Hurricanes duo Harry Godfrey (left) and Brett Cameron talk about the reality of aspiring rugby players in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Photo / Fin Ocheduszko Brown
Hurricanes duo Harry Godfrey (left) and Brett Cameron talk about the reality of aspiring rugby players in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Photo / Fin Ocheduszko Brown
Whanganui-schooled duo Harry Godfrey and Brett Cameron returned to their old stomping ground for a Hurricanes pre-season camp.
Fin Ocheduszko-Brown caught up with them about coming home, and Whanganui’s rugby pathways.
In familiar territory, Harry Godfrey and Brett Cameron were able to play tour guide for their Hurricanes teammates in Whanganui.
“It has been cool for us to be home and have camp for a few days, I think the other boys have been enjoying it,” Cameron said.
The pair were both schooled in Whanganui, where they began playing rugby.
Cameron was born and raised in Whanganui, attending St Marcellin Catholic School and Cullinane College before heading south to Lincoln University in Canterbury.
Godfrey was brought up in Hunterville before attending Huntley School and Whanganui Collegiate.
He said he liked to try to get back home whenever he could.
“Hunterville is just under two hours from Wellington so if I get a couple days off, I’ll shoot back there, but really only back to Whanganui just a couple of times when my varsity mates are back,” Godfrey said.
Cameron plays his provincial rugby for Manawatū and is able to return home more frequently, while Godfrey plays for Hawkes Bay in the National Provincial Championship.
Harry Godfrey in action for Hawkes Bay against Poverty Bay. Photo / Paul Taylor
“That was a real cool feeling, playing against Whanganui, old mates and teammates as well – to put a big score on them was good as well,” Godfrey said.
The Whanganui Rugby Football Union has pathways able to produce and nurture talent, he said.
“From Under-13s all the way to Under-18s before leaving ... I had some good coaches in the Whanganui system and good teammates that are still mates to this day.”
Cameron felt his development would best be progressed in Canterbury at Lincoln University.
Brett Cameron kicks the winning penalty for the Hurricanes against the Chiefs in 2024. Photo / Getty Images
“It came up late as an opportunity to go to Lincoln Uni on a rugby scholarship, so I jumped at that,” Cameron said.
“It was an awesome opportunity for me to go down there and crack on with rugby, then progress to the Canterbury academy.”
Godfrey was enrolled at Canterbury University before later being offered a contract at Hawke’s Bay.
He said his upbringing in the region had impacted the way he approaches things today and is what separates him from other players who grew up in bigger cities.
“[It’s] the simplicity of it all.”
Cameron agreed.
“Yeah, much the same, small town, close-knit group of friends and family,” he said.
“We are both still very loyal and follow everything going on in Whanganui.”
The pair said their motivation to play professionally was aided by several coaches in the region.
Godfrey’s father coached him from a young age and had the most influence on him, but he said Steve Simpson and Mike Lama, during his time at Whanganui Collegiate, were also big factors.
Cameron put much of his motivation during high school down to his coach then, Hayden Hepburn.
“He had huge influence on me at school and put in heaps of time outside of school for a few of us individuals that wanted to push a bit harder,” he said.
Now, in the same team and in similar positions on the field, 28-year-old Cameron admits he feels the need to be a figure of guidance for 22-year-old Godfrey.
“It is cool to have that connection already and follow Harry’s progression out of school,” Cameron said.
