Head of the ‘OTIDE’ – Mason Malagamaali’i

Above: Mason Malagamaali’i behind the mike at the Ories clubrooms. Photo: Dave Brownlie.

• By Adam Julian

Mason Malagamaali’i is a big personality. His surname with a dozen letters and a handful of consonants says it. Coach, MC, church leader, singer, marriage celebrant, teacher, father of four there isn’t much the affable Samoan can’t do. To most in Wellington, he’s simply known as Mason.

Mason is a winner. This year he coached Oriental Rongotai (Ories) premiers to an improbable Jubilee Cup triumph. Facing elimination six weeks in a row, Ories won six consecutive matches with most players from a small Samoan church. Mason added senior men’s glory to the three women’s championships, he won between 2017 and 2020.

Mason is the voice of the Wellington Lions. His energetic and entertaining PA announcements, coupled with immaculate pronunciation, are distinct but sometimes capture the ire of staidly conservative punters.

One September week Mason was MC for a Scots College basketball fundraiser, a Pasifika gathering, a girls’ Under 15 Rugby final, and ground announced the Lions v North Harbour game. Not to mention he lives with his 81-year-old dad and 72-year-old mother who’s in the early onset of dementia. Mason is a machine, but it wasn’t always that way.

The oldest of three sons, Mason was a Poneke junior – skilled but often too big for the grade. His early rugby floundered. The rambunctious teen was “politely asked” to leave Rongotai College.

“I was young, dumb and did some stupid stuff,” Mason admitted.

“I was overly influenced by my surroundings and the people I hung out with. They’re not to blame but I’d just wander directionless until the sky changed colour. I knew the consequences of not doing my chores at home but with everything else, there weren’t consequences.”

S.A.U Trust was an NGO that took in troubled kids seeking better pathways. Mason attributes his time with them as a “turning point.” Greater awareness of his culture and investment in his talents helped him turn a corner.

“I’m a blessed person. I’m not ashamed to say I have some decent natural ability, God-given of course, but I was too dumb, careless, and irresponsible to take advantage of it,” Mason said.

Wellington College helped him play rugby “properly.” In 1995 he was a member of the First XV that won 20 out of 22 games and narrowly lost the National Top Four final to Auckland powerhouse, Kelston Boys’ High School.

In 1996 his parents bought a house in Miramar. That was the catalyst to join nearby Ories.

His debut for the Premiers’ starting lineup was in a Hardham Cup semi-final in 1997. Richard Parkinson kicked a 45-meter penalty, into the wind, on full-time to win the game. In the final Ories was beaten by Poneke who’d won the Jubilee Cup in 1996.

Eight months in Wales made Mason more social and worldly. He married his wife and “MVP” Lina in 2002 and started coaching.

The Ories Vatos were part social, part feeder for the prems. Always talented (Kiwis league international Sione Faumuina passed through), they won often but were rarely challenged.

Restless Mason did some coaching papers. In 2009 he became Ories rugby development officer and took on the Colts. Two players showed up at the first training session. In 2011 Ories were runners-up in the John E Kelly Cup and the seniors won the Jubilee Cup outright for the first time in a century. Thereafter Ories didn’t miss the Jubilee semis until 2016.

“Our recruitment circles begin with family, church, player families and close networks. Church plays a huge part in our club as it brings together people from different church communities. They are villages and being a smaller club with fewer resources we had to grow stronger within rather than outsourcing all the time,” Mason explained.

Mason belongs to the EFKS Ueligitone Christian Congregation Church of Samoa. Presently he is a deacon, vice treasurer, chair of the senior youth group, and conductor of the choir.

When Ories won the Jubilee Cup this year 39 players, including 15 seniors, were affiliated with the church. Down the road is PIPC Newtown. That’s where Wellington Lions flanker Sione Halalilo and the Solo and Ropeti families, contributors of six Ories players, congregate. Roderick Solo is in the All Blacks Sevens and Wellington Lion Dominic Ropeti won the Jim Brown Memorial Medal as the best player in the Jubilee Cup final. He scored two tries.

Members of Ories and and the EFKS Ueligitone Christian Congregation Church of Samoa. Photo: Andy McArthur. 

