Stormin' Norman cult hero for many

Norm Berryman grew up in Otangarei and played 107 games for Northland between 1991 and 2003.

"Stormin" Norman Berryman played in an exhibition match about two weeks ago in Italy in honour of another former All Black, Jerry Collins.

Berryman, 42, who grew up in Otangarei and played 107 games for Northland between 1991 and 2003, died of a suspected heart attack in Perth yesterday, where he had been working as a forklift driver. He is survived by six children.

His daughter, Kaya, told of her father's death through her Facebook page. "The unfortunate news that's going around is true. Our dad has passed and I know how guttering it is hearing it from word of mouth but I thought on behalf of my family I will let everyone know what has happened," she said.

Tributes flowed in from throughout the world and the Northland Rugby Union is trying to contact his family to see what it can do to help.

Berryman played for the New Zealand Invitational XV against the Italian Classic XV in Italy on June 13 - a game organised in honour of Collins who died with partner Alana after their car collided with a bus in France on June 5.

He won three Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders in 1998, 1999 and 2000, and also played for New Zealand Maori. His only All Black test came off the bench in a 24-23 defeat to the Springboks in Durban in 1998. Berryman replaced Eroni Clarke at centre in that match.

Northland Rugby Union chief executive Jeremy Parkinson said Berryman was "a bit of a cult and folk hero up here.

"He epitomised everything New Zealand Rugby are trying to provide (with) a career path via rugby. Any kid can grow up anywhere in the country, play for their province, make a Super Rugby team and get in the All Blacks, and that's what Norm did," Parkinson said. "He was a shining light and a good example that if you're talented and you persevere you can succeed and he did that.

"He was a huge role model up here. He always had a smile on his face and high-fived kids after the games - he was the last to come off the field after signing autographs so he was a great representative. I would imagine he would be coming back to the north for the tangi and, in typical Norm fashion, he'd want us to celebrate his life and have a bit of fun, a bit of a laugh and talk about the good memories, which there were plenty of them."