Former Kiwi Fern and Warrior Kathleen Wharton is being remembered not just for her rugby league playing career but also for her exceptional contribution across the game and in the community in general.
Her death at the age of just 41 on Thursday has been followed by an outpouring of messages of love, sympathy and gratitude for “an inspirational wahine”.
Wharton (née Keremete) was in the Kiwi Ferns team that swamped the Jillaroos 34-0 to win the 2008 Rugby League World Cup final, the crowning achievement of her 14-Test career as Kiwi Fern #92.
After a six-year break from rugby league to raise her family, she returned at the age of 35 to play for the Warriors in the 2019 NRLW competition.
The mother of three forged a path of achievement away from the playing field with roles in rugby league coaching and administration as well as working in the field of youth justice, mental health, wellbeing and many related fields in South Auckland and Northland.
On Facebook, Wharton’s husband Andrew posted:
“Aue taukuri e.
“Kua tioriori te karanga o Hinenuitepō kia pūrangiaho ai te hunga ora nei kua hinga tōna uri, he wahine hūmarie, he wahine toa i wehe moata rawa. Ko taku wahine tēnā, taku kuru pounamu, te māmā o ā māua tamariki.
“Words cannot express the grief we feel at the loss of my darling Kath. She touched so many lives and worked tirelessly for our people for our tamariki.”
Fellow former Kiwi Fern and Warrior Krystal Rota, a long-time teammate and close friend, posted:
“This has been the hardest post EVER! Your departure has shocked the whole nation because you are HER!
“Your beautiful aura that warmed any space you entered, your genuine love and care for all those who were blessed to come into contact with you, that beautiful contagious smile that would brighten the whole room …
“Thank you my sis for being such a driving force in my life, we travelled half way around the world together and were planning our next venture only last week.
“You were such an over achiever in all you did, your sporting accolades, your many academic achievements, your expertise in eating lol and your pure heart for us ALL! You were always wearing a million hats at once and succeeding in all of them, showing us that if you “hustle” hard ANYTHING is possible.
“I could write a book about the amazing person we all know you to be but my phone is drowning in my tears.”
Mental health advocate Mike King posted: “Kath Wharton what you have done for so many people in the north cannot be replicated. So thankful for everything you have done for so many. Opening doorways to life for so many kids and showing them that anything is possible. You’re an absolute legend sis and it breaks my heart to hear the news that you have passed.”
Wharton is the third New Zealand rugby league international to pass away recently.
Former Kiwi Dennis Key, who played one Test in 1969, died on November 14 aged 77 while highly-respected ex-Kiwi captain Roy Christian passed away on Tuesday aged 81. Christian appeared in 32 Tests and 74 matches in total for the Kiwis.
Under her maiden name Keremete, second rower Kathleen Wharton started her international career in 2008 and also played in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup final.
Following her hiatus from the game she returned in 2019, making her top-level comeback in the Māori All Stars’ inaugural match against the Indigenous All Stars in Melbourne when the Māori won 8-4.
In June that year she made her comeback for the Kiwi Ferns with her first Test appearances in six years, scoring a try in a 46-8 win over Fetu Samoa. She also enjoyed title success with her club side the Papakura Sisters and provincial team Counties Manukau.
Soon after playing for the Kiwis again she signed for the Warriors for their second campaign in the NRLW.
The memory lingers of witnessing Wharton’s excitement as she gathered with the squad for the first time before becoming NRLW Warrior #28 in their opening victory over the much-vaunted Sydney Roosters. She also played in the club’s other two games against St George Illawarra and Brisbane before representing the Warriors at the 2020 NRL Nines in Perth only for the Covid pandemic to halt any thoughts of continuing her NRLW career.
“We pass on our deepest sympathies to Kath’s husband Andrew and their family at this terribly sad time,” said One New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George.
“Kath was so proud to represent the Warriors in what was a terrific rugby league career. She was so admired and respected in the game.
“More than that she was a wonderful person who achieved so much for her family and also in the wider community.”
After her playing career finished, Wharton moved to Northland with her husband Andrew and their family where she was involved in a wide range of positions in the community. She co-chaired the Sport Northland board, served as an appointed member of the Rugby League Northland board and away from sport she was a manager for Healthy Families Far North.
