Pereleni - rugby’s

Terminator

By Atama Raganivatu

It is doubtful if Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, while en route to the moon and their “giant leap for mankind”, would have recognised the specks on the earth they had left behind which were the Samoan Islands during Apollo Eleven’s historic flight in July, 1969.

However, the people of Samoa were just as engrossed as the rest of the world in what became the first lunar landing.

The Perelini family from Lefaga were particularly awe-struck; to the extent that they named their newest addition, who was bom on the day of the launch, Apollo.

Twenty-seven years later, Apollo Perellini can also claim to be a high-flyer having made substantial impacts in both rugby league and rugby union.

It was Manu Samoa’s astonishing cam paign at the 1991 Rugby Union World Cup which propelled this particular Apollo to stardom. He had previously shown great promise, having represented

New Zealand at both secondary schools and Under 21 (Colts) levels, but the incomparable Michael Jones barred his way to both Auckland representative and All Black honours.

Perelini had very limited experience at first-class level when asked to join the Western Samoan squad preparing for the World Cup. He jumped at the chance.

Despite having left Lefaga for Auckland when an infant, he cherished his heritage.

Manu Samoa’s opening World Cup match, against Wales, also marked Perelini’s international debut. His fear some tackling demoralised the Welsh that afternoon; paving the way for a sensation al 16-13 win. One journalist covering the game dubbed him “The Terminator” and the nickname has stuck. Perelini was equally prominent when facing Argentina, Australia and Scotland as Manu Samoa entered South Pacific folklore.

Perelini’s exploits in Britain earned him selection for the rest of the World XV which toured New Zealand the following year. The resultant Test appearance against the All Blacks further enhanced his international credibility.

Recruitment by the North Harbour provincial team in 1992 enabled Perelini to appear regularly in New Zealand’s pre mier domestic competition for the first time. But Manu Samoa remained his focal point until Va’aiga Tuigamala, the All Blacks’ star winger and a greatly valued friend, joined the English rugby league club Wigan a year later.

Perelini and “Inga the Winger” had been almost inseparable since they began attending the same junior school at five years of age. The friendship continued during their time at Kelston Boys’ High School in west Auckland and into their adult lives as team-mates for the Ponsonby Rugby Union Club. Perelini was the best man at Tuigamala’s wedding.

After having proved himself an enor mous success with Wigan and making a large sum of money in the process, Tuigamala implored Perelini to join him in Britain. The cash rewards available in

From union to league Perelini may be on the threshold of another career twist

rugby league began to appeal more and more to the Manu Samoa loose forward.

His earnings from rugby union had always been meagre and he was beginning to question how much further he could go in the sport. When St Helens offered him a lucrative contract, he hesitated only a little while before signing it.

Perelini had intended to announce his switch to rugby league immediately after Western Samoa’s Super 10 competition encounter with Auckland, only for St Helens to confirm English Press specula tion about their acquisition a day earlier.

Thus, under rugby union’s laws at the time, he was required to watch from the

sidelines as Manu Samoa’s stocks rose to

unprecedented heights through inflicting

the mighty Auks’ first defeat by an over seas team for 13 years.

So revered was The Terminator within the side that they dedicated the win to him. It was a tearful Perelini who bade farewell to the team-mates he played alongside in 16 Tests and helped write international rugby’s greatest Cinderella story.

Perelini must have often regretted his decision during the next few months as he struggled to come to grips with the disci

plines demanded by rugby league, many

of which were alien to him. Unlike their

rugby union counterparts, rugby league

forwards are expected to maintain a defen sive line and not follow the ball every where it goes. They are also required to make many more tackles during a game and ‘hunt down’ the ball carrier in gangs of two or three, rather than as individuals.

Being dismissed from the field for a head high tackle during one of his first games for St Helens also hindered the

adjustment procedure.

When Perelini scheduled his wedding at Auckland to Selina Messer for a date in the middle of the English rugby league season, the Saints had no reservations about allowing him , time away. But Tuigamala was much more indispensable to Wigan - they declined to let him act as best man.

Australian coach Shaun Mcßae must get credit for transforming Perelini from a struggling player to one of the most influ ential figures in British rugby league.

Immediately after taking over the club last year, Mcßae switched the Samoan from a second rower to a prop and then concentrated upon enhancing his defen sive capabilities and enterprise with ball in hand. The vastly improved Perelini was a cornerstone of St Helens’ success in the 1995-96 season, during which they cap tured both the Premiership and Challenge cups.

The highlight of a truly memorable campaign was the Challenge Cup final at London’s famous Wembley Stadium before 70,000 spectators when a late Perelini try clinched success over the Bradford Bulls.

Despite standing at the summit of British rugby league now, Perelini may well be about to embark upon another career twist.

With rugby union at last fully profes sional and permitted to recruit players from the 13-a-side code, there is a defi nite possibility he will, at least temporari ly, return to his first sporting love.

As Pacific Islands Monthly went to press, Manu Samoa coach Bryan Williams was endeavouring to secure Perelini for his team’s forthcoming tour of Britain.

The sight of Perelini again displaying

his bone- shattering tackling ability, force

ful running and deft handling in the cause of their team would make every Western Samoan rugby union fan over the moon.B

Apollo Perelini, named after the Apollo Eleven has been a high-flyer in his own domain. Pictures: Sig Kasatkin