Liam Giving Rising Rams Slight Edge

Above: Liam Slight lighting up Maidstone Park with flanker Pene To’o in support in a recent match. Photo: @thephotoguy_nz

• By Adam Julian

The Upper Hutt Rams have rocketed into the Jubilee Cup with nine consecutive wins and a second-place finish in the Swindale Shield, their best showing since winning it in 2005.

In 2005, Pope John Paul II died, YouTube launched, Lionel Messi scored his first goal for Barcelona, and today’s Rams fullback, Liam Slight, wasn’t even born.

Green Day’s Boulevard of Broken Dreams also hit the Billboard Charts in 2005 – an apt anthem for several failed title attempts of Upper Hutt.

In 2023, the Rams were 8-4 but lost their last three games by a combined 10 points, dropping out of contention. Two defeats were to eventual champions Oriental Rongotai.

The Rams finished 10-4 in 2024 but again succumbed in the Jubilee Cup semi-finals to the champions, Old Boys University, 16-9.

The 2025 season yielded one more victory but no silverware, with Johnsonville ending the Rams 32-28 in a Jubilee Cup eliminator. To add insult to injury, Upper Hutt then lost the Hardham Cup final to Pōneke 27-23.

In the nine consecutive wins Upper Hutt have enjoyed in 2026, five have been by less than a converted try. Slight reckons the Rams’ ability to go “the dark places” is a change from the previous years of heartache.

“The belief from the coaches and players to trust our game plan, hang in there, and be mentally strong for 80 minutes has been huge,” Slight said.

“Our Tuesday practice is more physically and mentally taxing than Thursday. We’re trying to build a mindset of being as calm and normal under pressure as we can. There’s competition for places but a good bond among the boys.”

Upper Hutt scored 50 tries in 2026 with 39 converted, 31 by Slight, who’s also booted a competition-leading 13 penalty goals. With 44 goals, he kicked the second most in the Swindale Shield. Only leading points scorer Jordan Soli of Oriental Rongotai had more, with 39 conversions and 12 penalties among his 169 points.

Slight has been kicking goals since he was five and is a self-confessed kicking nerd.

“Basically, any kicking success I have is because of the boys,” Slight said.

“But yeah, I love kicking. I do a lot of extras and game simulations. This kick is to win the game, this one is from halfway, this one is on an angle.

“To simulate distraction, I sometimes train with headphones on, playing something loud like Metallica’s Enter Sandman.

“The ones in front are the ones I have a heart attack about. In 2024, while playing for St Patrick’s College Silverstream against New Plymouth Boys in a traditional, I had a shot right out in front to win the game. I just wanted to get on with it. If I’d missed, I’d still be hearing about it.”

Slight has a deliberate routine when kicking the ball.

“I guess my routine has been shaped over the years by big names like Dan Carter, Ruben Love and Damian McKenzie, but you have to find what works for you.

“I line the ball up, always intending to approach on a right-to-left angle. I step back, make sure I’m comfortable with how the ball is placed on the tee, then get an initial view of the posts and factor in a few elements. Then I go five back on the angle, get into a flow state, block out everything else, and step forward to kick.

”It probably sounds more complicated than it is,” Slight laughed. “A few refs have commented I’m on the slow side. A couple of kicks have even come close to being charged down.”

Slight is more than just a kicker. He’s a handy attacker, creating chances for others.  The 2024 St Pats Silverstream Premiership winner and Wellington Under-19 representative is also a defender who punches above his weight, even pulling down Tawa beast George Risale in a vital 24-19 Upper Hutt win.

“I told our 10 Dawson Smith to put up a bomb with the wind behind us. Dawson didn’t hit it well and George came straight at me. I went low, said a prayer and chopped. Scott Svenson came over the top and hit his ribs. There are some big boys running around for sure. Defence has been a huge part of our success this year.”

So too has experience. Scott Svenson is among a cohort of players who’ve racked up several seasons. They include Josh Hunt, Murphy Taramai, Kaide McCashin, Josh Mallon, and Jack “Fabio” Wright. Throw in powerhouse midfield back Ieti Campbell, New Zealand Under 20 props Alex Hewitt and Senio Sanele, and workhorse lock Tavis Polglase, the Rams are a compelling mix.

In fact, their only two defeats of the season were to Paremata-Plimmerton 39-12 on April 25 and to Swindale Shield winners Petone 18-13 a fortnight before.

“Petone are pretty strong across the board, strong forwards, and with the likes of Stanley Solomon and Losi Filipo in the backs, really dangerous,” Slight said.

“We’ve had to scrap and find a way in a lot of games. There are no easy beats. You have to be on every week.”

Case in point, Slight scored half of Upper Hutt’s points in a closer-than-expected 27-22 win against Norths. Upper Hutt’s biggest win against a Jubilee Cup side was 38-20 against Old Boys University, with the contest tied 20-20 heading into the last quarter.

This Saturday, Tawa, a five-time Jubilee Cup finalist since 2013, awaits Upper Hutt in the first round of the Jubilee Cup. The winner gets a bye, the loser a second chance, but for Upper Hutt, momentum is key, proving themselves against a side that’s been there and done that.

During the week, Slight is a teacher aide at Totara Park Intermediate while he studies to become a teacher.

“I’ve done a lot of coaching at St Pats Silverstream and got a real buzz out of seeing youngsters grow. That was the seed, really. I want to go to the next level in rugby, but teaching is my Plan B,” Slight said.

Karl Davis was Slight’s coach in the 2024 Silverstream First XV and observed. “Liam’s the kind of player you hope for when building a squad. A genuine game driver who reads opposition patterns early and directs the team to exploit weak spots. Strong in 10 or 15, he sees opportunity clearly, and keeps everyone connected with consistent communication. When the 1st XV has needed an old boy to step in, he’s first up, and always keen to help keep our jersey strong. Light blue blood through those veins.”

Above: Slight on the end of the chain to score for the Rams against Northern United in 2025.