Whakatāne Marist’s unbeaten season was one to remember – and one that has now been recognised with nominations and awards at the Bay of Plenty Rugby awards.

The Eastern Bay of Plenty premier club champions were finalists for team of the year and captain Lemeki Cagialau was a finalist for player of the year.

Their coach, Alamoti Te Pou, was named coach of the year at the awards ceremony last week and Steve Mapu received a service to sport award.

Alamoti’s accolade is well-deserved. After several years playing, he captained the side, contributed from a strategic point of view, moved into a joint coaching role alongside his father, Matt Te Pou, before taking the reins about five seasons ago.

His award is for the entire team and not just for their unbeaten season, but also the connectivity, the brotherhood and the real family feel he has created in the team, which has led to outstanding results on the field.

“I was a bit surprised. An individual accolade when rugby is a team sport and on the back of an undefeated club season in a strong Eastern Bay season is pretty humbling,” he said.

He cannot praise Mapu enough for all he has given to the club.

Playing in the front row or now occasionally lock, he’s still one of the hardest hitters in the competition.

“Steve Mapu has played 600-plus premier games for our club. He was in the team when we were Baywide champions in 1992 and again in 2004 and now in 2024 he is still running around and playing,” Te Pou said. “He is a legend here at our club. He sets high standards and if a guy like him can play as many games as he has and keep those standards, it’s very easy for young ones to see a role model like that and follow.

He’s a rugby man through and through, and through.”

Te Pou has been involved with the club since he was young.

“Back in 1992 when Steve and the team won, I was a ball boy for the team. So, it’s been my club since childhood. I have been brought up through the club, played my rugby there, coached here and now two of my boys are playing at the club.”

“It really is a great family-orientated club, and things are thriving throughout.”

He said the competition this year was strong.

“We have a great Eastern Bay competition. We may have had an undefeated season, and people may look at it and think that was easy, but it wasn’t.

“We had to play 100 minutes of rugby to win our semifinal against Te Teko. The final against Ōpōtiki was a tough game. During the year we had about three games we won by a try or less; to me that shows a strong competition.”

He also coaches a junior Marist team and takes his kids to multiple sports, however.

While Marist missed out on club of the year, Te Pou said to be mentioned among the top clubs throughout the Bay of Plenty as a finalist, was something they should be proud of.

“It was amazing to be a finalist and great to see the club mentioned like we were.”

He is also grateful to team captain Cagialau.

“He had an amazing season. He walked away with our most valuable player as well as carrying our captaincy. Being the great leader he is, he’s had a great season, and it was fantastic for him to be considered one of the best players in our Bay competitions as well.”

Whakatāne Marist president Matt Te Pou said Mapu was a fitting recipient for his award.

“Steve Mapu is a fantastic club man. Not only has he played a large number of games for us. He’s a fantastic club man.

“He’s offered up his place for multiple end of year functions, he’s always supplied the club with a cattle beast and he’s always been willing to help out.

“He’s a great person and deserves his award.”