Foundation player Robbie Malneek is a true Mako man
Tasman Makos fullback Robbie Malneek in action against the Manawatu Turbos in 2012.
Robbie Malneek probably bleeds shark blood. He is Mako through-and-through.
The 32-year-old fullback has signed on for another year with the Tasman Makos -- his tenth in a row. He is one of just two players that have been there since day dot -- lock Alex Ainley is the other -- but he is the only player that will have been there for 10 straight seasons, and he could become the first player to reach 100 caps for the province.
Malneek has been through it all with Tasman; the high, the lows, the debut, the threats of being culled from the competition, the championship final win, the premiership final loss. He has played 93 times for Tasman and is their all-time leading try scorer with 24
The Tasman Rugby Union will celebrate a significant milestone this season, with the upcoming campaign being their 10th season in the national provincial championship, but Malneek could reach another significant milestone if he makes seven more appearances, although he is expecting the competition for a starting spot to be even harder this year with Super Rugby players right throughout the squad.
"I'd love to get there [100 caps] but there's a lot of young talent coming through so I have to put my best foot forward and if the coaches select me to play then I'll get there, but it'll be tough so I just have to keep working hard," he said.
Malneek originally hails from Wairarapa. He moved to Nelson as a 12-year-old, attended Nayland College and then shifted to Nelson College where he became captain of the first XV.
He came through the ranks with Nelson Bays, was among Tasman's first six signings, and he was the starting fullback when Tasman played their first ever match, a 33-27 loss to North Harbour at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim in 2006.
"I remember it was a full house and I remember being pretty nervous," he said of his first appearance in the Makos jersey.
He lined up in a backline that featured Tim Lempriere, Ben Gollings, Ali Durant, Aaron Kimura, Toese Lealamanua and Lucky Mulipola.
"It was awesome. We were in and it just flew by really and next thing you know we were playing against North Harbour. It's been awhile, I can't remember too much, but they came out firing and we weren't ready for that tempo, but we fought our way back and only just lost."
It took the Makos a few years to find their feet in the NPC, but under coaches Kieran Keane and Leon MacDonald Tasman found success, and they have now become one of the teams to beat in the competition.
"We were always the underdogs and nobody backed us at all so it was good to go out there and try and prove people wrong," Malneek said.
Back when he was at Nelson College, Malneek used to dream of playing NPC rugby, and now that Tasman has justified its place in the competition, he was happy to see young players now aspiring to become Makos instead of representing Canterbury.
"When I was at school we always wanted to play in the top flight or ITM Cup rugby, but you had to go to one of the bigger cities. It's a great pathway for the young guys to stick around and actually play the best rugby and stay in Nelson or Blenheim.
"I think a lot of it is down to the style we play. It's not just in New Zealand too, I have heaps of mates in Australia who all love the Makos and the way we play and that's down to the brand that the coaches want us to play."
Tasman has already achieved a lot in its short 10 year history but there are still some glaring omissions from their history books: the Ranfurly Shield and the ITM Cup premiership title. While obtaining the Ranfurly Shield is dictated by the schedule and landing a challenge against the current holder, Malneek said the team is confident they can win the premiership title this year.
"That will be the ultimate goal. We'd love to go one better and win, and I think once everyone gets back we'll talk about what our goals are but I'm sure that will be at the top."
And even after playing 93 times for his province, he still gets a buzz from running out on to Trafalgar Park or Lansdowne Park.
"I'm still enjoying it and I still get nervous before every game. It's just great to get out there, especially after all the hard work you've been doing, it makes it all worthwhile."
- Stuff
