Page 41 - Hereford Magazine 2022

Waikato rugby legend Duane Monkley breaks the tackle of the Welsh winger in Waikato's 38-10 win over the British Lions in June 1993.
Duane scored two tries in his player-of-the-day performance.

another four months, then all of a sudden it was 2007 and I Temperament-wise they’re pretty good.”
was back for Hawke’s Bay, 2007 and 2008.” The herd has strong Kairuru bloodlines, with the most
After playing a couple of club seasons for Onga-Tiko when recent bulls being from Koanui and Riverlee.
he was a cadet, the rest of his club rugby – a massive 130
games – has been played for Central Sports in Waipukurau. Rugby legend now working with farmers
But 2009 was not kind.
“Halfway through the season I got a knee in the back of the Rugby remains a huge passion for Waikato legend Duane
head and that was it. I had no history of head knocks, but it Monkley, who is involved in the Hereford world through his
caused a few issues and I pulled the pin. I had a young family work for Datamars.
and a job and stuff, so that was all more important. We had a Duane has been president of the Waikato Rugby Union for
lease block and I was trying to do full-time casual work and six years and has the prestigious award for the best player in
play rugby as well.” provincial rugby named after him – the Duane Monkley Medal.
He went on to coach Central, and any teams his son Jake “The irony is I have become better known in the community
was playing in, including the Ross Shield. He also played a few for not making the All Blacks than if I’d made them,” he says
fun games for the Central seconds. with a wry smile.
Rugby is a large part of life at Smedley, with most cadets “I always felt I should have been chosen in 1993 … I’m happy
playing locally, although some continue with other team now to be remembered as a decent Waikato representative
sports such as hockey. rather than a moderate All Black. And All Black or not, having
“We also operate in a team environment every day. We see the the medal named after me makes me feel immensely proud.”
cadets as a rep team; they’re elite and all the synergies around Duane is widely cited as a great player who should have
rep sports applies to how we work. It’s about learning how to be made it to international level. Many say it was a pity he played
part of a team and having teammates who rely on you.” his rugby in the shadow of the legendary Michael Jones
Gifted to the Crown almost a century ago for the purposes because in most other eras he would have been a shoo-in for
of agricultural training, 5660ha Smedley Station winters an All Black spot.
30,000 stock units and has an intake of 13 prospective farmers In 2003, NZ Herald sports writer Chris Rattue quoted
each year for its two-year cadetships. Hereford genetics were midfield back Matthew Cooper: “Throughout his career, Duane
introduced when it bought neighbouring 532ha Parks Peak made those bone-jarring front-on tackles and from the side
farm two years ago. after scrums and lineouts. It was always full stop when he hit.
“It came with Hereford cows and we’ve been buying Player of the day became a standing joke. Duane won it so
Hereford bulls [for Parks Peak] since. The progeny go to many times we lost count.”
the dairy industry and we keep the heifers as replacements. Duane says his greatest rugby moments were both in a
We calve behind a wire so we’re with them every day. Waikato jersey - taking the Ranfurly shield off Auckland in

Year 2022 HEREFORD MAGAZINE 39