Since rejoining the national women’s rugby competition in 2012 Waikato has been one of the leading contenders. This Saturday they host Auckland in a Farah Palmer Cup Premiership semifinal, led into battle by a woman who’s been, gone and returned - along the way becoming one of the most respected players in the country. Adam Julian reports.
Waikato is the only province in the Farah Palmer Cup that performs a haka before every match.
On Sunday, before their tussle against Wellington, a contingent of more than 60 players from the senior squad and Under 16 and 18 teams performed a resounding rendition of Te Tuu O Waikato, composed by former coach and longtime stalwart Reuben Samuel in 2021.
The haka says, “Our foundation is that of a legacy, born from the past to represent our present, for us to continue adding value to those to come.”
Fittingly its leader was Waikato’s most capped female player Victoria Makea (Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi). The lock or loose forward has made 61 appearances stretching back to 2012, the year Waikato rejoined the national competition after a seven-year hiatus.
Tough and durable, loyal, and hardworking, Makea (nee Edmonds) is talismanic among her peers and the haka is a metaphor for everything she represents and desires to be.
“The haka is special and specific to us. It generates energy to go forth and play rugby, it empowers us collectively to play hard and look out for each other regardless of background, age, or colour,” Makea said.
“We have a young Australian halfback Sam Wood who’s embraced the haka with both hands. She’d never performed a haka or had any idea of what one means. Now, she’s one of the most enthusiastic performers.”
The spectacle of proud Wahine Toa, let alone an Aussie, performing a haka before a rugby match in Hamilton would have been unheard of in 2012, the season Makea debuted.
In fact, bereft of a senior club competition Waikato University used to travel to Auckland to contest the Coleman Shield. University was essentially the Waikato representative team.
“It was pretty rugged in those days,” Makea laughed.
“We had a backyard camp in Tokoroa one year where we were woken up in the dead of night by rattling pots and pans and had to complete a hundred passes in the dark. If we dropped a pass, we had to start again. We had no power, no hot water, no internet, and no official kit. If ever anything builds character, it’s being hammered in a Tokoroa frost.
“The first year with Varsity was a struggle but we quickly built incredible friendships and climbed the table. Chelsea Alley, Terina Te Tamaki, Honey Hireme-Smiler, Carla and Chyna Hohepa - those women are a different breed.
"We wanted to go to Auckland and knock people’s heads off. We were the underdogs, always the underdogs. In 2014, we won the Coleman Shield and Waikato made the NPC final.
“The coaches, Wayne Maxwell, Crystal Kaua, and Reuben Samuel, were so selfless, smart and determined. I’m not sure we’ll ever emulate the sacrifices they made to get to where we are today, but we better remember, because everything we get now is a bonus because of them.”
Initially a centre, Makea switched to lock out of necessity and developed a fearsome reputation as a brutal defender and reliable lineout forward.
Sometimes Waikato literally emptied the tank to win. In 2014 against Otago, they battled grimly to a 15-10 victory in the “shittest weather” despite a gastro bug passing through the team which left many players “chundering” on the sidelines.
Waikato were semifinalists in 2015, 2017 and 2018. Numbers in the senior club competition grew rapidly. In 2023, eight clubs contested the title.
By 2018, Makea owned a house, had a child, and was commuting an hour each way from Tokoroa to Hamilton working for a business that sold car accessories. It was a busy, but not entirely fulfilling life. But a commercial voiced by a Māori woman on the radio was a eureka moment.
“It was a police recruitment drive, and something really resonated. I made a call on a whim to quit rugby and go to police college in Wellington,” Makea said.
“The thought of a strong Māori woman helping people in the community really appealed. My brother Ray is a policeman. He was my first rugby hero too representing Bay of Plenty in all the age groups, so I guess we're kind of similar.”
Victoria was raised by her grandparents, George and Victoria Edmonds, who met at a shearing competition in Hicks Bay. George was part of a shearing team that achieved a world record but when his eye caught Victoria, they disappeared to the bench with George missing from the photo that would have verified his extraordinary feat.
