Time is running out to secure your seats or tables for the Quentin Pongia Tribute Luncheon at Ellerslie Event Centre on Friday week (June 7).
The event is being held to honour the Kiwi great and former Vodafone Warrior (#52) who was farewelled in Greymouth last Saturday after losing his battle with cancer on May 18.
The man known as Q has left behind his wife Sue and their two-year-old daughter Maia.
Luncheon organiser Sir Peter Leitch says proceeds from the lunch will go towards a fund for Maia.
An impressive group of Pongia's former Kiwi team-mates will be among the guests including Marc Ellis, Stacey Jones, Johnny Lomax, Sean Hoppe, Matthew Ridge, Stephen Kearney, Jarrod McCracken, Tony Iro, Nathan Cayless and Q's great mate Ruben Wiki. Another former team-mate Jerry Seuseu is the MC.
Players have put forward prized jerseys as auction items while Sir Peter is also putting up a number of items himself. Check out the Sir Peter Leitch Facebook page for more information about items up for auction.
Tributes have poured in for Quentin Pongia since his passing. Here are some of them:
Former NRL player and Fiji international James Pickering posted this on his Facebook page:
As the tributes and accolades flow in for you my brother I’ve been sitting around with a broken heart 💔 since receiving the news earlier today of your passing. Memories have come back like yesterday from our first meetings when a young tear away with old school toughness and silky skills turned out for the mighty Canterbury province and shook the old inter provincial Cup. You were 100% intense and all intent on causing as much damage as possible on the opposition. I love and respected the way you run it straight and used your arms, elbows and head to put the H into Hurt. We hit it off straight away and become friends until we faced each other again😂 My only regret in football was not joining you, Big J Lo, Trigger and Rubes at the Raiders back in the day when offered the opportunity because a few weeks earlier I had given my word to go to England. Many words have been used to describe you but for me the most apt word would be fierce. Fierce love and loyalty for your family and friends, Fierce determination, Fierce passion for your country and heritage, Fierce in your beliefs, Fierce in your teachings and mentoring but most of all Fierce in your never ending love 💗 for your beautiful little girl. Your blood flows in her and you will always be with her my bro. No more pain for you bro, you fought as only you could, hard out to the end. Our deepest condolences to the whole Pongia whanau, your son, brother, husband, father,grandson will forever be a legend in our house. I will always cherish the times we have shared over the past 27/28 years especially the quiet ones away from the bump and grind.The never ending game of league up above just got real when everyone seen you come through the tunnel with that menacing mad dog look in your eyes. Love you my brother x Vakacegu vahewa Tagane #swingarmsclub #M.E.A.Nteam
Doors open at 12.00pm on June 7 with the luncheon starting at 1.00pm. The event is being held on the eve of the Vodafone Warriors' Michael Moore Trophy match against Melbourne at Mount Smart Stadium on June 8 (5.00pm kick-off).
