The notion that there is “nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come” definitely applies to the long-kicked-around notion that there should be a Bledisloe Cup match on Anzac Day.
While both the NRL and the AFL make a huge play of their own matches on that day – see, particularly the Collingwood-Essendon clash – neither code has an iconic New Zealand connection the way rugby union has.
The latest report has it that even the NZRU has come to the conclusion that it is a no-brainer to establish such an annual event, even if it is early in the Super Rugby year and well before the usual international season begins.
But beyond such a Test being part of the Bledisloe Cup series, should there be a separate trophy for that game only, a la the Cook Cup every time the Wallabies play England?
One reader wrote to me with a passionate exhortation there should be exactly that.
“I believe,” writes Rob Deacon, “the contest on our most sacred national day deserves a separate perpetual trophy for what I expect would be an annual event. Accordingly, I recommend it be called The Jacka-Bassett Cup named after Albert Jacka, Australia’s first Victoria Cross recipient at Gallipoli in May 1915, and Cyril Basset, New Zealand’s only Victoria Cross recipient in the Gallipoli campaign in August 1915. They both have amazing stories behind their heroics.”
As grandson of Gallipoli veteran Reginald Keast, Deacon knows his stuff. And I think the idea has merit (though as a biographer of Albert Jacka I have some bias.) In terms of other back-stories for such an event, however, allow me to put down the two most moving stories I know of Australia/New Zealand military interaction, from a couple of my books.
See on, the opening day of the Gallipoli campaign, it is the Australians who hit the shores of Anzac Cove first, shortly followed by the Kiwis. Just after noon, high up on the Second Ridge, a New Zealander suddenly has his entire foot blown away by a piece of shrapnel. As chronicled by Private Herbert Reynolds of the 1st Field Ambulance, the Kiwis is seen hopping forward, calling out, “For God’s sake, don’t leave me!”
On the instant a young Australian jumps up and says, “Come on mate, get on my back,” and the two are soon heading back down the hill, as the very embodiment of the Anzac, spirit.
Three decades later, after the Australians had withstood eight months of being under siege at Tobruk in North Africa – beating back the forces of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel and his Afrika Korps, it was the Kiwis who, in December of 1941, were at the forefront of the forces fighting their way through to relieve them, together with tanks of Britain’s 32nd Brigade.
As the Rats of Tobruk fight to get out, the Kiwis and Brits are fighting to get in, with the Germans in the middle.
As the battle begins and the tanks are seen, one German soldier cries to the others, “die Engländer kommen!” even as, to the amazement of the Australian attackers, some break and began to run. The Australians charge forward.
All is confusion. Roaring tanks. Exploding shells. Death rattles.
Private George McFadyen of Australia’s mighty 2/13th Battalion left an account of what happened then.
“Jerry’s tracers were splashing off the sides of our own tanks, sending them in all directions and things were starting to get a bit mixed. I remember hearing bullets buzzing past and laughing at the small buzzing things after the heavy shelling we just had that day. Tommy guns and Brens went into action on my right. We landed in a trench full of men.
“‘We’re New Zealanders!’ someone shouted. Our boys answered ‘We’re Aussies!’”
And then together across the ridge, they go at it – dinky-di ANZACS at their best.
The point is, there is a long history between our two countries of combined military action, having each other back in grim times, and Anzac Day would indeed be the perfect day to commemorate it in that manner.
All strength to you, Jai
The Jai Arrow news is troubling on many levels – starting with the impact on him and his family. It is shocking that a player good enough to be Souths’ player of the year last year could be so suddenly afflicted by motor neurone disease that he has been forced to retire immediately.
The dignity with which he has faced it and the stoic calm with which he announced it are very moving. And just what caused his MND are entirely unclear as research in the field appears to be in its early stages.
Anecdotally, the troubling thing is the number of footballers succumbing to the condition. Former Queensland and Brisbane forward Carl Webb died of MND in 2023, aged just 42. The former Cronulla Shark Adam Maher died in 2020 aged 47. Rob Burrow, the England and Leeds RLFC legend, was just 41 when he passed two years ago. In rugby union, the famed Springbok halfback Joost van der Westhuizen died from MND in 2017, aged 45, while Scotland and Lions lock Doddie Weir died in 2022, aged 52.
Is there a connection between collision sports and MND, the way there is a clearly established link with CTE, despite long denials from the various football leagues around the world of any such connection? The short answer is that it too early to tell. But a lot of work is now being done in the field, suggesting there might indeed a link between repeated concussive impacts and MND – or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, as it also known – and it is one to watch.
In the meantime, all strength to Jai Arrow and his family.
Damo a Pillar of community
“Whenever a friend succeeds,” Gore Vidal, once famously said, “a little something in me dies.”
But in the case of Damien Fitzpatrick, the long-time Waratahs hooker, I am prepared to make an exception. I knew him a little in his prime as player, but more as a nice bloke looking for direction as his career wound down before retiring from the game in 2020, when he often came to play with the scratch touch football mob I am a part of before … we lost touch.
