
Klein Salmon has made two starts for Norths at lock, including this past weekend against the Wellington Axemen at home at Jerry Collins Stadium. PHOTO: Brad Roberts.
- By Adam Julian
Klein Salmon will be competing for more than pride when Northern United travels to Ngāti Toa Domain on Saturday to tussle with Swindale Shield holders Paremata Plimmerton in round five of the Swindale Shield.
The rookie lock is trying to win the Pirikawau-Parai Trophy, donated by Ngāti Toa, and named after his great grandfather, a Māori All Black between 1929 and 1932.
Piri’s son Dr Taku Parai is a prominent Ngāti Toa kaumatua and former President of the Northern United Rugby Club. The Parai whanau have connections to the Ngāti Toa marae at Hongoeka in Plimmerton.
Parai has also enjoyed a long association with basketball which Salmon has recently quit to pursue rugby.
“Rugby is good at acknowledging its history something less common in basketball. I’d love to win a trophy named after my family,” Salmon said.
“I went to Tawa during pre-season in pursuit of a different challenge. I loved it there, but Norths is the club where all my uncles played. It’s the club where I spent my junior days.”
Salmon played two seasons in the NBL for the Manawatū Jets. His three sisters, Jasana Jospeh, Camece Doughty, and Shalae Nawahine represented New Zealand at various levels and his brother Nathaniel played in the NBL. Salmon’s uncle Tiwai played rugby for Counties. At the 2019 Māori Basketball Nationals in Rotorua, his six daughters, two sons, and eight grandchildren all hit the court. Tall Blacks Jordan Ngatai and Francis Mulvihill are other prominent basketball relatives.
Klein has made rapid progress in rugby. The 23-year-old has settled at lock impressing for the Premier 2s before graduating to the Premier bench for his Swindale Shield debut against Hutt Old Boys Marist.
Last Saturday, Salmon started in the 28-20 win over Wellington – Norths’ first win of the season and just their third win since the 2022 Jubilee Cup final.
“I’ve dealt with pressure before in the NBL. The Saints for example are tough to play because of the big crowd and the tradition they have of winning, but I’ve never had butterflies like I did before Saturday,” Salmon said.
“In rugby, you know you’re going to get hurt, and I got smacked around but I have the mental strength to overcome that. Physically I’ll be better with more experience.
“I felt good in the lineouts. I can win our ball and get up and compete for the opposition’s. My natural height is an advantage, but I’m not getting carried away by one performance. I have heaps to learn, but lineouts aren’t that different from jumping or defending in basketball.”
Salmon’s cousin is Tawa fullback Randall Bishop, a three-time Jubilee Cup winner who played for the Wellington Saints.
“Randall is one of my sporting heroes. I’m close with Ezra, Hemi, and TJ Fermanis cause they’re Mormons like me.
“Norths is definitely on a good rebuild though. They’re not afraid to give inexperienced players a go. There is talent coming through, a vision to get better, and we’re learning all the time. If we stay committed, we can only get better.”
Salmon committed to his faith by doing his Mormon Mission in Samoa between 2018 and 2020.
“My mission taught me that I can do anything if I apply myself mentally. It’s tough being away from friends and family for two years but when you apply yourself to serve a higher cause you become less selfish and more focused.”
His girlfriend Martina noticed those qualities. She married Klein in Samoa on February 23. Martina is part of Central Manawa, the feeder team to the Wellington Pulse netball franchise.
“I met her in the Bay of Plenty and we kept in touch on Instagram as young people do. We’ve been together, but apart for a while so we feel like we should make it official. I want to be with her forever.”
The Parai whanau have given generously to rugby, and Salmon does the same with his work with at-risk youth in Porirua. He tries to encourage youngsters to follow better pathways.
“The best advice you can give a kid is to be passionate about themselves and apply that passion to something positive. That’s why sports are so valuable, it teaches you crucial lessons like attention to detail, care for teammates, and respect for others. If I can help one person a day be better, I feel like I’ve achieved something.”
*Norths and Paremata-Plimmerton also play for the Ivan Hardgrave Trophy donated many years ago by the former Porirua City councilor and Titahi Bay and Norths administrator. Since Paremata-Plimmerton rejoined the Swindale Shield in 2015 they’ve only beaten Norths once and that was 55-22 last year.