Shute Shield Norths v Eastwood: rugby a family affair for Reece Mau’u
Reece Mau’u only has to look at his mum’s odometer each week to find that little bit of extra inspiration that can make all the difference when he runs out in the Shute Shield.
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From the moment Reece Mau’u joined an under sevens rugby team on Sydney’s northern beaches he fell hard for the sport.
Around 18 years later, he still loves rugby just as passionately - and almost as much as his mum Jane Secreti and sisters Monique and Sasha.
“They are crazy about it,” said the Northern Suburbs scoring sensation who started his rugby journey with the Harbord Harlequins.
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“My sisters are the biggest rugby heads. They come to the games and they make sure I can hear them. It drives me want to play as well as I can for them because they love it so much and support me so much.
“And my mum, she barely misses a game. She drives down from Tamworth each week to watch me play.
“It’s like a five, six hour drive each way and she still comes every weekend.
“I play for my family, to make them proud.”
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With seven tries under his belt this season, Mau’u is a key player for Northern Suburbs who take on Eastwood at 3pm on Sunday at Rat Park in the second elimination final of the Shute Shield.
The 24-year-old is enjoying a breakout season at the club after a string of injuries - including a broken wrist, stress fracture in the foot, an SC joint sprain and patellar tendinitis.
The late start to the season due to the coronavirus pandemic helped with the Cammeray players recovery.
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“That little extra time helped both my foot and my knee,” he said.
“I wanted to come back firing for the season and I’m the fittest I have ever been and I’ve only missed one game this year.”
The winner of the North’s v Eastwood game will take on Goprdon, who beat Eastern Suburbs in their match on Saturday.