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Brett Manaia with ball in hand in his 100th Premier game recently against Petone. Photo: Andy McArthur.
- By Steven White
The Manaia surname has been a near-constant entry on Hutt Old Boys Marist teamlists for well over a decade.
Three of the four Manaia brothers out of St Bernard’s College have appeared in HOBM Premier teams variously and often together in this time.
Oldest brother Lake was a regular in the team between 2011-13. The second oldest brother Rei has played over 130 Premier games for the team and was in the Eagles matchday squad then they last won the Jubilee Cup in 2014. More recently, the youngest brother Puna has played in HOBM Colts teams.
A decade on from that title win and four years on since Rei’s milestone, the fourth brother and third by age, Brett, recently played his 100th Premier match and is in the squad that hopes to repeat their 2007 and 2014 successes and win the Jubilee Cup again.
Like his brothers, Brett is a specialist front rower, who can play both sides of the scrum, although his preference is for the loosehead side.
Brett’s milestone match was against Petone in the famous McBain Shield a little over a month ago. Petone won that 48-31, but when they met again a fortnight ago, the Eagles turned the tables and won 37-15 and earned themselves a weekend off in the process.
“We went into that return game without the pressure of it being the McBain game and also knowing how Petone were going to play, it was a case of us needing to be switched on from the start rather than later in the match,” Brett Manaia said.
“It was definitely nice to earn the bye week, and it was a different preparation for us. We had a training session with the Colts and still made sure we got some work done during the week but it was nice to get some more time in for recovery and recharging.”
Many of the HOBM Premiers were at the Hutt Rec on Saturday, supporting the Premier Reserves side in their 48-24 Division 1 Ed Chaney Cup semi-final win over Paremata-Plimmerton. That side now meets Old Boys University in town in their semi-final on Saturday.
For the Premiers, their attention turns to hosting Old Boys University’s top side at the Hutt Rec this Saturday at the highly interesting kick-off time at 1.00pm.
OBU beat HOBM 35-27 at the Hutt Rec when they met back in round four of the Swindale Shield for the Wood Cup. Manaia didn’t play in that match as he was working his way back from an elbow injury, but he knows what to expect from the Billygoats this time around.
“They definitely play for the full game, it is hard to break them down. If you get a 20-point lead they will still fight back. They have got a good halfback-first five pairing in Callum Harkin and Kyle Preston and their rugby IQ is high.”
They also have similar strengths in the forwards. Both teams love a lineout drive and know how to play it tight in the forwards.
“Our game plan is pretty straightforward; we have got one of the bigger packs in the competition so why not use it.”
When Manaia first came into the team, he was coming into an Eagles side with several established props, such as his brother Rei, 200-gamer Simon Malaeulu, Otto Rasch and then rising representative player Joe ‘Apikotoa.
Now he is one of those established players leading the Eagles culture and performances on and off the field.
“It’s been good for us to have the likes of Harry Press coming through, and also having Benet Kumeroa for that short stint, they have definitely tightened up the pack during the set-piece.”
Plus having the likes of Teofilo Paulo, Aisea Mafileo, David Filipo, Taine Tata, Ben Tuiomanufili, Jason Hoffman, Nonu Tuia, Vili Tauofaga, Freddie Sunia, Mika Alaiafatu and another recently minted 100-gamer, Jordan Gillies, and HOBM have the ingredients to win the Jubilee Cup. The Eagles forwards have collectively scored 27 of their 78 tries in 14 games so far in 2024.
If they can get past OBU this Saturday, which will be no easy task, even for the players listed above.
Brett’s first Premier match was in 2016. “That was against Johnsonville, I think got the last 25 minutes or so. I was coming into an established side that day”
He says the overall experience of playing for Premier rugby with HOBM has been a highlight, but one game that stands out is against Petone in 2019.
“My blazer game was against Petone in the second round. It was at Petone and was really windy. We were playing into it in the first half and were defending inside our 22 the whole time but didn’t let them score and it was 0-0 at halftime. With the wind behind us we pulled away to win 35-0.”
As noted above, Brett missed the first five rounds of this year’s Swindale Shield with an ankle injury, while Rei injured his ankle in pre-season and returned to play for the Premier 2 side a couple of weeks ago.
Following the second of their Jubilee Cup wins this century in 2014, the Eagles also made the final in 2017. Both Manaia brothers, Rei and Brett, were on the bench in the 32-19 loss to Old Boys University.
This will be the fifth consecutive year that either HOBM or OBU have been involved in the Jubilee Cup semi-finals, although neither have made it to the final since 2020 when OBU beat Norths 22-14.
The last time they met in a playoff match was the first round of the 2021 Jubilee Cup and HOBM won 25-24.
That 2017 Jubilee Cup final won by OBU was 10 matches again in their head-to-head series. Including that game, OBU have won six of their last 10 meetings and HOBM 4. The average score in these 10 games has been 28-23 to OBU.
2024 Jubilee Cup semi-final: Hutt Old Boys Marist v Old Boys University, Saturday at 1.00pm at the Hutt Recreation Ground.
