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Willie's antics exaggerated: haka coach
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 4:20 PM
The man charged with teaching the New Zealand rugby league team the haka has labelled Willie Mason's antics as nothing more than a "storm in a tea cup".
Kangaroos prop Mason was accused of disrespecting the haka after mouthing obscenities during the pre-game ritual in last weekend's 30-18 victory over the Kiwis.
Bailey Mackey, who spent a day teaching the Kiwis the cultural significance of the haka in the lead-up to the match, said all combatants had the right to challenge the war cry in their own way.
"Ka Mate - the particular haka that the Kiwis do and the All Blacks often perform, is as much about individual expression as collective unity," Mackey said.
"At the end of the day, how people react to it is up to them, it's under the same accord of individual expression people do the haka under.
"Having met Willie a couple of times, I don't think it was blatantly disrespectful, I think it's a storm in a tea cup.
"Willie chose to confront the haka in his own manner."
New Zealand enforcer David Kidwell denied his bone-jarring shoulder charge on Mason during last weekend's spiteful Test was retaliation for swearing during the haka, but said his actions were disrespectful - a claim vehemently rejected by Mason.
While not condoning Mason's swearing, Mackey believed the supposed blood between the teams was overstated.
"The boys enjoy Willie almost as much as Willie enjoys himself," he said.
"I've met Willie a couple of times and he gets on with the Kiwi blokes and I'm sure he and Kiddy are a lot closer than people will want to admit.
"Willie is a high-profile player who is entitled to his opinion.
"When you're like Willie and you stick your head up above the rest of the pack and say what you think, you're always going to cop some criticism, whether it be from the media or out on the field."
However, the former East Coast rugby representative couldn't resist a dig at the outspoken prop.
"What's ironic is that Willie Mason, who is at the forefront of all of this, said he wouldn't have minded playing for the All Blacks," he said of the Auckland-born forward.
Mason claimed his spray was directed at Torres Strait Islander-born fullback Brent Webb because he was not born in New Zealand. However Mackey said birthplace was irrelevant.
"As New Zealanders, whether you are born here or not, when you put on the black jersey you become part of the brotherhood," he said.
"When you make the decision you want to represent New Zealand, the haka is intertwined with that.
"It's an honour, it's a privilege and four million proud New Zealanders here are right behind you.
"If you look at the All Blacks, they have got a couple of guys from South Africa, a couple of Aussies.
"If that was the case, Willie Mason should not be singing the (Australian) national anthem."
Mackey, the head of sport for Maori Television, ruled out the Kiwis performing the infamous throat-slitting version of the haka against the Kangaroos in Melbourne on Saturday night.
"That haka is particular to the All Blacks, it's designed for them," he said.
Source: AAP
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