cullen trumped Burke, and the mercurial Serge Blanco, for sheer attacking brilliance and thus joined the truly great fullbacks of New Zealand rugby: Billy Wallace, George Nepia, Bob Scott, and Don Clarke.
Since then Mils Muliaina and Ben Smith have joined those ranks. But even that exalted duo would tell you there was no one who could run like the Paekakariki Express in full flight.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Rodda will be a walk up starter at lock. Frost if you analyse his dominance has little impact and he’s a long way from being physical enough, especially when you compare to Rodda and the work he does. He was quite poor at the World Cup in his lack of physicality. Between Rodda and Skelton we would have locks who can dominate the breakdown and in contact. Frost is maybe next but Schmidt might go for a more physical lock who does their core work better like Ryan or LSL. Swain is no chance unless there’s a load of injuries.
8 Go to commentsWhy do people keep on picking Ardie at 7 when he's a ball in hand 8? A modern 7 is the lead tackler and ruck clearer which isn't his strength.
14 Go to commentsSly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
9 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
8 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
8 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
9 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
8 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
14 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
8 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
9 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
9 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
14 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
14 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
8 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
9 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
14 Go to comments