Waratahs star and Super dad Curtis Rona caps stellar week with win over Rebels

THE past 72 hours have given Curtis Rona a clear understanding of just how “blessed’ he is following the birth of his second child Ezekiel John Rona.

Waratahs back Curtis Rona and wife Jacinta with newborn son Ezekiel and daughter Sapphire.

THE past 72 hours have given Curtis Rona a clear understanding of just how “blessed’ he is.

The Wallabies and Waratahs star and wife Jacinta welcomed baby boy Ezekiel John Rona, who joins older sister Sapphire, last Thursday at 10.05am in Sydney.

By 9.30pm on Friday, Rona was celebrating the Waratahs’ crucial Super Rugby victory over the Rebels in Melbourne, before racing back to Sydney on Saturday to be by his family’s side once more.

The couple had deliberately set the inducement date for last Wednesday so the delivery would not clash with the Wallabies Test against Ireland the previous Saturday, or Friday’s match that went a long way to securing first place for NSW in the Australian conference.

Waratahs centre Curtis Rona and wife Jacinta with newborn son Ezekiel and daughter Sapphire.

Jacinta was induced at 8am on Wednesday morning, but it took far longer than expected for little Ezekiel to arrive.

“The gas and panadeine forte didn’t work, so she got an epidural at 3.30 in the morning, I left at 4, slept for two-and-a-half hours and came back at 7.30am,” Rona told the Sunday Telegraph.

“It was a long process, a long labour, very intense.

“I don’t know how women do it.

“It is incredible to produce life, and when it’s your own it makes it so much more special.”

But Rona’s euphoria of holding his firstborn son had to be cut short. With bags packed, he bounded to the airport to join his Tahs teammates for their crucial trip south.

“I had to get ready for the game against the Rebels, we tried to keep it pretty simple,” Rona said.

Rona and wife Jacinta had a very strategic plan for the birth of Ezekiel. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

“I spoke to the players and coaches about the game and we knew what we would do.”

However, Rona was left frustrated when Melbourne scored a try through his defensive channel.

Bill Meakes held up the ball and winger Jack Maddocks flew through on a decoy line late in the first half.

Rona was lured by Maddocks, and Meakes threw a cutout pass to Dane Haylett-Petty who sprinted through the gaping hole to score.

“I felt like I had to do something to make up for that one I let,” Rona said.

Moments later, just before halftime, the ball was shifted to Rona deep in his own half.

The centre drew two defenders and passed to backrower Michael Wells, whose break set up a 70-metre play that resulted in flanker Will Miller scoring a try for NSW, giving them a 17-10 lead at the break.

“I had to do something to hit back just before halftime,’ Rona said.

It’s been a stellar week for the Waratahs star. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)

The Tahs then sleepwalked into the second half, allowing Melbourne to take a 26-17 lead with 11 minutes to go.

Then two intercepts within three minutes - Kurtley Beale’s setting up a try to Ned Hanigan, and Bernard Foley scoring himself - gave the Tahs a vital 31-26 win that ensures they control their own destiny with two games remaining.

The Tahs were back on the plane to Sydney on Saturday morning and after touching down Rona raced straight back to the hospital.

“He is still here in the hospital, I’m just watching him sleep,” Rona said.

“He is doing really well at the moment and he’ll be home soon.

“It has been very busy, and very exciting, having the new arrival as well as the top-of-the Australian conference match, it’s been full on.

“And we got a very outcome on both so I’m over the moon.

“I am just quite blessed to have two beautiful kids and a beautiful wife.”

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Originally published as Waratahs star and Super dad Curtis Rona caps stellar week with win over Rebels