Northern Advocate
  • Northern Advocate home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings

Locations

  • Far North
  • Kaitaia
  • Kaikohe
  • Bay of Islands
  • Whangārei
  • Kaipara
  • Mangawhai
  • Dargaville

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whangārei
  • Dargaville

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Northern Advocate / Sport

Steamers need this one: Kefu

Northern Advocate
12 Aug, 2011 04:00 AM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

HE HAS Tongan heritage but played international rugby for Australia - so there's no denying Steve Kefu has a rich tapestry of colour flowing through his veins.
Now the midfielder has added the blue and gold of the Bay of Plenty Steamers to the mix and he said he was proud
of it.
Kefu lines up for his fifth start in Bay colours in what he is calling the most important game of the season.
The Steamers take on an in-form Hawke's Bay side who sit second in the ITM Cup Championship.
The Bay of Plenty Union are using tomorrow's game as the feature match for their centenary celebrations and Kefu said it had been an important part of the team's build-up.
"We spoke about it [at training], on the occasion. I think we know how big this is," he said. "We need to win this if we want to have a shot at the finals and stay on top. I'd say it's the most important match of the year. The boys are looking confident and we can't wait to get into them."
Kefu who made his test debut against Wales in 2001, played six tests before moving to Britain to join London Wasps.
He said despite leaving his wife and two children in Australia, he was enjoying playing for the Bay.
"Its been brilliant, I've fallen in really nicely [in the Bay culture]. It suits me down to a T. Actually, it's pretty relaxed, laidback, and I'm enjoying it ..."
The 31-year-old has been impressed with the talent on display in the competition.
"The pace is a lot quicker ... There are a lot more skill levels involved in New Zealand compared with the UK. So I'm just trying to find my feet with these young guys to keep up with them."
Steamers coach Sean Horan has made only one change from the 23-man squad who lost to Taranaki on Tuesday.
Ben Smith has been rested this week, with Jason Hona moved to the left wing to make room for Kefu.
Horan is waiting until the last possible moment to make a decision on in-form lock Culum Retallick, who went off injured against Taranaki.
Retallick has been bracketed with Leon Power.
The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union are expecting as many as 10,000 people to attend the game at the Rotorua International Stadium tomorrow. Kickoff is at 5.35pm.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save
    Share this article

Latest from Sport

Sport

Woodman-Wickliffe breaks try-scoring record in Black Ferns win

31 Aug 05:48 PM
Northern Advocate

Taniwha triumph over Magpies in dramatic NPC clash

31 Aug 01:27 AM
Premium
Northern Advocate

Why climate change will see top NZ golf course close for two months

22 Aug 03:31 AM

Sponsored

Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable

22 Sep 01:23 AM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Woodman-Wickliffe breaks try-scoring record in Black Ferns win
Sport

Woodman-Wickliffe breaks try-scoring record in Black Ferns win

The wing became the first NZ player to score 50 test tries, while young stars shone.

31 Aug 05:48 PM
Taniwha triumph over Magpies in dramatic NPC clash
Northern Advocate

Taniwha triumph over Magpies in dramatic NPC clash

31 Aug 01:27 AM
Premium
Premium
Why climate change will see top NZ golf course close for two months
Northern Advocate

Why climate change will see top NZ golf course close for two months

22 Aug 03:31 AM


Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable
Sponsored

Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable

22 Sep 01:23 AM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • The Northern Advocate e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Northern Advocate
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The Northern Advocate
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP