Rugby: Backs make fine loosies trend

Clive loosie Jesse Tuhua has a break while working as a lamb slaughterman at Progressive Meats Limited last night. Photo/Paul Taylor

Three weeks into Hawke's Bay's premier club rugby competition there's an obvious trend developing.

One which sees former backs, who in their first season as a forward at this level, capture weekly awards in the battle for the Tui-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award. Last week it was Central blindside flanker Cody Lancaster, this week it's Clive No 6 Jesse Tuhua.

A former Kahukura premier club player in Rotorua, Tuhua, who hails from the remote Urewera township of Ruatahuna is in his third season with Clive. The previous two he played second five-eighth or centre.

"I'm enjoying it. But in saying that there were a couple of occasions last weekend when we got a bit stressed out and could have lost the game.

There was too much panic and stuff," Tuhua explained as he reflected on his player-of-the-match performance in a 29-22 win against Tamatea at Bill Mathewson Park.

"We were better when we opted for a bit of patience."

He pointed out his transfer to the forwards has been relatively smooth thanks to the advice he is receiving from his coaches Andy Green, Herman Ah Kiong and Vaine Maui and club stalwart Sam Ebbitt who alternated between the midfield and loose forwards throughout his career.

Tuhua has set a simple goal for himself this season.

"To get better in my new positions ... I don't mind 6 or No 8." A former forestry worker who now works in the lamb slaughter department at Progressive Meats Limited in Hastings, Tuhua, predicted top four finishes in the Nash Cup and Maddison Trophy competitions for Clive. He said the physical work involved with his job assists his rugby training but he still makes a point of going to the gym after work.

Progressive Meats sponsor the Havelock North club and there are players from several other clubs scattered throughout his department. It generates plenty of friendly banter in the workplace.

"Most of the blokes in my department play for the MAC thirds.

"We have a bit of a laugh ... we don't get too serious."

Tuhua will miss Clive's next two games against Havelock North and Napier Old Boys Marist as he will be taking a cruise around the Pacific Islands. It begins in Australia this weekend.

"Hopefully the ship has a good fitness centre on board," Tuhua said.

That's an indication how keen he is to maintain the standards set last weekend in Clive's first win of the season.