Rugby: Aussie loves rough and tumble

Clive No 8 Lucas Goodin on the job for McNatty Construction. Photo / Duncan Brown

In case you haven't noticed, Clive No8 Lucas Goodin loves the physicality involved with Hawke's Bay's premier club rugby competition.

"It's a lot more physical than back home in Brisbane's premier comp," Goodin said.

His powerful charges, high defensive workrate and destructive presence at the breakdown for K9 Petfoods Clive in their 17-5 Tui Nash Cup third round win against defending champions Carters Frame and Truss Taradale on Saturday saw him earn player-of-the-match honours and become the third weekly winner in the tussle for the McDonald's-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award.

This was Clive's first win against Taradale since 2008.

Gold Coast-raised and a former Queensland Reds Under-20s and Queensland Country Under-20s representative, Goodin, 21, has played rugby since he was 9.

He played six games for Clive towards the end of last season and is back again with the aim of gaining Magpies selection.

"I had a few injuries back home last season and was on the wrong end of some selectors decisions," he said.

"I was browsing on Facebook when I saw an opportunity to play for Clive and have a crack at ITM Cup selection," Goodin said.

"I played for Bond University back in Aussie last year. We started strong and then we went a bit downhill."

Like Goodin's form the fortunes of his Clive team have only been on the way up this season.

The riversiders have won all three of their games and are second on the points table behind Napier Old Boys Marist.

They will host the fourth placed MAC team at Farndon Park on Saturday.

"I've heard MAC have been going quite well.

"I'm looking forward to experiencing what they've got to offer."

Goodin ranked Taradale captain Andrew "Red" Gardner, Napier Technical and Magpies loosie Trent Boswell-Wakefield and Hastings Rugby and Sports and Magpies lock Sanaila Waqa as the toughest players he has come up against in the Bay competition.

Goodin was studying to become a primary school teacher before he crossed the Tasman.

He could continue with these studies in New Zealand if he remains in the Bay.

In the meantime he is working for McNatty Construction.

It's not uncommon for him to be seen holding stop-go signs at road works sites.

"It's one way to see the province and meet the locals," Goodin said.

He is in a flat with five others, including Clive captain and Magpies hooker Jorian Tangaere, second five-eighth Tianua Poto and lock Ben Taylor. When quizzed on who was the best cook among the players Goodin replied:

"None of us blokes ... that's why we have a couple of girls in the flat."

Best & fairest

Clive v Taradale: 3, Lucas Goodin (Clive); 2, Tiaan Falcon (Clive); 1, Ellery Tareha (Taradale).

NOBM v Pirate: 3, Matt Gardiner (NOBM); 2, Marcus Donovan (Pirate); 1, Pouri Rakete-Stones (Pirate).

Havelock North v Central: 3, Ricky Riccitelli (Havelock); 2, George McPherson (Central); 1, Tim Sciascia (Central).

Napier Technical v Tamatea: 3, Elijah Martin (Tech); 2, Lani Latu (Tech); 1, Henare Harris (Tamatea).

Hastings v MAC: 3, Geoff Cridge (Hastings); 2, Ramiha Smiler (MAC); 1, Vai Kereti (MAC).

Leaderboard: 6 points: Matt Gardiner (NOBM); 5: Tianua Poto (Clive), Lucas Goodin (Clive), Geoff Cridge (Hastings); 4: Ramiha Smiler (MAC).