Joe Rokocoko Retires
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One of my favourite ABs of the last 20 years hangs them up.
What a fucking player he was. You knew watching him play school boys he was something special, and he fucking was.
46 tries in 68 tests, but his early strike rate was ridiculous, wiki tells me 35 in his first 39. His highlight reel is awesome too, just shredding dudes for pace.
Always thought he got the axe too early, but i am fairly sure i am pretty much alone in that.
Chur Joe
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@mariner4life said in Joe Rokocoko Retires:
One of my favourite ABs of the last 20 years hangs them up.
What a fucking player he was. You knew watching him play school boys he was something special, and he fucking was.
46 tries in 68 tests, but his early strike rate was ridiculous, wiki tells me 35 in his first 39. His highlight reel is awesome too, just shredding dudes for pace.
Always thought he got the axe too early, but i am fairly sure i am pretty much alone in that.
Chur Joe
Could have moved to centre IMO, was great to watch.
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@Kirwan said in Joe Rokocoko Retires:
Could have moved to centre IMO, was great to watch.
Yep. Could have done a Tana I think. 13 then 12 as he got a bit slower. Might have needed to learn to kick and pass a bit more but he probably had the goods.
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I remember him and Rupeni on the wings for the Blues, Rupeni somewhat outshining him in Super rugby that year as some of his tries were out of this world. But once Rok got into the ABs he absolutely carved up and turned out to be the much better player overall. So many great memories of his cutting defenses to pieces, and always seemed like such a humble bloke off the field too. Deadset AB legend.
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One of my all time favorites for sure. One of our dogs was named after him and funny enough ‘Rocky’ had his last visit to the vet and ‘retiired’ only a couple of months ago.
At least he managed a long career after being dropped. Something it looks like Julian Savea (who started with a similar hit rate) doesn’t look like doing
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Awesome in younger days as a strike weapon ,used to love that hit and spin in contact , then as he slowed up a bit in the latter years , he became more about support play and coming inside looking for work ,
One of the great 11s , we have had a few
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phenomenal player. Never turned it on for Auckland the way he did for the ABs, but one of my favourite players to watch.
Single handedly won the game against Wales in '02 as well, when we sent a weakened team over and lost to England.
Gentleman, and a damn good player. Good luck to him in whatever he does
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@nzzp Rokocoko never toured in '02 haha', think you're taking about '04.
But yes, One of my favourites growing up. Always gave it his all for Auckand and the Blues, and his record for the ABs speaks for itself. Funniy enough, I thought he played his some of his best rugby at domestic level in 2011, his last season in NZ when he was dropped by the ABs.
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@KiwiMurph said in Joe Rokocoko Retires:
@nzzp said in Joe Rokocoko Retires:
Single handedly won the game against Wales in '02 as well, when we sent a weakened team over and lost to England.
Rok debuted for ABs in '03.
I think you mean end of year tour 2004.
Yep, spot on.
Addled brain - see other thread. NZ 26-25 Wales; he scored an absolutely mint try. Just two years too late for my posting
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Rok and Howlett were my two favourite Blues players. Rok was everything you wanted in a winger, big, quick and backed himself.
