REDMEN COACH PULLS OFF MASSIVE RECRUITMENT COUP
Gun five-eighth to line up against old club
There’s no doubting Grafton Redmen’s massive signing of star five-eighth Rawiri Wilson for the 2024 season is one of the biggest in the Club’s history.
And there’s also no doubting his commitment to rugby and the Redmen.
Wilson arrived for training last night after a gruelling 4042km trip from Perth to Grafton via Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
And after talking to the Redmen recruit, travel has always been a big part of his life.
“I work in Western Australia in the mining industry as a machine operator so there is a lot of travel involved,” Wilson explained.
“In the past I’ve also travelled to Belfast, South of France and Holland where I played rugby.
“There’s always goals you set for yourself, and you need to do what ever it takes to achieve them.
“I love my fitness and when I am away, I make sure I make the effort to remain fit while the team is at training.”
The ultimate rugby journeyman, Wilson also had stints with South Darwin, where he captained the side to a premiership, and University on the Sunshine Coast.
Born in Wellington where rugby is central to culture and life, the talented number-10 started playing the game he loves at a young age.
“I’ve played rugby since I was five,” Wilson said.
“I love rugby as you can probably tell from all the travel I do. Apart from family, which is my main priority, rugby means everything to me.”
Culture has also played a significant role in Wilson’s life, both on and off the field.
“My second language is Māori. I was brought up speaking Māori back home and didn’t speak English until I was nine-year-old,” Wilson admitted.
“Culture is huge for me and from experience, culture plays a big part in winning a premiership.
“If you have a good club culture everyone buys into it and from there everything flows naturally.”
Wilson played for the NSW Country Cockatoos in 2023 alongside Redmen forward Ed McGrath and is hoping to gain selection in the 2024 side when he represents Mid North Coast Axeman over the June long weekend at the Country Championships. Redmen first grade coach Gary Powell will coach the side.
On Saturday Wilson will line up against his old club Coffs Snappers, but for the class five-eighth, it’s just another game of rugby.
“A few of the boys have been leaving a few comments but I haven’t replied,” Wilson said.
“It will be a little bit strange but it’s not like Snappers were my junior club, I only played one season with them.
“It’s just another game of footy and it’s going to be a very big game for us (Redmen)…a game we need to win.”
Nico
