The ‘Kaiwakas’ were out in force at Cooks Garden last Saturday as one of their own reached a special milestone in the Steelform Whanganui jumper.

Kaierau RFC and Whanganui second-five Ethan Robinson played his 50th first class game for the union against Horowhenua-Kapiti, on the same ground where he jogged off the bench as a fresh-faced 20-year-old on October 14th, 2017 to face North Otago.

Now 28-years-old and one of the most experienced players in a group which has included 12 debutants this campaign, come fulltime even Robinson’s status did not see him shirk the cleanup duties - helping put away the walking mats from across the Cooks Gardens running track.

“[Feeling] pretty good, I suppose it’s just as special as the first time and it took a while to get there,” he said.

“But nevertheless they’ve all been pretty tough seasons and games and I still get up for this one as much as the first and everything in between.”

After that first match in 2017 as a reserve, backline injuries saw Robinson thrust into the starting position the following weekend for the Meads Cup semifinal with South Canterbury in Timaru, where his try-assist on a 75m intercept run and then brilliant cover tackling played a big part in Whanganui’s upset victory that day

He was not in the line-up for the 2017 Meads Cup final win over Horowhenua-Kapiti and then over the next few seasons was more of a utility back reserve, before cementing a starting midfield place in the 2021 squad.

That team finished third in a Covid-disrupted season without semifinals, and proceeded to win the Lochore Cup against North Otago, with Robinson kicking four crucial penalties in the 22-16 victory.

Robinson missed the 2023 Bunnings Heartland Championship season for the chance to play club rugby in Australia, before returning to the fold last year and being a leading player ever since.

Ultimately, his 50 games include 29 matches as a starter, predominately at second-five but also centre, fullback and first-five, while he has scored 273 points from 11 tries, 76 conversions and 22 penalties.

He played two Ranfurly Shield challenges – against Taranaki in 2018 and Hawke’s Bay last year – and was selected for the NZ Heartland XV in their two end-of-season matches at Cooks Gardens last November.

“Heaps of good memories, it’s hard to look past that 2017 semifinal [as favourite],” Robinson said.

“But in saying that, looking back and seeing the likes of Jamie [Hughes], Dane [Whale], Samu [Kubunavanua], all those still there from my first game till now, becoming a senior player, it’s just cool to hang on to those friendships.

“I know there’s not a hell of a lot of time left with the team I started with, so it’s good to keep building new friendships and memories, but thankful to have those guys in the team since the beginning.”

Jason Hamlin was the backs coach when Robinson joined the squad in 2017 before becoming his head coach in 2022.

“We’re stoked for the young man, it’s a long time coming for him,” Hamlin said of the milestone.

“He’s a wonderful player and it’s good for him.”

Skipper Doug Horrocks has captained Robinson over the past two seasons for both Whanganui and their Kaierau club, and noted with only Heartland and Shield games given first class status, just how tough it is to reach the 50th.

“Especially in this day and age, and obviously Whanganui’s had a pretty formidable midfield for a pretty long time.

“So he’s played a position where he’s really had to force his way into the squad and he’s done that consistently for the last couple of years, and been rewarded with a [NZ] Heartland cap last year, so that’s just desserts.

“Obviously his father will probably shed a tear today when he presents him with his blazer, so look forward to that.”

Robinson received his blazer with the ‘50’ embroidered under the badge at the after-match function on Saturday from not only his father and team manager Darrell Robinson, but also his grandfather and former WRFU President Mark Carroll.

By Jared Smith