Where are they now? Warriors fan favourite Hitro Okesene
Brendon
Egan
December 15, 2024
Former Warriors favourite
Hitro Okesene poses in the Mt Smart Stadium tunnel on a visit home in 2014.Lawrence Smith/Stuff
With his free-flowing mullet, fierce defence, and hard running style,
Hitro Okesene developed into a Warriors’ cult hero.
Okesene was an inaugural Warrior, playing 22 games for the club from 1995-97.
He joined the Hull Sharks in England 1998 and wound down his career with Featherstone Rovers and Workington Town, also having a season in France with Catalan.
Based in Cumbria in the north of England, Okesene, 54, speaks to
Brendon Egan.
Hitro Okesene on the burst for the Warriors against the North Sydney Bears in 1995.Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
What does life look like today for you?
I’m based in the north-west, right up the top, the last English city is Carlisle on the Scottish border. I’m about 30 minutes west of Carlisle [in Aspatria].
That’s where I first met my wife, all her family are still here. I work for a large conveying company – a company that designs and manufactures for the canning industry, Coca-Cola and Heineken and that. I prep a lot of the stainless steel that is used for the conveyors. It’s all right, it keeps us ticking away.
Warriors prop
Hitro Okesene attacks the line against the Wests Magpies in 1995.Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Why do you think you were such a hit with Warriors’ fans?
I think I just wanted to go hard out. I just played hard and fair and tried to inspire the younger generation, being a role model for the kids. I think they just enjoyed how I played. I’ve still got [the same hairstyle today]. I’m surprised I’ve still got it. The hair is still there. I think I wanted people to enjoy the Warriors and enjoy watching the team play.
Which front-rowers were the toughest to go up against for you?
Growing up watching these Australian teams, I got to play against a lot of my idols. It was fantastic. The toughest would be Johnny Lomax, Q [
Quentin Pongia], they’re hard men. Also Jason Lowrie when he was at Eastern Suburbs. The Australians, they’ve got a lot of great forwards. Just going up against any of them was a challenge, but also something I looked forward to.
There’s no friends on the field. You just want to hurt each other, but have a beer afterwards and enjoy other’s company.
Hitro Okesene charges through a gap in the Warriors' first game in club history against Brisbane in March 1995.Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
You were a hooker until you joined the Warriors. Just how difficult was it moving to prop?
With being hooker I was used to kicking out of dummy half and always at the play the ball all the time. When
Andy Platt was injured, [coach]
John Monie looked to me to replace him. I had a go at prop and all I needed to do was put my head down and try and do a prop’s job and run hard and do my best. I had to put more weight on [to play prop]. I was playing about 95 kilo. Our trainer, Bob Lanigan, thought I was too light as a prop compared to Glenn Lazarus and all them – all pretty big boys. I ended up having to put another 5-10 kilos on and ended up about 105kg when I was playing prop.
Warriors captain
Dean Bell,
Sean Hoppe, and
Hitro Okesene pictured after a game at Mt Smart Stadium in 1995.Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
How did you get your big break at the Warriors?
It came in 1993 when I was playing for my club Manukau [and the Warriors were signing players]. I’d heard
John Monie was looking at my cousin
Tony Tatupu. He was playing for Mt Albert and we played them at home. I heard Monie and them were coming down to have a look at Tony. I thought if I have a good game anything can happen. I played pretty well that game and got a phone call saying they’d like to sign me up. That’s where it all started.
What was the money like back then?
I was on a reserve grade contract back then. I think it was $15,000 at the time. I think they were looking for another hooker because they couldn’t find where
Syd Eru was. So I think I was maybe just a second-string hooker.
Captain
Dean Bell leads the Warriors onto the field at Mt Smart ahead of their first game in club history against the Brisbane Broncos in 1995.Photosport
You played in the Warriors’ first game in club history against Brisbane at Mt Smart in 1995. What stands out about that special night?
