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Farewell to a man of mana

Waka Nathan, a powerhouse for the All Blacks on the paddock in the 1960s, helped revive Ma¯ori rugby after his playing days.

The dynamic loose forward, who suffered from dementia in his later years, died in Auckland yesterday, surrounded by his family, aged 81.

Nathan, nicknamed the Black Panther during his career, played 37 games, including 14 tests for New Zealand, never being on the losing side.

Former All Blacks prop Bill Bush, who played in NZ Ma¯ori teams selected by Nathan in the 1970s and toured Wales with the team when the latter was manager in 1982, said his death would ‘‘rock the Ma¯ ori world, for sure’’.

Bush credited Nathan for helping to revive Ma¯ ori rugby after he retired from playing. He was a New Zealand Ma¯ori selector between 1971-77, and also coached and managed the team.

Before that, Nathan (Nga¯ puhi/ Te Roroa/Waikato-Tainui) represented the New Zealand Ma¯ ori side 17 times and was a two -time winner of the Tom French Cup as the Ma¯ ori player of the year.

‘‘He was a proud Ma¯ ori, and a guy with his mana encouraged a lot of guys to back him,’’ Bush said. ‘‘We all got on board with him.

‘‘He had mana because he was such a great player. Mana, for Ma¯ori, is very important. If you have no mana, you struggle.’’

Respected for his bravery on the field during his playing days, Nathan wasn’t a big talker off it.

Bush said Nathan wasn’t always comfortable making speaking in public, but there was a different side to him when he was among friends and players.

‘‘He was a man of few words. He wasn’t into giving speeches, he wasn’t that sort of guy.He was very shy. But amongst us Ma¯ ori boys he had no problem.’’

Nathan made his All Blacks debut in 1962 on a tour of Australia and was a standout for the side on

their tour of Great Britain in 1963-64 despite suffering a broken jaw, scoring 11 tries in 15 matches.

He was described by late All Blacks great Sir Colin Meads as ‘‘that most virile runner with the ball in hand, great at exerting pressure close to the forwards’’.

His nickname originated in a French newspaper which called him La Panthere Noire after the All Blacks played France in 1963. The paper’s rugby reporter was said to be in awe of how Nathan could stalk the opposition like a panther.

All Blacks captain Ardie Savea paid tribute to Nathan yesterday.

Savea said he had not met Nathan. ‘‘I hear he was a great All Black, that he never lost a test match and he was known as the Black Panther. I’m slowly learning more about him but when someone is part of the All Blacks team they’re a member of the family,’’ Savea said.

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson said Nathan would be remembered for far more than his considerable feats on a rugby field.

‘‘On the field he was revered for his athleticism, speed and toughness and it is testament to how good he was that as an All Black he never lost a match. His influence lasted well beyond his playing days and as a proud Ma¯ori he inspired generations of young players to take up the game.’’

Nathan, from the O¯ ta¯huhu rugby club, played 88 games for Auckland after making his debut as an 18-year-old. Late in the 1960 season, he scored a dramatic lastminute try for his province against Canterbury which fullback Mike Cormack converted to retain the Ranfurly Shield with a 19-18 win,.

Nathan was a former president of the Auckland Rugby Union, patron of the Auckland Rugby Union and an Auckland Rugby life member.

He was also given the honour by New Zealand Rugby to run onto the field and start the proceedings for the inaugural World Cup in 1987 at Eden Park.

He was honoured by Auckland Rugby for his commitment to the union as a player and administrator with the creation of the Waka Nathan Challenge Cup, which Auckland Rugby’s premier club teams compete for.

‘‘Waka was a man of incredible mana who devoted a large part of his life to Auckland Rugby. Waka will be missed greatly,’’ Auckland Rugby said in a statement.

‘‘Mana, for Ma¯ori, is very important. If you have no mana, you struggle.’’ Bill Bush on Waka Nathan

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2021-09-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/282686165372503

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