By PETER ROWE
The ninth edition of the Harmony Nines kicks off at a new venue on Friday evening as 28 teams prepare to bring culture, colour and flair to this amazing annual event.
Over three days at George Burnett Oval, the home of the South Perth Lions, teams representing so many rugby league families will bring some excitement to our game.
From Haka to Sipi Tau to Siva Tau to the traditional Fijian hymn Noqu Masu, all the flavours of the South Pacific will be on display.
Plus of course our own Indigenous teams, PNG, expats from Great Britain and even a team this year representing the Royal Australian Navy.
And it all kicks off on Friday evening from 5pm when the Aussie Bushrangers take on Ngapuhi in the men’s open event and Samoa face Ngatiwai in the social category.
There’s a masters competition as well, with a great game between the Aussie Bushrangers and Great Britain to watch.
15 games of fast and furious nine-a-side footy to wet the appetite before Saturday sees 12 hours of action across two fields.
For Navy Tridents manager Steve Taylor it’s a welcome return to the event. He played in the first Harmonies in 2017.
“Rugby league is growing in popularity here in the Navy,” Steve said. “As military our team is made up mostly of junior sailors and I guess you could say we’re pretty fit. But we are here to have some fun as well as it’s a great event.”
The Tridents will be in a training camp all week before their opening match against Waikato as coach Jake Kennedy looks gets them off to a good start.
Ngapuhi are another community competing, with teams in the men’s open, and social categories.
Resplendent in their traditional Cambridge light blue colours, the boys from the top end of the north island of New Zealand won the socials event last year and manager Will Jobe is confident they can do well this time around.
Photo – Libby McMillan
“We have about 40 players from all over Perth this time and we have all been practising our traditional haka after every training session,” Will said.
“For us it is an opportunity to represent where we come from, our tribe, and do them proud.
“I’m sure every community says the same thing, but we have a special haka that has been handed down through the generations and it is a privilege to perform it – and play in the tournament as well.”
Ngapuhi have a rich tradition of rugby league players reaching the NRL, with NZ Warriors prop James Fisher-Harris the latest in a long line of Kiwi greats. Another who had hoped to play in this year’s event was former Melbourne Storm star Adam Blair, before he was appointed an assistant coach for New Zealand in the Pacific Championships.
The Ngati Kahunguna have also been practising their unique haka, representing the east coast of the north island.
Photo – Libby McMillan
“It’s a tremendous tournament to play in,” coach Lewis Samuels said. “An honour to represent where we come from.”
The team, in their white green and black kit, have played in the last five Harmonies, making it to finals but not to the main event.
This year they are mixture of union and league players, with a sprinkling of league boys from the NRLWA Premiers Willagee and the Kwinana Titans.
For GB manager Andy Rothwell it’s his favourite weekend of the year.
“The opportunity to play international footy against so many different nations and cultures,” he said.
“And to represent the birthplace of the game, in Huddersfield in 1895.”
Photo – Libby McMillan
The Lions will be easily spotted around the grounds, wearing a replica jersey of the Great Britain Lions 1954 team that won the first rugby league World Cup, held in France.
Playing in Men’s Open and Masters, they have competed in eight Harmonies and a very strong on heritage, insisting there is a British link for every player and support staff – either as an ex-pat or through family ties.
“That is very important for us,” Andy said. “My mum is from Bradford and I grew up in Halifax. I have family who played for Bradford Northern (Bulls) in the 50s and 60s.”
At every event the GB team hand out gifts to referees and opponents – the referees receiving a replica blue plaque of the sign that is fixed to a wall outside the hotel in Yorkshire where it all began in the late 19th century.
They have been training for the past four weeks and will have a sprinkling of NRLWA Premiership players in their squad as well as Super League veteran and NRLWA stalwart John Hough as coach.
“We are really looking forward to a great weekend of rugby league,” Andy added.
“Respect for all the cultures and a weekend of inclusion.”
Respect is something the Gur Wirimalpa team also values highly.
The Indigenous team, originally formed by three members from the Pilbara, will be participating in their fifth Harmonies event and last year made it to the finals.
“We are about family, pride and culture,” manager Jahna Cedar said.
“Creating opportunities for our young men. We take the field to win but we respect all who have gone before us and we are proud of our living and breathing culture.
“It is all about ‘ Balahood’ (brotherhood) and was there often too many negative stories about our men in the media, this is about a positive way of life, healthy eating, sport and legacy.”
And in their 20-man squad they have a young man who five years ago was a ball boy. He’s now a full fledged member of the team.
Harmonies, from traditional owners of the land to a founding nation of the game of rugby league, to the representation of so many Iwis, tribes and communities across the Australasian and Pacific Island nations, is a celebration of culture combining with the great family that is rugby league.
