Talented rugby teen eyes three generation feat
Mention three generations of Maddison Trophy winners in Hawke's Bay's premier club rugby competition to Havelock North utility back Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong and you get a quick response.
"If we could pull that off it would be unreal. That would top it off. I grew up looking up to them and I went to a lot of Dad's trainings," Smiler-Ah Kiong said pointing to grandfather Wini Smiler who tasted Maddison Trophy glory with MAC in 1979 and father Herman Ah Kiong who was a member of the 2002 Napier Old Boys Marist team which won the Maddison Trophy, Nash Cup and Spillane Cup.
Considering that fact his grandfather, a former Magpie, played all of his club rugby for MAC and his father played most of his for Clive many pundits would have been surprised by Smiler-Ah Kiong's decision to play for Progressive Meats Havelock North who last won the Maddison Trophy in 2012. But the two-time world champion with the New Zealand Secondary Schools Sevens team and 2019 National Top Four winner with the Hastings Boys' High School 1st XV said his decision was logical.
"Nothing against Clive but I played Sevens with the villagers for the past two summers and I have so many relations there."
Smiler-Ah Kiong is related to the Paewai whanau through his grandmother Turama. He is also related to fellow Havelock North players Albert Hemopo and Adam Blake.
"I back our Havelock North team all the way. We've got Trinity [former All Black Sevens rep Spooner-Neera] back, I've got Adam [Blake] mentoring me as well as the Paewai twins [Jesse and Kalin] telling me what it takes to be a premier player. I've got lots of support," Smiler Ah-Kiong explained.
A teacher aide at Peterhead School, Smiler-Ah Kiong, who turned 19 on Monday, is a member of the Magpies Wider Training Group and hopes to secure a berth in the Mitre 10 Cup squad within the next two seasons. He is expecting plenty of flak when the villagers host MAC at Anderson Park tomorrow in the feature match of Havelock North's club day.
His grandfather, who had 15 years in the MAC premier side and was also 18 when he made his premier debut, will be supporting his moko.
"My MAC clubmates know that and I just hope it's a good game," Smiler said.
L-R: Herman Ah Kiong, Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong, Wini Smiler
He is grateful his grandson hasn't turned out to be a hothead like he often was.
"I've told him to learn to control his emotions and not to make the mistakes I did," Smiler, 67, said.
The national title-winning age group basketball team coach pointed out Smiler-Ah Kiong had the potential to be a national basketball rep but opted to make rugby his priority at the start of his Year 12 studies.
"I told him there is more money to be made in rugby," Smiler added.
Former Hawke's Bay Sevens rep Ah Kiong, 43, who played everywhere in the backline during his premier career, agreed fullback was the berth his son should be chasing for the Magpies but he could also cope in the pivot role.
"He just has to be patient. He trains hard and has applied himself a lot more than I ever did. For me rugby was just an opportunity to be out at the weekend with my mates."
Ah Kiong recalled his son's Year 11 days when he often played alongside him for the Clive seconds.
"They were special days."
Also featuring at Anderson Park is hurricane loose forward Devan Flanders, who is sure to have a strong impact on the game.
Other premier encounters tomorrow will see WIT Trust Napier Old Boys Marist host Auto Super Shoppe Hastings Rugby and Sports at Park Island in a repeat of last year's final, Andrew Clark Tremains Clive host Northfuels Central at Farndon Park, Taradale Rugby and Sports host Tamatea at Tareha Reserve and Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical take on Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports at Whitmore Park.
