Softball: Nukunuku brothers on equal terms now

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Nathan Nukunuku used to be a bat-boy who ran around after his big brother, Dion, a New Zealand softball star.

Nine-year-old Nathan would try to out-hit, out-throw and out-run his other siblings in the backyard just to impress his 19-year-old oldest brother. Dion would simply push the little guy into the fruit trees.

Eleven years later, the Nukunuku brothers are finally on equal footing, battling for the same spot in the world champion Black Sox team.

Where Nathan has just begun his international softball career, Dion is on the verge of ending his. But the brothers still have one wish: to start a World Series final together.

They will have to wait another four years, which seems an eternity for 30-year Dion, who has played in three World Series finals and now has a young family to consider.

But this weekend could mould his decision, when the Nukunukus team up for the Black Sox in two tests against Australia in Auckland, their home city.

"Getting back with the guys on this Black Sox tour has made me think about carrying on," Dion said. "I love this environment, it's a great team. And there's nothing to stop me playing into my late 30s. But it would help if I could make softball a fulltime job."

He would also have to go back to fending off his little brother, challenging for a place in the New Zealand infield.

"I don't really see it as competing with Dion - that's a waste of time," Nathan said. "I'm competing against the other young guys who are just starting in the team. If Dion is still around playing, he will always be on the field."

The brothers can play alongside each other, at second base and shortstop, as they did in a handful of games at this year's World Series.

Black Sox coach Don Tricker is just grateful to have both brothers in his side.

"Dion is the foundation for our infield - we build it around him. He is a very gifted softballer, with an awareness and understanding of the game that not many players have," he said. "Then Nathan is just raw ability. He's a very exciting player."

But just as he is embarking on his international softball career, Nathan Nukunuku is about to take a break.

He wants to play rugby next year, another game the brothers fought out in the backyard in Hawkes Bay where they were born.

A first five-eighths, Nukunuku was offered a trial with an NPC team last season, but had to sign a contract with the Black Sox which said he could not play a winter sport.

"I don't believe I've ever given rugby a 100 per cent effort. Softball has always been my No 1 sport," Nathan said.

"So I'll give it a go next year. If it doesn't work out, I'll go overseas and play softball.

"But I definitely want to go to the next World Series."

Nathan, who played in the St Peter's College FIrst XV until a year ago, laughs that as a youngster, he really had no choice but to follow the rest of his family into softball.

At nine, he became a bat-boy for Dion's club, Marist, which put him on a fast-track: "All the bat-boys there, such as Eddie Kohlhase and Jeremy Stanley, have gone on to play for New Zealand."

The Nukunuku tradition seems set to continue through Dion's five-year-old son, Casey.

This morning Dion will take his Black Sox team-mates along to watch Casey's under-six Metro side, coached by his mum, Dion's fiancee, Anthea.

At 2.30 pm, Casey will be the spectator watching Dad and Uncle Nathan play at Rosedale Park against the Australians, already 0-3 down in this tour.

"We want to make sure we blank them, win it five-zero," Dion said. "Once you start losing, it breeds more losing. And this team has made winning a habit."