Band of brothers will do their bit for team

The Isaac brothers are certain to make a big impact for Greytown in their Wairarapa-Bush Tui Cup premier division semifinal rugby match with Gladstone at Greytown on Saturday.

Chances are four of them will be on the field at the same time, Seanoa, 33, at fullback, Tavita, 27, on the wing, Tapaga, 24, at centre and Tana, 31, at No 8, and they will be intent on ensuring Greytown continues their charge to take out the main championship title for the first time since 1996.

Papawai born and bred - father Ati is Tokelauan and mother Mary is from the Netherlands, the Isaacs are former pupils of Kuranui College - "and proud of it" - and they have all represented Wairarapa-Bush at various age group levels.

Tapaga Isaac is in the senior representative squad and, if form counts for anything, he might not be the only family member there before the Heartland championship season gets into full swing.

A fifth brother, Josef, 29, also had a couple of games for Greytown earlier in the season, but is now living in Australia while sister Naomi is the youngest of the six children at 21.

But the family connection with the Greytown squad goes beyond the four Isaacs. Their uncle, Mana Fairamo, is in the front row and their cousin, Mana's son Joshua, has been a regular among the loose forwards.

Nobody understands better the huge influence the Isaac brothers have had on Greytown's fortunes in 2012 than coach Ritchie Robertson, who labels them as a "very important" part of the team unit, on and off the field.

"You know what you are going to get from them, they always give 100 per cent," Robertson said.

"And they've all got plenty of natural talent, you could play them in any position and they'd give it a decent shot."

As for the brothers, Tavita Isaac is quick to emphasise while they enjoy each other's company, and are never shy to offer opinions at game's end on how each of them had performed, they were simply four of a group of players all determined to do Greytown proud.

"When it comes right down to it, the whole team are one big family, no one player is more important than the others," he said.

"Actually, it's like having 15 brothers out there, we're all in it together."

The Greytown v Gladstone semifinal will kick off at Greytown at 2.30pm, the same time as the other semi which will feature Martinborough and East Coast at Martinborough.

The curtain-raiser match at Greytown will feature the Kuranui College first XV.