News

Veteran lock Sam Cole will play his 201^st premier game for his beloved Waiuku Land & Sea Civil when they take on Weymouth at Laurie Gibbons Reserve Saturday.

He brought up the 200-game milestone last weekend at home against Onewhero Summit Homes.

There had been some confusion as to whether game 200 was last week or this but it has been confirmed he has already become a double centurion.

Cole has been a terrific servant to the club since his debut back in 2007. He previously played U21s for both Pukekohe and Bombay as well as some premier games for Bombay before linking up with Waiuku.

The captain of Waiuku for a number of years, Cole has driven team culture and does an immense amount of behind-the-scenes work with the club.

He was part of the 2010 squad that won the McNamara Cup – the last time Waiuku has tasted premiership success and it is fitting he will bring up the milestone at home in front of friends and family.

“You don’t get to 200 games unless you’ve been in a club for a long time,” coach Peter Nock said. “He has stayed injury-free for well over a decade now.

“He’s done a lot for us as a team with all his other work he does for guys away from the field. He’s painted our team room and he does all the little things people take for granted but that is Colesy.

“He is a top man – a great human and tries to help anyone especially the young men around mental well-being.

“He donates his time to earn money for the team and he has a lot of mana within the team, club and community.”

Cole has served as a shift-worker at the Glenbrook Steel Mill and hasn’t been able to attend trainings at times. He has also worked all night and then come to training with no sleep for over 24 hours.

Nock said Cole is one of those players you love to have in your side because he makes all of those around him better.

“It has been a pleasure to coach him this year and to have him lead our team. I wish him all the best.”