Western Suburbs Magpies player the first man onto Bankwest Stadium
Meet the Gladesville teacher’s aide and part-time footballer who will create history by becoming the first-ever rugby league player to run onto western Sydney’s new $300m Bankwest Stadium.
Meet the Gladesville teacher’s aide and part-time footballer who will create history by becoming the first-ever rugby league player to run onto western Sydney’s new $300m Bankwest Stadium.
He is Western Suburbs Magpies skipper Kauri Aupouri-Puketapu, who will upstage all big-name NRL stars by being the first to step foot onto the state-of-the-art arena, which will host its first game on Easter Monday.
The preliminary match on Monday, before the much-hyped NRL game between Parramatta and Wests Tigers, will be a Canterbury Cup — formerly NSW Cup — match between Wentworthville Magpies against Western Suburbs Magpies.
A NSWRL spokesperson confirmed Wests — given they are the visitors — would run out first for the 1.30pm kick off and Aupouri-Puketapu is ready to take his place in western Sydney history.
In the true spirit of the old Magpies, Aupouri-Puketapu, 24, is a rugby league battler who works a five-day, 40-hour week and plays on a part-time NSW Cup contract.
The Daily Telegraph caught up with Aupouri-Puketapu, who helps clients and students at the Giant Steps autism school.
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Told he would be a history maker, Aupouri-Puketapu said: “To be honest, I was at first put off by it because I didn’t know how to feel but obviously it’s an honour and it can go down in history. Forty years from now it could be a fun story to tell my grandchildren.
“I will look around the stands and see this newly built stadium. I haven’t been there yet but it will be a good experience, one to remember for a long time, that’s for sure.
“There will be no one in front of me. My first reaction will be to see how the turf is. Every footballer would say you want to feel the grass.
“Obviously nerves come before the game but once you get out there, you’re pretty sweet. You go back into your processes. I’m not sure how many people will be here for the start of our game but I think there will be a lot by the back-end of our game.
“I’m on a part-time deal with the Tigers but I am playing for the Magpies. I love playing footy so I don’t mind training after work each day.”
Aupouri-Puketapu’s story comes as Parramatta held their first training session last night on Bankwest Stadium in front of 10,000 fans.
New Zealand-born Aupouri-Puketapu is yet to play NRL and only joined Wests Tigers — and feeder club Wests — after the end of last season.
“The NRL is the end goal, just to keep knocking on the door,” he said.
Aupouri-Puketapu works Monday to Friday before ducking across to Concord to train with Wests at least four times a week.
The Magpies halfback loves his job, saying: “Our students are 18-years-old and older. We are looking after the college version of Giant Steps. All our students are autistic so our main focus is to help them be independent in life.
“Sometimes we take a lot of things for granted. Seeing these guys almost every day is very rewarding and when you see the enjoyment in their faces, that makes it all worthwhile I go straight from work, straight to training.
“Working is good because it gives you that balance you need. A lot of full-time players have a lot of time on their hands so when they have their time off, that’s time I am able to work. It’s good to have something there rather than just waiting around for training. I enjoy it, I like to keep busy.”
Wests Magpies are coached by former Wests Tigers and NSW champion, Brett Hodgson.
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