“To play for the O you’ve got to know what the O is about first,” Mason said.

“But we’re not a closed shop. Wairarapa Bush halfback Issac Bracewell is one of our influential players. Connor Lemon is a centurion – a prop who drives an hour each way from Upper Hutt to train.

“When we were facing elimination from the Jubilee Cup there were some pretty honest conversations around performance and what was needed to win. We had to theme each week differently, but it was essentially, lose and there’s no Monday. It sounds strange but the more games we won the easier it got.”

Mason first learned to win with Ories women. The team was good before Mason arrived but when he implemented stronger off-field guidance and changed the game plan to create more space the results were devastating.

Ories won 46 out of 50 matches (five default wins) and scored a staggering 2,348 points. Ories contributed 14 Wellington Pride players in the 2020 Farah Palmer Cup, including Rugby World Cup-winning Black Ferns Joanah Ngan-Woo and Ayesha Leti-I’iga who has crossed for 187 tries in 74 appearances for Ories.

If the inner sanctum is rotten, the group won’t flourish. When Ories was beaten by Old Boys University in Round 11 of the Swindale Shield this year they faced Jubilee Cup oblivion.

Motivation to overcome fierce rivals Poneke wasn’t difficult but twice Ories required the last minute to tame Upper Hutt. In the first instance, the Rams gifted Ories a Jubilee Cup place by missing a penalty out in front – a mistake Ories didn’t make a fortnight later to end the Rams season.

Unusually Marist St Pat’s was conquered. When Ories rallied from 23-0 down to demolish Johnsonville in the semis, it was clear Ories was a different beast. Parramatta-Plimmerton had won 14 on the trot before the final. At a bitterly cold Hutt Rec, it wasn’t a contest, Ories resounding victors 34-21.

The winning Ories team in 2023. Photo: Andy McArthur.

Fellow coaches and Ories stalwarts, Whetu Henry, Fale Seve, and Poasa Poasa were very much in sync with Mason – a bundle of fun when it’s not time to be serious. The Church helped cultivate an appetite for performance. Mason describes iconic Samoan comedian Tofiga Fepulea’i as “my older brother,” and a huge stage influence.

“Whether voluntarily or forcefully the stage is never far away at Church. Every second Sunday in October for example we have white Sunday where kids conduct the service by way of skits, plays, songs and dances. There’s lots of colour and a nice vibe. I was exposed to that early. It feels comfortable, natural.”

And if you think Mason is a character, meet his brother Kevin. If you’re ever on a Courtney Place jolly, chances are you’ve stumbled into the veteran, barrel-chested, chipper bouncer.

“Bro, he’s got his real family and his night family,” Mason roared with laughter.

Mason was awarded the Wellington Rugby Coach of the Year Award and in late 2023 was named a life member of Ories.

Ories Premier Men’s Coaching Record

Played: 47

Won: 32

Lost:14

Drawn: 1

Jubilee Cup Winners: 2023

Hardham Cup Winners: 2022

Ories EFKS Ueligitone Christian Congregation Church of Samoa Members

Ahtun Masun,* Apisaloma Tulua, Apostle Salanoa, Ioane Poasa, Jonathan Tuilaepa, Manase Sului, Paul Mauga, Petaia Tia’i, Puleava Puleava, Ronnie Tanuvasa, Ruperake Oloapu,* Sauloa Fa’aea, Sone Fina’i,* Auina Tautiaga,* Viliamu Fa’aea, Christian Semu,* Jason Seumanufagai,* Sammy Se’au,* Peteli Poasa,* Pose Tuilaepa,* Ronaldo Seumanufagai,* Sam Tautiaga,* Penieli Poasa,* Poasa Poasa,* Losi Patu, Desmond Matale, Dorian Patu, Enesi Tuilaepa,* Ethan Pule, Fa’afetai Komiti, Ian Fa’amasino, John Leota, Jordan Tuilaepa, Josh Semu,* Michael Taliau, Safotu Apineru, Salesa Seumanufagai, Semo Mamea, Laina Semu.

*Played for Prems in 2023