Kiwifruit picking took the Edmonds to Te Puke. In high school, Makea wanted to be a Silver Fern. That changed with her first touch of the rugby ball.
“I scored a try; I ran 80 metres. Not worrying about being offside and the physical contact was liberating,” Makea said.
In 2021, Makea lost her koro George and that was the catalyst to return to rugby.
“George was always telling me I could wear a black jersey. Even when I didn’t have any faith I could achieve that goal, he kept encouraging me. I missed the first Chiefs Manawa team too and went, ‘nah I’m not done’,” she says.
Makea returned seamlessly. She scored two tries in a crucial 29-22 win against Otago in Dunedin but the threat of Covid-lingered. Waikato waited 48 days between a 34-27 win over Wellington on August 15 and a 26-10 semifinal triumph against the same side on October 1.
Canterbury, winners of 27 consecutive games, awaited in Christchurch on October 9. On October 3 Waikato had to scramble from Hamilton to Cambridge to avoid being locked down by Covid in Level 3. On October 6, Cambridge was locked down entirely - Waikato escaped to Christchurch before the midnight deadline.
Still jaded, the visitors fell to a 13-3 deficit at halftime in the final. In a classic display of forward power, and weather management Waikato rallied to prevail 22-20. Prop Awhina Tangen-Wainohu (later to become a Black Fern), hooker Merania Paraone and Makea (playing No.8) scored tries. The emotion of the triumph proved overwhelming for Makea, whose raw post-match interview with some expletive language went viral.
“The response was a mixed bag,” Makea admits.
“People who knew me thought it was bloody brilliant and appreciated my emotion came from a place of passion. Others accused me of being unprofessional and a poor role model for young people. I’ve got no time to respond to those people.
“Winning that final was such a special moment. The build-up was so unique living together for a week and connecting so strongly. Those off-field connections are as important as the games themselves.”
The final was Makea’s 50th match for Waikato, in the same year as the union's 100th anniversary. It was supposed to be the end, but it wasn’t.
Resurgent, she’s been an integral part of Chiefs Manawa who won the first Super Rugby Aupki in 2022. She earned a Black Ferns trial and performed strongly, but wasn’t considered for World Cup selection.
Makea hasn’t closed the door on her national ambitions. In 2023, Chiefs Manawa, despite beating every side, were runners-up to Matatū in the Aupiki competition.
In the FPC, Waikato has won five of six matches and will host Auckland in the premiership semifinal at FMG Stadium in Hamilton today.
Makea scored two tries in the second round 27-24 extra-time victory over defending champions Canterbury. Her try within the last play of regulation helped immeasurably in an improbable comeback.
Since that peak, Waikato’s form has been frustratingly inconsistent. Wins over Hawke’s Bay (14-10), Counties Manukau (13-5) and Wellington (31-29) were unconvincing while an 8-6 halftime advantage was blown in a 15-25 loss to Auckland.
“It’s been a rollercoaster ride this season. We’ve had challenges and injuries that have arisen that have been tough. Renee Holmes is a big loss, but I’m confident when we hit our straps, we can beat Auckland and win the comp,” Makea said.
Waikato might have lost to Auckland, but Makea’s tackling was destructive.
“We were doing a video review of the Auckland game, and there was a big hit and the girls went 'whoo' and asked to play the clip again. ‘Who’s that?’ they asked. ‘Oh chill, that’s me'," Makea says.
“Personally, I set myself individual targets for each game, targets I don’t necessarily share with anyone but if I achieve those things, I can be satisfied with my own performance.
“One of the advantages of being a more mature player is knowing what your strengths are, picking your battles and not overplaying your hand. Control the controllables and the rewards will come.”
Te Tuu O Waikato ends with the plea, “We show no mercy to our enemies. Waikato of a hundred Chiefs .. we will rise and take on any challenge presented to us.”
*Today's final in Hamilton kicks off at 2.05 pm. The second Premiership semifinal, between Canterbury and Hawkes Bay, is played on Sunday from 1.05 pm in Christchurch. Both matches are broadcast live on Sky Sport.
