Maori farewell Kath Wharton pre-game ceremony, video, reaction

There was barely a dry eye in the house ahead of the women's All Stars clash in Sydney on Saturday afternoon.

The Māori used their pre-match haka to honour former teammate Kath Wharton, who died last November aged 41.

Her protégé Harata Butler was in tears as she placed a photo of Wharton on the half-way line at the start of the haka.

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Harata Butler places a photo of former teammate Kath Wharton on the half way line ahead of the All Stars clash in Sydney. Nine

Wharton played 14 Tests for the Ferns between 2008 and 2013, and returned to the game to make three appearances for the Warriors in the NRLW in 2019.

Wharton was a mentor to Butler, and wore her name on the back of her No.15 Maori jersey.

"A special occasion to remember her friend and mentor," Nine commentator Brenton Speed said.

Wharton was a mainstay of the Kiwi Ferns side before taking a break to focus on her family following the 2013 world cup. On her return to the Test arena six years later, she scored a stunning 93m runaway try against Samoa.

A year later, she led the Counties-Manukau side to the inaugural NZRL National Women's Premiership in 2020.

The Maoris lost the clash following a final-minute penalty right in front of the sticks, which 20-year-old Lailani Montgomery calmly slotted to seal a 20-18 win.

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