Tasman Makos: News

New winger has painful memories of Tasman
22-May-2009

WAYNE MARTIN - The Nelson Mail

James Kamana's only previous experience of Tasman rugby was brief and painful.
It lasted about six minutes and ended with the 23-year-old former Waikato winger being carted off Blenheim's Lansdowne Park with bells ringing and not the traditional Mooloo clangers he'd been used to.

Waikato and Tasman were competing in round seven of the Air New Zealand Cup two seasons ago when Kamana copped an accidental knee to the head just minutes into the game; it was lights out.

Kamana expects to be back on Lansdowne Park on July 30, this time in Tasman's colours, when they meet Taranaki in the opening game of this year's Air NZ Cup series.

He's one of Tasman's newest signings and the former Waikato speedster is hoping for some better fortune.

His memories of 2007 aren't fond ones.

"Later on, after I came out of it, I remembered I was in Blenheim," he quipped.

In fact it took a try by flanker Liam Messam with just eight minutes remaining for Waikato to snatch a desperate 25-23 win.

"It was a close game. We were lucky to win that one."

Kamana returned to Lansdowne Park last weekend with his Waimea Old Boys clubmates as part of the ITM Tasman Trophy competition, Waimea wrapping up a handy 27-12 win over Marlborough club side Moutere.

He's starting to feel more comfortable in his new rugby environment after four club outings with Waimea and confident that his decision to move south was the right one.

With All Black Sitiveni Sivivatu, Sosene Anesi, Tim Mikkelson and bright young prospects Henry Speight and Savenaca Tokula all on the books, Waikato's currently brimming with threequarter talent.

"I just thought there was more opportunity here to get more game time. With recent [Waikato] signings there are more guys there at the moment so I thought it was a good time to move.

"There were a few options and I thought Tasman was a good idea and hopefully try and move into the Crusaders next year. They have a lack of outside backs, so I thought it would be a good chance for me to try and get in there."

Kamana moved here with his partner Laura and their two-year-old son Izaiah. He's still a year away from finishing his somewhat protracted building apprenticeship and is currently working for Fitzgerald Construction.

He played 13 games for Waikato since debuting against Taranaki in 2007. He was also part of Gordon Tietjens' New Zealand sevens team last season, playing the world circuit rounds in Dubai and George, South Africa. And, predictably, Tietjens taught him some home truths about the importance of fitness.

Ad Feedback "He's one of the hardest coaches I've ever met.

"The first [training] wasn't that good, I wasn't that fit, but after a while you get used to the trainings. You enjoy it more when you're fitter.

"I would look at playing sevens again if I get the chance. It's pretty exciting, you get to travel to places."

He was happy not to be part of Waikato's 14-16 loss to Tasman in Hamilton last year, although it did reaffirm for him the kind of attitude he's expecting from his new Tasman team-mates this season.

"They've got a lot of heart and just never give up. I thought it would be a good side to come down and play for. They just go all out and they didn't stop against us [in 2007] and it took until the last minutes to win the game."

He's happy at either wing or fullback, where he played most of his club rugby for Fraser Tech in Hamilton. But to become a genuine contender at fullback, particularly at Air NZ Cup level, Kamana admits he needs to work on his kicking game.

"I don't mind where I play, wing or fullback, but I prefer fullback because there's more time on the ball."