Rugby: Baby, MVP ... Magpies?

Neria Fomai hams it up with McDonald's Restaurant operator Marcus Pohio (left) and Hawke's Bay Today general manager Russell Broughton after receiving his prize pack yesterday. Photo / Duncan Brown

Two down, one to go ... now there's an anxious wait ahead for Hastings Rugby and Sports midfield back Neria Fomai.

Within six days of Fomai and wife Lyrae welcoming their first child, Elin-Raine Hiki-Fomai, into the world, Fomai was crowned the overall winner of the McDonalds-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year Award yesterday. He received his prize pack on the 10th anniversary of his brother and former Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports team-mate, Tivaini Fomai, being named the inaugural winner of the award.

"Elin-Raine arrived a couple of weeks early. Now it's up to me to crack the Hawke's Bay Magpies Mitre 10 Cup squad. A lot will depend on what I do with my game time off the bench for the Hawke's Bay Saracens against the Manawatu Evergreens on Saturday," Fomai said.

"I've made small improvements. The coaches have told me to back myself and bring my level of play up on both attack and defence as it is a big step up to Mitre 10 Cup level."

A fifth-season premier player, Fomai, 24, is in his first season back after missing almost two seasons with a broken arm. He agreed the MVP award was the ideal form of consolation for his club team missing out on a Tui Maddison Trophy semifinal berth this weekend.

"We left our run a bit late. A couple of crucial results during the last few games cost us," Fomai said.

He was right. Close losses to Clive and Taradale during the first two rounds made it tough but losing 27-10 to Havelock North in their away round-eight fixture was the nail in the coffin.

"We had a good chance because we had a good team with a good mix of youth and experience. We didn't quite gel as well as we could have at times but, with such a young team, the signs are good for next year."

Fomai pipped Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports No8 Aaron McPhee by one point for the overall MVP award after his Hastings coaching staff handed him his fourth player-of-the-match award for the season in Saturday's 52-17 ninth-round win against Tamatea at Bill Mathewson Park.

The youngest of four brothers (Tivaini, Fiko and Ausage are the others) who have played for the club team in recent seasons, Fomai won't be too upset if he misses out on the Magpies. He says he is still young enough to continue trying for another couple of seasons at least.

"I can always play for the Hawke's Bay Saracens while I wait for an opportunity."

A caregiver for Hohepa Home School, Fomai is thrilled to have flexible work hours which allow him to train for rugby. Fomai also attributed his hot club form to the work former Magpies fitness trainer Grant Dearns did with him last summer to get him up to speed for the Hawke's Bay Sevens campaign.