There's not a lot that's subtle about the way Rotorua's Pikiao Warriors play their rugby league.
Physical intimidation comes in many forms but on the league field it's particularly effective as the Eels found out on Saturday as their unbeaten run in the Bay of Plenty district rugby league competition ended 24-21 at the hands of Rotorua's, and now the region's, best team.
It was the best game of what's been a fairly ho-hum season so far, with the Eels racking up nearly a half-century of points per game in their cruise through the competition and Pikiao arriving at Mitchell Park averaging just a few points less and also unbeaten.
But like a schoolyard bully hellbent on proving a point, Pikiao backed up their considerable size advantage with slick finishing from their outsides. In a game with more twists and turns than a theme park ride on the Gold Coast, Eels turned two points up, coughed up the lead midway though the second half, grabbed it back again and then conceded a try in the final minute to lose Bay of Plenty bragging rights.
Pikiao are intimidating, no question, although quite how their strong-arm tactics will cut it when they progress through to the WaiCoa Bays premiership against the likes of Ngaruawahia, Taniwharau and Hamilton City Tigers will be interesting. They will carry with them the mantle of the best team in Bay of Plenty, and if they can keep their heads - something not always in evidence against the Eels from their players or supporters - then they could be a force. Eels fullback Lance Rolleston, who capped another steady game at the back with trysaving (but not gamesaving) second half tackles on Pikiao's Joe Nuku and Te Kaiaotea Tahuriorangi, expects the Warriors to be a renewed force when the inter-regional premiership kicks off next month.
"This is the sort of game we needed at this stage of the season and no doubt we'll be seeing more of that from the good sides from over the hill. We knew Pikiao would come at us hard and they showed they should go all right against the best Waikato's got to offer."
Working off the back of big boppers Joe Nuku, Jason Kamatea, Ivor Thomas and Te Kahu Huata, halves Pirikawana Taiatini and Tahuriorangi combined superbly, although the star of the show was pacy fullback Connor Hohepa, who picked his time to shine in front of Waicoa Bay Stallions coach Morgan Kutia.
Otumoetai led 14-12 at the break, jumping to a 4-0 led through wing Owen Rhind, going behind 6-4 when Pikiao pounced on a spilled pass and Thomas crossed but regaining the lead when former Canberra Raider Josh Weeden hot-footed the Warriors' defence, converting his own try for a 10-6 advantage.
Pikiao hit back through Reece Hohepa to lead 12-10 but Otumoetai made the most of their numerical advantage after Pikiao loose forward Daniel Biddle-Hunuhunu was sinbinned for felling Phillip Johnston with an ugly punch. Wing Ryan Gordon got on the end of a Weeden crossfield bomb, leaping in the air to collect the kick before spinning his way out of two tackles to get the ball down.
But it was a different Eels that came out after the break. They were feeling the heat and put together a mistake-riddled 40, not helped by referee Huia Williams' inconsistent rulings that added to the on-field frustration.
Pikiao grabbed back the lead through Taiatini, Eels replied through captain fantastic Mikaere October, with Weeden's conversion putting them in front, 20-18. But Pikiao weren't done, locking it up through the boot of Taiatini before a Weeden drop goal that hit both uprights and the crossbar bumped his side into the lead, 21-20.
Pikiao stormed home, trapping the home side on their line before Connor Hohepa burst up the right, flicking a miracle ball as he was being bundled over the sideline to Jacob Unawai for a deserved matchwinner after they dominated the second half. Rolleston said they were the authors of their own demise with their inaccuracy and missed tackles.
"Probably it was fitness that told in the end. Turn the ball over that much against bigger players and you end up making too many tackles.
"We got too loose and it was the little things that killed us, like leaving the [Pikiao] kick-off to go out. We just put ourselves ourselves under too much pressure."