If Liana Mikaele-Tu'u was to make rugby her No 1 sport she would have future Black Fern written all over her.
Mikaele-Tu'u was outstanding and scored three tries for Hastings Girls' High School as they beat Karamu High School 39-20 in yesterday's Hawke's Bay Secondary Schoolgirls final in Hastings. Afterwards the year 12 student who is a sister of 2017 New Zealand under-20s world champion loosie Marino Mikaele-Tu'u revealed netball was still her number one sport.
"I don't even know if I will be available for the Hawke's Bay Secondary Schools rugby side. It will depend on how my schoolwork is going."
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"Those three tries of mine were a team effort," the modest Mikaele-Tu'u said.
She still had to run the right lines to score them. She also had the necessary pace to beat the cover defence and 16-year-old Mikaele-Tu'u knew which hand to carry with in each situation.
It was as if she had received plenty of advice from her brother during her two years playing the oval ball code.
"Marino doesn't give me tips but he is always there with plenty of support," Mikaele Tu'u said.
In two weeks she will travel to Palmerston North with the Hawke's Bay under-17 netball team for their national tournament.
Her team was dominant in the first half yesterday and led 29-5 at halftime. Their breakdown play was superb with powerful props Ashley Palu and Emmaleigh Oli full of authority.
Palu also proved how devastating she can be in the loose with a 60-metre runaway try.
"If you win the breakdowns and collisions you win games ... simple as that," delighted HGHS coach Thomas Te Pou said afterwards.
"After going so close last year there was still a bitter taste in our mouths so we had a point to prove today. It was a shame Gisborne Girls weren't here this year," he said referring to his team's 19-15 loss to Gisborne Girls' High School in last year's final.
The son of former Maori All Black coach Matt Te Pou pointed out only three of his squad were year 13 players.
"We place a big emphasis on under-15 grade players so we have a succession plan."
His daughter, fullback Te Aira Te Pou, displayed plenty of gas on the way to her two tries. The Lolofie twins, Juliet and Julianne, sisters of 2017 national title-winning Hastings Boys' High School hooker Miracle Lolofie, impressed with their defensive efforts.
Karamu High School produced some admirable defensive work in the second half. Versatile backs Cortez Te Pou, a distance relation of Te Aira and Thomas, and Reagan Robinson, deserved their two tries.
Centre Harmony Kautai, a 2015 Ross Shield player, proved she still has enormous potential in the code with some elusive runs in a game well controlled by former Hawke's Bay Tuis player Moana Davis.
"There was so much talent out there. I wish I could still be playing with them," Davis said afterwards.
Providing all of the best players including Mikaele-Tu'u on display yesterday are available Hawke's Bay Secondary Schools coach and new Black Ferns squad member Krysten Cottrell should have a competitive team this year. There's no doubt the Hawke's Bay Tuis will be well served by many of these teens in the future too.
In the playoff for third Napier Girls' High School beat Wairoa College 34-12.
Scorers:
Hastings Girls' High School 39 (Liana Mikaele-Tu'u 3, Te Aira Te Pou 2, Ashley Palu, Rahera Heke tries; Phoencia Te Rito 2 cons), Karamu High School 20 (Cortez Te Pou 2, Reagan Robinson 2 tries). HT: 29-5.