Experienced campaigner Feleti Mateo and new recruit Nathan Green have formed a special bond already as 'roomies'.
Wayne Cousins spoke to the pair to get an insight into sharing a hotel room in Auckland ahead of this weekend’s Nines tournament.
Q: Nathan, what is it like rooming with a player that you have always looked up to in life?
Nathan: That’s a stitch up from Feleti (laughs). It is a tremendous honour. It is also good to beat someone in Playstation who is as good as he is!
Q: Feleti: What is it like rooming with Greeny?
Feleti: It is good to be able to take one of the young blokes under the wing, especially coming from another club. I’ve had to show him the ropes like how to clean up the mess around the room, how to make my bed, how to puff the pillows the way I like it. So far, so good for Greeny.
Q: How good is he on Playstation, Greeny?
Nathan: 2K are his strongest games. In terms of FIFA (soccer) and Madden (gridiron), I am the champ.
Q: Sounds like he has got you covered Feleti?
Feleti: If you come back to us at the end of this trip, I am sure you will find the true champ. At the moment, he leads 1-0. We have had our trial game as we call it. Greeny is learning well and I am trying to guide him down the right path. He has some areas to improve on.
Q: Greeny, what is his worst habit?
Nathan: He is not humble.
Feleti: I probably like my clothes to be folded a bit earlier in the morning. When I get up, I like them to be folded so I can throw on my training clothes straight away, head to breakfast, and then get into the day.
Q: Can you improve, Greeny, to make his life easier?
Nathan: I might have to get up half an hour earlier. This morning was 8.30am, so I will make it 8am from now on. I will make sure his shower towel is ready, and the toilet is nice and clean for him.
Feleti: See, he is learning and improving every trip. We don’t have that many big away games, so I might have to get him over to my place to stay a night, so he can get some practice. I might even get him to mow the lawns too.
Q: Feleti, have you found any red hair from this great beard just lying around?
Feleti: I don’t mind the beard too much. I don’t get that close to him (laughs).
Q: Would you like to stay as room-mates for the season?
Nathan: I want to keep rooming with him as I like a challenge. We have the PlaystatIon and he is always keeping me on my toes. If it means me coming to his house to make me a better roomie, then I might have to bring my little son with me. He will probably beat both of us on Playstation.
Q: So how would you describe your relationship so far?
Feleti: I wouldn’t say we are a couple, it is more myself and then there is Greeny. Every super hero needs a sidekick. One day he will be his own super hero and he will have his sidekick. For now, he is the Red Devil!
Nathan: I can’t beat that. That’s it (walks off, laughing)
