Profile: The under-Don who controls the day-to-day workings of the BOP Mafia is Donsteppa. He tries to away from the publicity (lately unsuccessfully), preferring to live in the shadowy underworld where he can work his contacts and pull all the strings. He is currently operational deep in enemy territory trying to arrange a Steamers takeover of the Chiefs...

Random Thoughts
23rd September 2005. From the keyboard of Donsteppa
There’s been a horrible feeling of dread about the last couple of weeks of rugby. After the highs of 2003 and the screaming vertigo of 2004 we seem to have slipped back into some old habits. 9^th place with only three games to go doesn’t look too good but with a couple of games that slipped away vs. Auckland and Wellington we only have ourselves to blame. So, to these random, rambling thoughts: More

An Ode to the Lions
May 30th 2005 – He's no Neil Finn, unfortunately he is Donsteppa!
At the risk of sounding like a kid at Christmas, the Lions game is only five sleeps away now and much talk is focusing on the noise that the Barmy Army and their comrades will be making at our rugby grounds on this tour. Read More...

In defence of the Mafia
April 13th 2005 – from the keyboard of Official Mafia Apologist Donsteppa
With the Chiefs languishing in 9^th place after 7 rounds (not to mention 12^th after 6) the knives have come out from some blaming the increase in BoP players in the squad for the fall-off in results. Some have even dared to cast aspersions on the Mafia campaign in late 2003 for more BoP players in the Chiefs. But are they right? More

Chiefswatch Rounds 1, 2 & 3. Chiefs 7 Waratahs 25.
February 28th 2005
Perhaps the best strategy for the Chiefs is to pretend Friday night didn't happen. More

An amazing rugby week - random ramblings
August 19th 2004.
Sounds like I'm not the only one still busy pinching myself to make sure that I'm not dreaming. The dream of Bay of Plenty holding the Ranfurly Shield is now a reality. Not without some last minute hitches in typical BoP fashion, thanks to some minor second division Union desperate for a day in the sun, but nothing can derail this most remarkable week. The Mafia journey began in foul weather on Sunday morning... more

The eligibility drama: You decide...
August 16th 2004.
Marvelous effort that from the team, and a great way to cap 100 games for the Bay for Paul Tupai (almost lucky the event was delayed from happening sometime in the preseason due to injury!). However, the media aware amongst you may have noticed that Bay of Plenty and Ranfurly Shield rugby are never drama free. more

The Mafia gets its first Vehicle
4th August 2004.
Speculation over the final fate of the infamous 1986 Nissan Sunny that has graced the Donsteppa whanau with over 190,000kms of service since December 1987 as a one year old car, from Diggleman (now Bay) Nissan in Tauranga with a pre-import era price tag of $17,000 can be put to rest  The next step in the grand journey of "the Sunny" can now be revealed... more

The bad, the bad, and the win!
1st May 2004
Well the evening started out positively. Free tickets to the game for Donsteppa and Mig in the top level of the new stand and entry to a corporate lounge to get a “pre-game analysis” from John Mitchell. more

Chiefs Report - Round 1 roundup
23rd February 2004
Chiefs 19 (Lauaki try, Jackson 4 penalties, 1 conversion) vs. Hurricanes 7 (Penalty try, Flutey 1 conversion) Halftime 7-6 to the Hurricanes. An amazing run for the Chiefs in the last couple of weeks as not only have they won their opening Super 12 game against a more fancied opponent, but the only points against them consisted of a sole converted penalty try... more

Chiefswatch
27th October 2003. By JP & Donsteppa
Starting from the evidence of the 2002 NPC and 2003 Super 12, which proved conclusively that when Dirty Scumbag Waikato rugby is strong the Chiefs are a hapless pack of inept rabble, we argue the case for more Bay of Plenty Steamers players in the Chiefs... more

Giddy times for the Mafia
24th September 2003.
A busy and bewildering two weeks in the life of the BoP Mafia. To find ourselves giving a standing ovation at half time at the Rotorua International Stadium after the Mighty Western Bay Finance Bay of Plenty Steamers (MWBFBOPS) were leading 42-10 was outstanding. Unfortunately the Mafia were missing a certain JP who found himself whisked into a corporate box with free booze, and more free booze... more

Happy, Mad, Delighted, Annoyed, Relieved
2nd September 2003.
A highly charged couple of weeks for the BoP Mafia and the Mighty Western Bay Finance Bay of Plenty Steamers (we do have to find a way to shorten that…) First there was the thrill, the glory, and the inevitable result of a BoP Ranfurly Shield challenge, and then there was the trip to the hated citadel of the blue and yellow colour stealers... more

Bay of Plenty thrash hapless and inept Waikato 46-31
11th August 2003.
(No Mr Foster, you cannot use this as pre-match motivation for the Mooloo lads)... more

Hope for the season ahead
11th July 2003 From the half-full glass of Donsteppa
Once again with an NPC season about to start we begin the customary Bay of Plenty tradition of hope, optimism and blind faith that this year, like 1976 and 2000 will be different and the certainty that it all won’t go pear shaped when it matters... more