The King of all Maoridom: George Nepia

Sean Fagan of RL1908.com

The jewel in the crown of New Zealand rugby union in the years between the World Wars was undoubtedly George Nepia.

A superstar of the game, anointed as “the king of all Maoridom,” Nepia possessed a prodigious kicking game, highlighted by the ability to spiral-kick the ball with either foot, a deadly tackling technique, and intuitive positional play.

For a decade rugby league agents chased Nepia’s signature, and in 1935, at the age of 30, he joined London’s short-lived “Streatham & Mitcham” club and then Halifax. He was an instant and enormous hit with English rugby league fans.

In mid-1937 Nepia returned home, playing for New Zealand Maori in their 16-5 win over the Kangaroos – a victory attributed to Nepia’s ironclad tackling that stopped dead countless Australian raids.

Then called into the second Test side at fullback against the Aussies, Nepia’s mere presence inspired a new self-assurance in the Kiwis.

Aided by his sharp goal kicking and deadly tackling – he saved no less than four tries – Nepia and the New Zealanders beat the Kangaroos 16-15.

The iconic Frank Burge, reporting on the Test for a Sydney newspaper, offered up no excuses for the Kangaroos, and wrote that “Nepia especially played a great game” and that he was “a wonderful player.”

It was to be Nepia’s only appearance for the Kiwis.