Until this week. For there he was in the middle of an SMH story about 40 young entrepreneurs under 40 saying that while “they supported the government’s decision to remove the CGT discount and negative gearing to make houses more affordable … they warned against stripping the discount from productive asset investments.”
That Damien Fitzpatrick? One and the same! Who knew that he had kicked on to become a successful young entrepreneur, and why wasn’t I told?
I looked it up. A year after he retired, Damien started PILLAR Performance – essentially a cross between preventative health and performance nutrition, with “supplements focused on vitamins, minerals, recovery, sleep, inflammation, immunity and joint health, rather than the traditional sports nutrition emphasis on protein powders and carbohydrates.”
Their products are aimed at athletes and serious fitness enthusiasts, rugby players, runners and triathletes.
I frankly don’t understand this field, but the market clearly does. For in figures that would make Gore Vidal blanch, in just its fifth year of operation, the company is turning over about $30 million a year and exports to 25 countries.
When I contacted him and asked him about it, Damien – Damo, Big D, my new best friend forever … ! – gave me the drum.
“The category was pretty new when we launched five years ago which is why we took it global early, where the wellness economy is about to tip $7 trillion. The world is just getting healthy and consumers are demanding what the best in world [athletes] are taking. It’s happening across multiple categories.”
Good luck to him. While so many former professional athletes struggle to transition into a new way of life, this bloke is braining it.
One of ours, made good in the big city!
What They Said
Laurie Daley on his recent weight-loss: “My wife has asked me not to lose any more weight because she says it makes my nose look bigger.”
Daley on his selection of Victor Radley: “I picked Victor to be Victor.” Translation: dangerous.
Radley on his favourite Origin memory: “Paul Gallen punching Nate Myles’ head, that era.”
South Sydney player Jai Arrow on being diagnosed with motor neurone disease: “What I need right now isn’t sympathy or sadness. What I need is support, understanding, and privacy while my family and I navigate this difficult time.” [See item.]
Ricky Stuart being very Ricky Stuart about things after his team lost to the Dolphins: “In all the years I’ve been involved in the game as a coach, I’ve never been so confused … I mean, you can’t have a rule and apply it one week and not the next week. It’s just, I’ve never been so confused, and it’s disappointing, because I love the game. Thank you.” [Exeunt.]
Sam Kerr on leaving Chelsea: “I feel so grateful to have played for this club for six years and won as many trophies as we could. The only thing that comes to my mind is remembering all the happy moments, the fun moments, and just feeling really proud.”
Cameo website on its recruitment of Australian Olympic breakdancer Rachel “Raygun” Gunn: “Whether it’s a milestone birthday, an anniversary, or a long-awaited reunion, make it unforgettable with a one-of-a-kind Cameo video from Raygun.”
Carlton’s Patrick Cripps on his preparation: “I’ll prepare and play the same way every week. It doesn’t matter who you verse, where you verse.” I know. But don’t purse – or curse the verse for worse. That’s the way that generation says “oppose”.
Tim Costello on what’s blocking gambling reform: “The AFL and NRL … and free-to-air TV.”
Jannik Sinner on winning the Italian Open: “It’s been a long time since an Italian won – 50 years. I’m happy one of us was able to take advantage of this great period for Italian tennis.”
San Antonio Spur Victor Wembanyama on whether he is the best player in the world: “The world is 8 billion people. That’s 8 billion opinions.” Not sure if this is “solipsism” or “sheer wankery” – as I’m never positive about the meaning of the former, but it is at least in the postcode of both.
English golfer Aaron Rai on winning the US PGA Championship: “Golf is an amazing game. It teaches you so many things, and it teaches you so much humility and discipline and absolute hard work because nothing is ever given in this game. Very surreal. It’s been a bit of a frustrating season so to be stood here is definitely outside of my wildest imagination.”
Kurt Kitayama, asked what he attributed to his shooting 63 in the last round of the US PGA: “The putter God.”
Chicago Cub Pete Crow-Armstrong on his expletive ridden response to a fan’s taunting: “I regret my choice of words the most and who that affects in my life. Directly or indirectly, I don’t think that any of the women in my life would think I would say those kinds of words regularly. I’m just bummed out about the word choice and a bunch of little kids going to social media and seeing that as well.”
Justin Langer on the incredible Indian batter, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: “In all my time I’ve seen some amazing players in 35 years of cricket. To see a young man bat like that, not just tonight but throughout the series, is breathtaking. So the scary thing going forward, if the expressions on the face of Mitch Starc and Nortje and every bowler tell a story now, what about when he learns how to bat?”
Team of the Week
NSW State of Origin team. Show-time, gentlemen. The annual footy fest begins next Wednesday evening.
Scott Hastings. Legendary Scottish rugby player passed away from aged 61 after a battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Joe Ingles. Back in the NBL after a 12-year 810 game NBA career.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Both soccer legends are now set to play in a record sixth World Cup after being selected in their respective squads of Brazil and Argentina.
Arsenal. For the first time in a generation, the Gunners are English Premier League champions.
Romelda Aiken-George. Broke the record for the most games played in Australian national league netball history with 255.
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Peter FitzSimons is a journalist and columnist with The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X.