Having spent countless hours teaching their children how to play a particular sport, few fathers will deny the ultimate dream is not only to watch them from the sidelines but be with them in the thick of the action.
For Motueka cricketer Justin Hobbs, his sons Liam, 23, and Blake, 19, joining him in the Nelson premier cricket competition has seen that dream come to life.
“Playing with my sons at the top level has been phenomenal. We have a lot of fun and banter at home, and that pushes us to better each other and ourselves.”
Justin debuted for Wanderers Wolves in 2021 following a stellar career for Motueka, with the challenge of premier cricket too tempting to resist.
“I went knowing Liam was going to come up with me, and I’d also heard about the over 40’s national tournament – I knew I needed to test myself at the highest level I could in preparation for that.”
With Liam and Blake both enjoying success at age grade level for Nelson and in second grade cricket for Motueka, it wasn’t long before Hobbs’ two young sporting prodigies were knocking on the door of the Wolves side as well. First came Liam, a medium-fast new ball bowler and handy lower order batsman. Debuting later in the 2021/22 season, Liam quickly became a mainstay of the Wanderers team with his dad, and the pair helped the side to multiple titles in the Nelson Cricket Association and Top of the South competitions.
A tall seamer capable of generating good pace and bounce, Blake continued to dominate lower grades across the region, and it was only a matter of time before the Wolves welcomed the precocious teenager into their fold. He debuted in 2023, and soon after, against local rivals Athletic College Old Boys, all three members of the Hobbs’ family took the field.
A father-son duo in sport is nothing new; countless combinations have emerged over the years. But a local father playing premier level sport with two sons in the same team is as rare as it comes.
Liam is now an experienced member of the side, and between premier cricket for the Wolves and lower grade cricket for Motueka, he has now played 100 games with his dad. It is a feat Justin would love to achieve with Blake before calling it a day.
“I think we’re at about 38 games together. I feel like I’m playing the best cricket of my life at the moment, so it’s hopefully only three or four seasons away.”
The boys love playing alongside the person who developed their love for the game.
“It’s pretty awesome being able to go on the park with the old man and little brother every weekend. Starting out in second grade with dad and then making the step up to prems has been great, and now getting to see how well Blake is going is wicked.”
When pressed as to whether Justin ever pulls the ‘dad card’ on the field, Liam was a little more coy.
“Out on the field, there’s always a little bit of banter between the three of us, depending on how well each of us has gone.”
The Hobbs’ family connection doesn’t end on the outdoor pitches – they also play together in the local indoor cricket leagues during winter and represent the ‘Tasman Outlaws’ around the country at various national events.
