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League academy Witt’s Uni Games hope
Wednesday, April 8th, 2009
By GABRIEL FERGUSON
The Witt rugby league academy is shaping up as the institute’s hot ticket at this month’s Uni Games in Taranaki.
The Witt league academy boys pose with the Rugby League World Cup.
The Rugby League Education Academy started in January under the guidance of coordinator Rob Hewitt — well known for surviving more than 72 hours drifting off the Kapiti Coast following a diving accident in 2006.
He is also the brother of former All Black hooker Norm Hewitt.
The academy concentrates on tertiary learning through league, a focus that bodes well for the team’s Uni Games’ appearance.
“I strongly believe that we can get two to three players in the New Zealand University Games team,” says Hewitt.
Early morning training sessions and a series of warm-up games have ensured the academy players will be in top shape for their first competitive outing as a team.
Just three months into the programme, Hewitt says there have already been dramatic changes in the young men.
“They are slowly but surely understanding what it is about to be involved in a team.”
The 20-man squad will go into training camp one week before the
tournament which begins on April 14, and stay together throughout the competition to help retain focus.
The academy side should prove a tough test for Canterbury University who beat Otago to win the league title in Rotorua last year.
Three of the squad — Codean Manu, Carlton Healy and Regan Verny — have already played league at development level in Australia but have returned to New Zealand to complete their education, a requirement of NRL clubs.
The Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki is participating in the games for the first time and is only the second non-university town to host the event.
About 1200 competitors will take part in 25 sports played around the region over four days.
GABRIEL FERGUSON is a WITT journalism student
