Thanks for everything Uffie!
The pounamu suited you well. I hope the squad gets to celebrate your tenure, perhaps drive you around Cuba St in a golf cart after sampling a variety of the city’s brews….you’ve accustomed us to our imports being of a high quality and among the top few in the league in their position. It’s been a while since we had trialist like Maceo Rigters!
We’ll remember the glorious unbeaten runs and the entertainers, as well as the stubborn warriors like David Ball (who seemed to get kicked more than most teams with mixed sympathy and I still hold grudges against players like Jurman who forearmed him in the back of the head without sanction) and the moments when we were on song and the ball zinged around from foot to foot like a comet, each player instinctively knowing where the other was or would be. This was something new and blissful for Wellington.
Though we didn’t get the atmosphere of a home final we did get the huge crowd when we crushed Western at home. Great day. Emphatic stuff.
Please don’t come back to coach the Auckland side and win with them in their first year. That would be a nightmare.
Hope to see you back, instead, for the party when Chiefy brings us home finals and some titles.
Good luck on your travels and your next step!