That was a great memory. It all started off earlier in the day preparing for that game. Turning up to the stadium, there were games that were on before ours. We were getting ready in the gym, team meetings, but you could still hear all the atmosphere outside, all the loud entertainment. It didn’t really hit us until I got through the tunnel, coming out to the flames and seeing the haka and seeing all the people in the stands. That’s when I really thought, ‘This is really special’.
There was a little bit of nerves, but there was also excitement. I was just looking forward to the battle. Although the Broncos were all superstars I didn’t see them as that. I just saw them as bodies, just normal bodies that I was going to run and tackle.
Hitro Okesene pictured at a Warriors' training session at Mt Smart Stadium in their inaugural season in 1995.Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
You were renowned for your strength. How much weight could you lift in the gym back then?
I think it was about 175 kilos back then, that’s a long time ago, nearly 30 years. I don’t know what they’re doing now. We had some strong lads back then. I’m probably more stronger and agile now.
Andy Platt could lift a bit as well. Some of the lads could lift more than their body weight, which was good for them. There were a lot of lads that could do heavier squats than I could. Some were good at squats, I was good at bench [pressing].
Warriors' front rower
Hitro Okesene lines up Parramatta hooker Tulsen Tollett in a 1995 game in Sydney.Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
What did it mean to you to be a pro rugby league player in the Warriors’ first seasons of existence?
I was at college and used to get the Rugby League Week [magazine] and cut all these league players out and next minute I’m matching up against them. It’s a dream really for anyone to play in the NRL to come up against these guys.
We did a lot of promotion work because the All Blacks were No 1 in the country for popularity, so it was a matter of trying to get the Warriors up there and seeing sellout crowds at our games and wearing our jerseys all over the place it’s something great for the club and all of us.
You wore the Warriors’ legendary ‘DB Bitter’ sponsored jerseys. Have you kept much kit from your career?
It’s great to see all these jersey hunters after old jerseys. I get a lot of messages if I’ve still got my old jerseys and if I want to sell them. I don’t know what they’re worth. At the moment I’ll hold onto my stuff for now and pass it down to my kids. I’ve got a whole suitcase with all my jerseys.
I was back in New Zealand the other week and I actually found one of my first test jerseys when we went to Papua New Guinea in 1994. One of the jerseys was in the cupboard at home. I never knew it was there, so I’ve got it back now.
Hitro Okesene makes a charging run for the New Zealand XIII against Great Britain at Fraser Park in Wellington in 1996.Neil McKenzie/Photosport
You played five tests for the Kiwis. What do you cherish most about representing your country?
My favourite memory was the very first game in Papua New Guinea [which New Zealand won 28-12], but the game that stood out for me was in the World Cup 1995 against Australia, that semifinal. We lost in extra-time and it was something we almost had. Ridgey [
Matthew Ridge] had the drop kick off his left foot which would have won us the game. I thought it actually went over the sticks. I think it just shaved the post. I still thought it went over.
How has your body held up after your league career?
Towards the end my knees were really aching. I’ve ended up having a hip replacement and a knee replacement. I think I need another operation on my ankle. You’ve just got to do what you can do and get on with life.
You left the Warriors for England in 1998. What brought about that move?
Frank Endacott had just taken over from John [Monie as coach]. A lot of the young boys were coming through as well,
Brady Malam. He started using back rowers as props, like
Tony Tuimavave and using other players from different positions to play prop. I was pretty much surplus to requirements. That’s how I ended up going to Hull and coming back over to England.
Hitro Okesene models the Warriors' heritage jersey in a photo shoot in Auckland in November.Alan Lee/Photosport
How closely do you follow the Warriors from England?
I follow them all the time. I look at what time their games are on. I’m up five, six o’clock in the morning trying to put it on and watch them wherever they are. I’m still a big supporter. I’m still keeping the faith. One day there’ll be a premiership I hope.
How often do you get back to New Zealand to visit?
My brothers and sisters are still back there. I caught up with them when I was there [last month]. It was 10 years since I was last there. That’s too long to wait. We’ll be back again in two years’ time.
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