Liam Messam in a Chiefs v Brumbies match in 2012. Photo \/ Alan Gibson<\/p>\n
\u201cI actually don\u2019t remember the game, but I … do remember, they had a big … centipede, this big insect in our dugout where the game was going [on], so all of us were just trying not to get bitten.\u201d<\/p>\n
Between his debut and first retirement in 2018, there were many outstanding moments \u2013 good and bad.<\/p>\n
Among the not-so-good ones that have burned themselves on Messam\u2019s memory is the 2009 final, where the Chiefs got \u201cabsolutely smashed\u201d 61\u201317 by the Bulls in South Africa<\/a>.<\/p>\n Another is a post-game encounter with a fan.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had lost eight or nine [games] in a row. And I remember walking off the home field and a fan, who wasn\u2019t happy at all, … was just giving it to me, … saying I\u2019m an embarrassment and all this.<\/p>\n \u201c[It] made me … try and pull things together.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t want another fan to sort of feel like that … or [another] one of our boys to be [talked to] like that ever again.\u201d<\/p>\n Messam became captain in the 2011 season, stepping in for Mils Muliana, who sustained a back injury. The following two seasons, Messam shared the duty with Craig Clarke<\/a>.<\/p>\n The duo led the Chiefs to back-to-back championship wins.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first win [in 2012]<\/a> was more of a relief, I guess. We weren\u2019t tipped to win.<\/p>\n \u201cI just remember the final whistle and I turned around and one of my best mates, Tanerau Latimer, he was right there and we just looked at each other.<\/p>\n \u201cI played a lot of rugby with [him], through Bay of Plenty Under-16s all the way to NZ Sevens, and to have that [Super Rugby championship winning] moment<\/a> with him was pretty cool.\u201d<\/p>\n Messam said all Chiefs teams from 2012 to 2026 were very similar.<\/p>\n \u201cI think what 2012 and 13 have taught other teams is that if everyone does their part … then [winning] can be possible.<\/p>\n \u201cI have been in Chiefs teams that have been way more talented than the 2012\/13 team.<\/p>\n \u201cI know it sounds ridiculous if you go through the players<\/a> [that were in the squad], but those players were just young back then, they weren\u2019t anybody.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that team just got really tight and worked really hard for each other.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked why the Chiefs hadn\u2019t won again, Messam said playing rugby at that level was more difficult than it might seem.<\/p>\n \u201cIt comes down to a few moments in the game. I don\u2019t think people understand how hard it is to get into a final [and] … to play in a final.<\/p>\n \u201cThese boys have done a fantastic job in the last four, five years to even get there.<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully, there\u2019s been enough experience now that the boys can go the next step.\u201d<\/p>\n Messam first officially retired in 2018, though he returned in 2021, aged 37, as injury cover<\/a>, after season-ending injuries to three loose forwards.<\/p>\n After that season, he retired again, with 183 caps, making him the highest-capped Chiefs player in history.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t ever [dream] or think that I would play as many [games] as I did.\u201d<\/p>\n Messam said that across the games and throughout the years, not much had changed.<\/p>\n \u201cRugby is a very simple game.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the [1800s] to 2026, the core fundamentals of rugby have never changed and never will.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes people make it more complicated than it is. It\u2019s not rocket science.\u201d<\/p>\n Though he did admit there is more sports science involved and more support for the players these days, which he believes means players will be able to play for longer<\/a>.<\/p>\n Messam said the 30th-anniversary season of Super Rugby competition had been fantastic and of great quality.<\/p>\n \u201cHopefully it goes for another 30, or 60, 90 years.\u201d<\/p>\nLiam Messam is a Chiefs athlete development coach these days. Photo \/ Michael Bradley<\/p>\n
Chiefs co-captains Liam Messam and Craig Clarke hold up the winning trophy after the Super Rugby final between Chiefs and Sharks won by Chiefs 37-6 at Waikato Stadium in 2012. Photo \/ Stephen Barker, Photosport.co.nz<\/p>\n
Liam Messam sometimes still trains with the Chiefs. Photo \/ Malisha Kumar <\/p>\n
Liam Messam at a boxing fight in 2023. Photo \/ Andrew Cornaga, Photosport.nz<\/p>\n