Ton-up Brooke to emulate big brother
Auckland
September 21, 2000

Robin Brooke of Auckland and New Zealand is on the verge of a significant landmark in his rugby career and will emulate his older brother Zinzan by playing 100 games for his club on Friday night.

He will take to the field in the latest round of the NPC provincial tournament in New Zealand tomorrow just two months after it looked like his illustrious career at Aukland was coming to a close.

Now 33 Brooke said he had become convinced that he would not add to the 95 games he had already played when he was seventh choice for Auckland and being tempted to join tomorrow's opponents North Harbour.

"I thought I was finished on 95 games, absolutely dead and buried," he told the New Zealand Herald. "I was a fair way down the list. I think I was No 7 but I knew what the coaches were trying to do. I also knew they would look at me again if they got a few injuries. I thought about going to Harbour, but was still holding out the chance of a few more games for Auckland."

Once he was given the chance to prove himself as team-mates dropped out through injury Brooke, who has played 62 times for the Kiwis, established himself as a first choice lock and has missed only one game since, against Wellington with a sternum injury.

"I do chuckle to myself a fair bit about it all," Brooke confessed.
"It has been weird, but I am really enjoying the rugby, my body is in good shape because of my new personal trainer, I am training in supermarket management as well and that is good for my perspective on life."

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