League: Forget the code, this is family business

Former race relations conciliator Hiwi Tauroa has no problems switching his allegiance from rugby to league for the NRL grand final.

As his son-in-law is 117kg hardman Paul Rauhihi, even the most ardent rugby supporter could probably accept it.

A former New Zealand Maori player and top-level coach, Mr Tauroa, who coached Counties to its only national championship in 1979, will be among the capacity crowd at Telstra Stadium tomorrow night watching the North Queensland Cowboys take on Wests Tigers.

Mr Tauroa said he and his wife, Pat, two daughters, a son-in-law and at least three mokopuna (grandchildren) would be in Sydney for the game.

"I am hoping like mad that they [Cowboys] win."

The contingent will join Mr Rauhihi's mother, Vicky Coker from Wellington, and sister Debbie Rauhihi from Christchurch for the match.

Meanwhile Whakatane is gearing up to watch its "world famous" export play in the final.

Wests Tigers star five-eighth, Benji Marshall, has not lived in his hometown since 2000, but judging by the reaction on the streets yesterday, he still has plenty of fans among the locals.

"He's world famous in Whakatane," said Diane Turner, the district council's director of strategy and development.

Mrs Turner said her family billeted two students from New South Wales last week who were overjoyed when they learned they were staying in the place where Marshall grew up.

Vicki Falwasser of Matata remembers watching Marshall play her local men's team when he was 15.

"All I can remember was Benji Marshall running through all our men and scoring."

Mr Tauroa said he would keep an eye out for Henry Marshall, grandfather of Benji Marshall. Mr Marshall has been shouted a trip to the game by his 20-year-old grandson.

"I'd like to meet up with Benji's whanau. If it happens it would be good. We are supporting the Cowboys, though."

However, the die-hard Northland rugby supporter's enthusiasm for the grand final is tempered by disappointment at having to miss his side's match against Southland at Whangarei's ITM stadium, which is on the same day.

Pat Tauroa said she and the family were flying out this afternoon and were looking forward to the match. She said that as soon as she knew her son-in-law was destined for the final she was on the phone to her daughter Maera to tell her the family was coming.

"I called her and said you better find us some tickets. We are coming over and don't want to go all that way to watch it on a big screen somewhere."

She said that although there are a number of Kiwi players in the game, her whanau will be supporting the Cowboys.

"We are going over to support one particular team. Hiwi has put aside his rugby bias for this game."

With the 32-year-old Rauhihi set to join English club Warrington after the grand final, it could be the last chance the family get to go to his matches.