In 2017 he wanted to show them the full meaning of waka ama and the river by challenging them to paddle 100km from Pipiriki to Pākaitore in one day.
They achieved that in late September, with hundreds watching their return to Whanganui.
The next year he challenged them again, to compete in the sprint nationals. Their aim was to reach the finals - something that normally takes a team three to four years.
They gave up their holidays for an intensive three week training, sometimes staying at the clubhouse and getting up at 6am to run up the Durie Hill steps.
Lurgio came on the scene then, and filmed the training and the nationals. He got on well with the group but kept his distance and didn't set anything up. The filming was "raw", Hyland said.
The girls bonded like sisters, and gave their all to the training.
"If I told one of them to get out of the waka in the middle of the winter and swim, they would do it."
They competed in race after race at Lake Karapiro, and made the finals.