The Taniwha can give themselves a big hand for their fightback against Waikato and their coach Adriaan Ferris dedicated the win to the revered Bill Kini who passed away last week.
Kini was a top boxer and rugby player in his own right before becoming a role model, a masseur and strapper for the Northland rugby team for more than a dozen years.
"We did what he would have done and took last week [in the loss to Otago] on the chin and prepared well for the Waikato game - we wanted to prove a point for Bill and our heart goes out to his family for their loss," Ferris said.
The two members of the current squad who knew him best - Rhyan Caine and current manager and former player Hayden Taylor - spent the week recounting Kini's contribution to the Taniwha team and skipper Bryce Williams said they wanted to front up for him during the game.
"I sat on the bench for the Taniwha for five games when I was 19 so I had a bit to do with him then ... he was the kind of guy who'd go out of his way to do anything for anyone and our feelings go out to his family for their loss," Williams said.
