Looking back on a century of rugby

• Author: RUGBY Jesse Wood
• Published date: 22 April 2021
• Publication title: Te Awamutu Courier

The province has 22 centurions beginning with Has Catley in 1952 and the most recent being Dwayne Sweeney in 2019, both of which took 17 years to reach this milestone.

During Waikato Rugby’s 100-year celebrations this year, many of these players will take part or make appearances at the events.

Sport Waikato CEO, former All Black and Croatian International and Waikato player No 883 Matthew Cooper MNZM is a proud Mooloo man.

After 63 appearances for Hawke’s Bay from 1985-1989, he made the move north where he débuted for Waikato against Otago in 1990.

“Just the opportunity to wear the famous jersey was a highlight in itself,” said Cooper.

He had always been excited by the back play that George Simpkin introduced and when Daryl Halligan moved to Australia to play rugby league, an opportunity arose for Cooper.

“That turned out to be a wonderful decision for Daryl and an opportunity for me that I’ll never forget.

“It came from a phone call from Glen Ross who had just started and coached a very impressive Waikato team in 1989. Glen is one person I always look back and acknowledge.

“I was just really attracted by how Waikato played its rugby. It was such an expansive game of rugby and I always remember watching the shield era in the early 80s, once they’d beaten Auckland and Arthur Stone had got the intercept try.”

He played for Hamilton Marist for around 10 years with the 1994 Waikato Breweries Premiership win over Fraser Tech ranking as a career highlight.

From 1990-1999, Cooper played 124 matches for the Waikato province scoring a record 1604 points under four different coaches Ross, Kevin Greene, John Boe and Kiwi Searancke.

“It was certainly something I was gunning for was the opportunity to play 100 in the red, yellow and black jersey.”

Game number 100 is a fond memory for him.

“I was pretty passionate still, if you ask my fellow teammates they’d probably say I was a little bit too passionate,” he said.

“It was against King Country which was quite neat, our neighbour. It was at Rugby Park. I always reflect back when I ran on for my 100 that Waikato is my home. Now I feel very much now that I’ve earnt my stripes in terms of being a Waikato man. That’s one thing I’m very proud about. It was quite a defining moment for me after 10 years.”

Another favourite memory of his was when Waikato beat Auckland and hosted their first NPC grand-final against Otago in 1992.

“You could hear Otago go onto the field and all you’d hear was this big drone of noise and booing...