Story from Havelock North Rugby Club Website - 3 September 2010
"Put Gillies Kaka in the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team's starting XV for Thursday night's clash against the Tasman Makos in Blenheim."
That's Havelock North captain Davis Norman's advice for Magpies co-coaches Peter Russell and Tom Coventry after Kaka's display in Havelock's 53-10 drubbing of Taradale in Saturday's Tui Maddison final at Napier's McLean Park. This is believed to be a record winning margin for the final.
"Gillies will provide a bit of spark and I believe that's what is needed in the Magpies side. He's a home grown boy too," said Norman.
Fullback Kaka, who has yet to make an ITM Cup appearance this season, turned on plenty of razzle and dazzle for the 1100 fans and scored two tries including a spectacular solo effort as Havelock established a 34-3 halftime lead. He could have had a third in the second half but unselfishly offloaded to veteran midfield replacement Andy Barham to give him a try in his first taste of Maddison Trophy glory after five finals.
"That could be my last game of premier rugby and if it is it's a good way to go out," Norman told SportToday after being showered in champagne while holding the most prestigious silverware in Hawke's Bay club rugby.
Norman, 31, who played 67 games for the Magpies from 1998-2007 has played 185 games for Havelock.
He has been told it isn't right to make a retirement decision immediately after a match and will ponder his plans over the summer.
"As you saw we've got some outstanding young backs out there coming through and it may be time to give it away," said Norman.
"I didn't expect the final to be that one sided but there was acres of space out wide and we just attacked it," added Norman.
Indeed they did outscoring the defending champions eight tries to one. First five-eighth Ihaia West, 18, displayed his attacking and goalkicking skills and his 58th minute try was just as spectacular as Kaka's second.
With his 16 points (he also kicked four conversions and a penalty from eight attempts) West took his season tally to 272 points.
This is a Havelock club record and it bettered the previous best of 263 set by the late Jarrod Cunningham in 1995.
West could have had another two points but allowed Kaka to kick the final conversion.
Eighteen-year-old loosie Gareth Evans, who was again flown home from Dunedin for the match, proved a powerful replacement for Adam Bradey off the bench.
All of the Havelock North players deserve praise for their part in the demolition job. Manager Conrad Waitoa couldn't have provided a more appropriate touch when asked for his MVP points afterwards.
"After that display we have to give it to the coaches.
"They came up with a game plan and the boys backed it to perfection," said Waitoa pointing to head coach Joe Snee and his assistants Murdoch Paewai and Simon Halford.
Taradale's only real period of competitiveness was when they kept Havelock scoreless for the first 17 minutes of the second spell.
"We were outskilled and out passioned.
"When the pressure went on we drifted away from our game plan and kicked too much ball to them ... and as you saw you can't do that to a side with the attacking skills which Havelock have got," said retiring Taradale coach Stu Cruden.
Havelock Norths points came from tries to Gillies Kaka 2, Brendan Solomon, Cyrus Baker, Ihaia West, Andy Barham, Gareth Evans & 5 Con & Pen to Ihaia West, Kaka con
Half time HN 34 - Taradale 3, Full time HN 53 - 10