Counties Manukau Mt Rushmore: Pat Walsh

Fan votes determined our top 15 names of greatest Counties Manukau players of all-time. We passed those names to our panel of experts and this is how they rated them.

Number 4: Pat Walsh

Pat Walsh was the first hero of Counties Manukau Rugby and was part of the inaugural team that debuted as South Auckland Counties in 1955 and began the legacy of the Steelers.

He would play 54 times for his province and represented the Manurewa and Waiuku rugby clubs as well as Ardmore Teachers Training College.

A brilliant fullback, Walsh went on to become an All Black, playing in 13 test matches and 27 games in the black jersey from his debut in 1955 through to 1964.

He was also selected to the Maori All Blacks and captained the side on its 1958 tour of Australia and later served as All Black selector in the 1960s and early 70s.

A popular teammate and loyal servant to his community, Walsh passed away at the age of 71 in 2009.