Falcons win a fitting tribute to Nate

Uawa Nasties’ Ruapani Smith, above, proves a handful for the Paikea Whalers defence in a game during the Nate Miller Memorial rugby league tournament at Barry Park on Saturday. Smith was named best back of the tournament. Pictures by Liam Clayton

The Falcons honoured a fallen club hero by winning the tournament that bears his name.

The annual Nate Miller Tournament kicked off the Tairāwhiti Rugby League 2023 season. The Seeka Falcons beat Paikea Whalers 16-10 in the final at Barry Park on Saturday.

Six teams entered the tournament. That was the most since it started in 2020. Repongaere Eels and the Uawa Nasties rekindled their clubs to take part.

In the semifinals, the Falcons beat the Waengapu Stallions and the Whalers beat Uawa.

The Falcons’ victory in a close final was a fitting tribute to a Falcons club legend who passed away in February 2019.

The tournament also brought back the Repongaere Eels, for whom Miller played before his move to the Falcons, where he played the greater part of his league.

Kouma Samson, of the Whalers, won the newly introduced Tipuna Jones MVP (most valuable player) Award, Ruapani Smith, of Uawa, was named best back and Tony Campbell, of the Falcons, was named best forward.

Tairāwhiti Rugby League coordinator Ally Tamihere said that this year Tairāwhiti Rugby League was blessed to be able to honour the memory of Nate Miller’s teammate, Tipuna (Tip) Jones, who tragically passed late last year. The MVP award was named in his memory.

“Games during the day were close, except for a couple, and this season will be an interesting one,” Tamihere said.

The Dave Ahu club competition starts this weekend. At 1pm, the Bulldogs play the Falcons and, at 2.45pm, the Whalers play the Stallions. Uawa have the bye.