‘Channelled my inner Jonah Lomu’: The ex-Wales midfielder eyeing NPC glory

Bay of Plenty coach Richard Watt was roaming Instagram when he realised an old friend was back in town.

Uuilisi Halaholo had a decorated career in Wales making 119 appearances for the Cardiff Blues and playing ten internationals for Wales.

In 2021, Halaholo was part of the last Welsh team to win the Six Nations championship. In that campaign, Wales beat England 40-24. Wales had never scored 40 points against England in 136 previous internationals.

Halaholo and Watt teamed up at the Hurricanes from 2015 to 2016, with Halaholo starting at second five-eighth in the Hurricanes' only Super Rugby final victory against the Lions on August 6.

Halaholo was just as surprised as Watt when the pair reconnected.

“The last couple of years in Cardiff were tough. For a while there, I was essentially unemployed with injury and a bad financial situation,” Halaholo told RugbyPass.

“I decided to come home to be closer to family and friends. I have five children and was settling into life after rugby when I got this message from Watty asking if I was interested in playing for Bay of Plenty.

“I only joined the team for a pre-season game against Taranaki. I played 40 minutes and that was it.”

Halaholo left Cardiff in the summer of 2023, after not being offered a new contract by the Arms Park side. However, after recovering from an Achilles injury, he ended up signing a short-term deal that was ultimately extended to the end of last season - allowing him a fitting farewell.

On Saturday, Halaholo will return to the site of the Hurricanes 2016 Super Rugby triumph, Sky Stadium seeking to win Bay of Plenty their first NPC final against Wellington.

Halaholo has played all 12 games in the Steamers charge to the decider, imperious in the 32-20 semi-final conquest of Canterbury in Tauranga. It was Halaholo’s 43rd-minute try, steamrolling through Canterbury fullback Issac Hutchinson, that gave the hosts a lead they never surrendered.

“I guess I was in the right place at the right time,” Halaholo modestly observed.

“Usually I’d try and apply some footwork but there wasn’t much space so I channelled my inner Jonah Lomu. It was my first try in New Zealand since 2016 so that was pretty cool.

“The first half was a bit of a tug of war. At halftime, we talked about the need to throw the first punch. We did that and built from there.”

Halaholo is adamant Bay of Plenty was built for a tilt at the title after the opening fortnight of the competition. The Steamers were the first to complete a “Storm Week,” three games in nine days, all of them victories against Waikato (36-21), Counties Manukau (44-31) and North Harbour (24-20).

“You could see the potential straight away. The young guys stepped up with their performance and recovery while the leadership was strong. Winning those games at the start of the season gave us huge momentum and confidence,” Halaholo said.

There were blips against Otago (26-31), Tasman (15-34) and Wellington (25-30) but the last month has been unblemished with victories against Northland (53-13), Auckland (26-24), Hawke’s Bay (19-17) and Canterbury (32-20).

History is against the Steamers in the capital. Wellington and Bay of Plenty have met on 38 occasions in the NPC. Wellington has won 30 of those matches, Bay of Plenty has won six and there have been two draws.

The last time Bay of Plenty won at Sky Stadium was on September 30, 2010, when tries by Ben Smith, Cory Aporo and Lelia Masaga, in addition to 16 points from Mike Delany, saw the Lions tamed 31-24.

Halaholo is unphased by the burden of the past. He won on his last visit to Sky Stadium (28-24 with Waikato in 2016) and believes Bay of Plenty has the ammunition to get the job done.

“Wellington has firepower across the park, a lot of X-factor players so that’s a different challenge to Canterbury. If we can nullify their big ball carriers and predominantly focus on us the result will look after itself,” Halaholo said.

“Most games I’ve played at Sky Stadium have been in the wind and the rain. That means we have to be prepared for that.

“Kicking is low on my list of priorities. I'll do it if I have to otherwise, I'll leave it to those who are good at it.

“From a young age, my game has been attack and run. In hindsight, I should have developed my kicking more.”

A product of Mount Albert Grammar School, Halaholo won an Auckland 1A First XV Championship in 2007 and was selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools. His breakthrough into professional rugby didn't happen until 2013 with Southland.

“I went off the rails after school, to be honest. I had my first child when I was 18 and it wasn't until Atu-Leialoha turned three that I could see I needed to change some bad habits and be more present,” Halaholo admitted.

“I had lots of offers after the 2014 NPC.  I choose to go to the Hurricanes for the chance to rub shoulders with Ma’a Nonu and Conard Smith. I knew I wouldn't get much game time but it was the best decision I ever made.

“Ma’a in particular took me under his wing. What he taught me on the field was amazing. What he taught me off the field was even more vital in becoming a better player and father.”

All five of Halaholo’s children Atu-Leialoha, Sitina, Miriam, Masina and Ivoni are with high school sweetheart Sandra.

“With things settled off the field, I can play with a clear mind and really contribute. I haven't ruled out playing in 2025. Wherever I go, it will have to be right for my family,” Halaholo said.

Wellington and Bay of Plenty aren't family but the ties between the provinces are strong. Naitoa ah Kuoi (Marist St Pats), Benet Kumeroa (Hutt Old Boys Marist), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Marist St Pats/Johnsonville), Reon Paul (Norths), Justin Sangster (Hurricanes) and Halalolo (MSP) have all played in the capital.

Coach Richard Watt, a lock and loose forward who played 41 first-class games including 18 appearances for Wellington between 1989 and 1999 is best known as a Poneke legend. He played 209 games for the ‘Street Kids’ winning a Jubilee Cup in 1996 (Poneke’s first since 1975) and the Billy Wallace Best and Fairest Award in 1997. From 2005 to 2010 he coached Poneke with success winning 73 out of 115 games and making Jubilee Cup finals in 2006 and 2010. He was Wellington forwards coach from 2010 to 2016 guiding the Lions to the 2013 NPC final and 45 wins in 80 matches. In the same role with the Hurricanes from 2011 to 2019 he won a Super title in 2016 and 96 out of 152 games.

The NPC final between Wellington and Bay of Plenty kicks off at Sky Stadium, Wellington at 3:05 pm on Saturday.

Did you Know?

Bay of Plenty won the inaugural NPC Division 1 title in 1976, which was a straight round-robin series of ten matches of which Bay of Plenty won eight. Wellington and Bay of Plenty drew 18-18 at Athletic Park in 1976, with Wellington leading 18-9 at one point only for the competition’s leading points scorer Greg Rowlands to kick three penalties in the second half.  The Evening Post reported two “mediocre” sides of comparable ability “fumbled” to an 18-18 draw, adding “It was a match where errors cost each side 18 points, with mistakes – not attacking rugby – being directly responsible for 36 points.” Bay of Plenty sealed the title on September 18, 1976, when Rowlands scored all his sides’ points in a 10-7 victory over Hawke’s Bay in Rotorua. Rowlands holds the Bay of Plenty record for most points with 1008 in 161 games between 1969 and 1982. Rowlands had seven New Zealand trials and played in four wins, scoring 44 points, on the All Blacks 1976 tour of Argentina. Bay of Plenty was captained by Maori All Blacks flanker Tuck Waaka and coached by 1960 All Blacks prop Eric Anderson.

Bay of Plenty hasn’t contested a Division 1 or Premiership final since finals were introduced in 1992. In 2017 Wellington beat Bay of Plenty 59-45 in extra time of the Championship final. Bay of Plenty were Division 2 winners in 1978 and 2000.