A good team man

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Flanker Callum McDonald on one of his typical hard-charging runs in a Heartland Championship game against Thames Valley. McDonald was named Poverty Bay’s Player of the Year at the union’s annual prize-giving on Saturday. Picture by Paul Rickard

Callum McDonald capped a short club campaign but outstanding first season for the Poverty Bay Heartland Championship team when he was named representative player of the year on Saturday night.

The Rotorua-born, Gold Coast-raised flanker said he was stunned when named winner of the Paul Sceats Memorial Trophy for player of the year.

“I was reasonably happy with the way I went in the Heartland Championship but I thought there were better candidates like Jesse Kapene (loose forward) or Andrew Tauatevalu (utility back),” said McDonald, who played for the New Zealand Heartland XV in a 46-19 win against New Zealand Marist in Taupo.

“Although in terms of results it wasn’t a good season (for the Bay), there were some strong individual performances.

“I know it’s a cliché but it’s still true — you can’t win individual awards without the support of your teammates.

“Rugby nowadays is a 22- or 25-man game, depending on your roster.

“I’ll take the award but it belongs to the team, as far as I’m concerned. We’ve got an awesome bunch of guys here and I’ve loved playing in Gisborne.”

McDonald, 27, is expecting to have talks with a Taranaki club regarding a possible transfer in the the next few weeks. He did not want to name the club at this stage.

“Nothing is set in concrete so there’s no point in getting too far ahead,” he said.

“If I had a chance of a real crack at making the Taranaki side then, yeah, I’d be up for the challenge.

“But if that’s not an option I’d rather stay here, where I’ve had great support from my boss at Fenn Refrigeration, play for OBM and try to make the Bay team and the NZ Heartland XV again.”

After two games for OBM, in which he stamped himself as an openside flanker who was fearless on defence, always in support of the ball carrier and a hard man to stop on attack, McDonald was named in the Poverty Bay side for a Ranfurly Shield challenge against Taranaki in New Plymouth.

Despite being in a side beaten 78-0, McDonald was the Bay’s best player and earned the respect of television commentators and Taranaki players.

“It was an awesome game to be involved in but it showed me I still have a lot to learn if I want to play at that level.”

Asked to name the highlight of the season, McDonald was diplomatic: “Being named Poverty Bay Player of the Year, playing for the Heartland XV and all the games I played in Gisborne.

“You can find highlights every time you run on to the pitch, even in losses.

“I was stoked to be included in the Heartland Championship squad, surprised to be named player of the year and I loved being a part of a great group of players at OBM and in the reps.”

Bay chief executive Josh Willoughby says the union would do everything it could to retain McDonald.

“We’d love him to stay,” Willoughby said. “It was a huge moment for us when he was picked for the Heartland squad, and he’s a great role model.

“He’s a ball of energy, a player who goes out every week, no matter who the opponents are, believing he can win.

“He’s still young enough to make it as a professional player and we’d like to help him fulfil his potential.”