Rugby: Eru cuts straight to bone

Central midfielder Cole Eru checks out some meat for a mate at a processing plant in Waipukurau. Photo / Duncan Brown

The carrots from the "big city" rugby clubs are already being dangled in front of Central midfielder Cole Eru.

"I've heard the calls for us all to stick together and I know if we do we will have a good chance of making the semifinals next year. I've had a few offers and I would love to stay loyal but I'll see what happens at the end of the year," Eru said.

The Magpies wider training group member produced his second player-of-the-match performance of the season in his team's 18-15 seventh round Tui Maddison Trophy win against MAC at Flaxmere Park. This saw Eru, 26, become the 16th weekly winner in the tussle for the McDonalds-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year Award which will probably spark increased interest from the city clubs.

While this was Northfuels Central's third win of the season, the team is performing and better and recording closer losses this season than last year when they recorded six wins. There's a good chance the country lads will record their fourth win in an away clash against winless Tamatea on Saturday.

"We've got heaps of young guys with heaps of enthusiasm this season," Eru said, reflecting on the team's displays to date.

A second-season member of the team, Eru, played for the Hawke's Bay Saracens last year and played in both of their fixtures last month, coming off the bench in the win against Wairarapa Bush and starting in the loss to the Manawatu Evergreens.

"I'm enjoying it and learning heaps. I just want to keep improving and Danny [Magpies assistant coach Lee] has given me work-ons with commun-ication the big one. I've always been pretty quiet and have just let my actions do the talking," Eru explained.

A former first five-eighth who is relishing his switch to second five, Eru, knows there are vacant midfield berths in the Magpies squad this season and his goal is to secure one within the next two seasons.

"I know I'm not the biggest midfielder but I love playing the bigger ones around like Neria [Fomai] and Billy [Ropiha]."

The father of one did the first two years of his secondary education at Napier Boys' High School before heading to Rathkeale College in Masterton for his final three years in 2006, '07 and '08. He represented Wairarapa Bush in the under-16 and under-18 age groups.

Before linking with the Central club he played for Waipawa and also had a couple of years in Australia where work, rather than rugby, was the priority. These days he works in the boning room at Silver Fern Farms Takapau plant.

The knowledge he has gained in this role sees him called upon regularly to give mates advice about various cuts. He has also copped plenty of flak from former Otane opponents for leaving the Waipawa club.

More flak will flow if he takes up one of those offers from the city clubs.