Last year he was player-coach of a United side who won the Pacific Premiership by a point — through Josh Harris’s injury-time winner away at Eskview — and were season-long holders of the Challenge Cup for the league.
Tomorrow they start the defence of both honours when they play Napier’s Port Hill at Harry Barker Reserve at 2.30pm. The Challenge Cup is at stake in every home game of the holders.
And now, when United are under the pump, Adams can’t make one of his 40-metre diagonal runs, ball at feet, creating something from nothing. He can only watch, yell encouragement, and hope to pull a few strings from the sideline.
His knee required two operations, both done at Gisborne’s Chelsea Hospital.
The first, in October last year, repaired the meniscus (cartilage), which had a bucket-handle tear and had “flipped” like the handle on a bucket. The second, in January, reconstructed the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) that was damaged in the same incident.
Adams, a 25-year-old builder who doesn’t turn 26 until October, has time on his side as a player.
He goes through his paces at the gym twice a week with physiotherapist (and Gisborne Thistle goalkeeper) Mark Baple. At team training he resists the urge to kick a football, because next season he wants to be back on the field.
This year, Harris is earmarked for the creative central midfield role that Adams filled last year. And the appointment of Harris as vice-captain is a measure of his growing influence in the side.
Kieran Venema will again captain United from his holding midfield position, and will help Adams with the coaching.
“We’re looking good for numbers,” Adams said.
“We’ve had 18 and 19 at training . . . the biggest squad we’ve had in the past three seasons.”
Last year’s goalkeeper, Jack Faulkner, is at university this year and playing his football in Wellington. Replacing him was a major challenge.
But Adams thinks he’s found the right man for the job. Some of his players told him about former Gisborne Boys’ High School keeper Seth Piper, who has started an apprenticeship.
“He’s fitted in and looked really sharp,” Adams said.
“I’m hoping his apprenticeship keeps him in town for a few years at least.”
Another teenager who has impressed in training is Campbell Hall, son of Gisborne women’s football development officer Lizzie Hall.
“Campbell has pace to burn and grew up playing both rugby and football,” Adams said.
“He’ll play somewhere on the right.”
Italian central midfielder Nicola Sannevigo — small, skilful and a good distributor — would be in the squad tomorrow, while former Gisborne Boys’ High School left-sided player James Bristow was back in Gisborne and impressing in training.
Adams was particularly pleased to see Steven Husband back in the first-team squad.
“He had the same injury as the one I’ve got,” Adams said.
“He played in the club’s third-division team last year and has been training well. He’s versatile; we can play him at centreback or right wingback.”
Adams wants to concede fewer goals than last year, so is looking to bolster his defence, possibly by moving Dane Thompson back to play alongside Mal Scammell, with Kieran Higham sweeping.
He wants pace on the flanks, so Malcolm Marfell and Hall look good bets for the wingback positions, while Corey’s younger brother Josh Adams and Jarom Brouwer will prove a handful up front. One of the most interesting aspects of any United game is watching how defenders try to shackle Josh Adams, and Brouwer has proved an able foil.
Defenders Matt Adams and Jake Robertson and striker PJ Goodlett could also be in the mix in the weeks ahead.
