Turn me loose

FIRST OF MANY: That’s the plan for flanker James Grogan, pictured scoring his first try for Poverty Bay in their loss to Wairarapa Bush in a pre-Heartland Championship game here on Saturday. Grogan is hoping to make the starting 15 for the Bay for their 2015 Heartland opener against Ngati Porou East Coast at Ruatoria this weekend. The Bay made the Meads Cup semifinals last year while the Coast lost all eight of their matches. Pictures by Paul Rickard

JAMES Grogan cannot wait for the Poverty Bay’s Heartland Championship opener against Ngati Porou East Coast in Ruatoria on Saturday.

“That is if I’m picked,” said the LeaderBrand Poverty Bay loose forward, who laughed when The Herald suggested he was man of the match against Wairarapa Bush here at the weekend.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” the 19-year-old replied. “There were some parts of my game that were good but I wasn’t happy with my defence. I missed a few tackles.

“I’d love to play my first Heartland game at Whakarua Park (Ruatoria). I’ve played there a couple of times — for Gisborne Boys’ High colts and Poverty Bay under-16s —and even then the atmosphere was awesome.

“The Coast supporters get behind their team up there and with it being the first game of the season, it would be great to make my starting debut.”

Grogan, an openside flanker for premier club side OBM, wore the No.8 jersey against Wairarapa Bush and scored his first try for his province in a 53-17 loss.

“I don’t care where I play as long as I’m playing,” he said. “I didn’t have to do a lot for the try. Tamanui (Hill, who will be vying for the No.8 jersey this week) did all the work. I just took the ball from him and scored.

“It’s a great environment to be in but I’m not getting carried away. We have some players to come into the side but if I’m picked, it would be cool. I’m really enjoying being part of the squad. The senior players have helped me settle in, especially Muzza, (Murray Hewson) my captain at OBM.”

Grogan, now an apprentice plumber, suffered a horrendous facial injury two years ago while playing for Boys’ High first 15 against Napier Boys’ High.

A cheekbone was broken and an eye socket busted from an accidental collision but Grogan was back on the paddock six weeks later.

“I’m a quick healer,” said Grogan, who was part of history in February when he played for the Hurricanes’ under-20s clash against their Blues counterparts in Taupo.

It was the first time the Hurricanes had picked an u20 side in the franchise’s 20-year history and Grogan was the only player from a Heartland union.

“That was an awesome experience.

The 95-kilogram, 1.8-metre Grogan had offers to join the Taranaki and Hurricanes rugby academies after leaving school last year but opted to get a trade behind him.

“It would be great to play rugby professionally but there are a lot of players who don’t make it.”

While Grogan was taking his first steps on the representative scene at the weekend, High School Old Boys skipper James Warren was back in red for the first time in seven years.

“I’d resigned myself to a long summer break but it’s great to be back,” said Warren, who led HSOB to the Poverty Bay premier club title.

“We were a wee bit disjointed at times but, for most of us, it was the first time that we’ve played together,” said Warren, who was replaced late in the second half after twisting his left knee.

“I did it early in the game but it doesn’t seem to be too serious. We started well and did some good things but didn’t capitalise and then they scored a couple of tries after we turned the ball over. Apart from the loss it’s good to be back.”