The bare bones of the club’s committee were scratching their heads, ringing around the night before games, begging players to put on the boots and pulling president’s grade players from the grandstand to suit up for the lean premier side.
That was only 10 years ago, so it makes for a remarkable turnaround for the club to now be defending Citizens Shield champion — winning back-to-back titles — fielding two healthy premier and president’s grade sides, and having more than 100 junior players.
It has been a golden era for Kurow, winning its first Citizens Shield in 39 years in 2021 and painting the Waitaki Valley — and surrounding areas — red in support of their beloved Red Devils.
Wade Newlands remembers the tough times well, and nothing makes him prouder than seeing the club turn its fortunes around.
"Seeing the club not struggle, but just surviving and wondering where it was heading, to looking to something like this year," Newlands said.
"We’ve won the shield twice. There’s heaps of JAB kids, there’s heaps of numbers, heaps of people — that’s pretty outstanding, really.
"It’s so good to see now.
"I always enjoyed rugby and that anyway, but you love coming to rugby now ... there’s going to be a massive crowd here on Saturday."
Newlands rejoiced over those memories with Simon Taylor and Barney McCone earlier this week, as the trio of life members prepared to celebrate the club’s 125th anniversary this weekend.
They were all rapt to see the club "chocka" these days, paying tribute to an outstanding committee, generational farmers taking over and a Twizel connection, thanks to former player Jason Frew sending players from the Mackenzie township Kurow’s way.
"We’ve got everyone from dairy farmers, to sparkies, to plumbers and Twizel’s definitely been a big boon for this club," Newlands said.
"Kurow’s a great community."
That influx of players included a star-studded backline — including former Highlanders Hayden Parker and Matt Faddes — but the core of Ben Nowell, Dean Fenwick and Josh Reid have been grinding away for years to keep Kurow alive.
The life members were thrilled to see the Red Devils hitting their straps, and while the community’s support had always been huge, the success changed the atmosphere around town.
"It’s fantastic. Winners are grinners — everyone loves backing a winner," Taylor said.
Kurow has produced a long line of North Otago Heartland players and even produced two All Blacks in Phil Gard and Kurow’s favourite son, Richie McCaw.
McCone had a deep connection to both stars, growing up with Gard and famously coaching McCaw in his junior years.
Dealing with both men was McCone’s highlight with the club, especially watching his "best mate" Gard reaching his peak, while still playing for Kurow.
"The thing about it then was your All Blacks came back and played for your club," McCone said.
"He was here every Saturday. Jeez, he was huge for the club and not just as a player, as an administrator too."
It is shaping up to be a big weekend for Kurow.
Junior rugby kicks off proceedings on Saturday, followed by the president’s grade teams playing a Kurow Barbarians side as a curtain-raiser to the Citizens Shield clash between Kurow and Maheno.
There will be plenty of laughs behind the microphone too, with Martin Devlin, John McBeth and Matt Gunn commentating the games — and speaking at the evening function — alongside McCaw.
A wry smile spreads across McCone’s face when asked about catching up with the greatest All Black of all time.
"Being associated with Richard was great, really, and it was an end of an era when he gave up," McCone said.
"It’ll be good to see him again."
