Rugby: Iosefo on try-scoring roll

HOT TRIO: Tom Iosefo (left), Johnny Lauano and Ausage Fomai will have key roles for the HB Samoans in today's final. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

Don't be surprised to see Tom Iosefo strutting his stuff for the Hawke's Bay Magpies next year.

"Tom has still got the goods and deserves a crack," Hawke's Bay Samoans coach and former Magpies loosie Tivaini Fomai said yesterday.

The MAC utility back's tryscoring feats certainly push his case. Iosefo, 29, was the top tryscorer in the Hawke's Bay club competition this year with 20 and was top tryscorer for the Hurricanes Development competition-winning Hawke's Bay Saracens with six. He has also scored five tries in three outings to date for the Hawke's Bay Samoans who will take on Whanganui Samoans in their Central Region High Commission Cup final in Palmerston North today.

A Samoa Sevens rep from 2007 to 2009 and a Samoa rugby league rep in 2010, Iosefo, has been in the Bay for the past three years.

"My main focus is to make the Magpies team and I'm waiting for the call. I might have to play for Havelock North," he joked.

"I'm really enjoying playing for the Hawke's Bay Samoans. We all come from different clubs but all get on really well and our superior fitness levels should get us through in the final.
Whanganui have some big boys so if we move the ball we should be right," Iosefo explained.

He has played two games at halfback and one at fullback for the Hawke's Bay team which has beaten Horowhenua-Kapiti Samoans 37-19, Whanganui Samoans 32-21 and Manawatu Samoans 55-17 in their first season in the competition. Captain Pouvi Fatialofa and fellow loosies Joseph Penitito and Danya Tulou have been inspirational in the pack and the first five-eighth-second five-eighth combo of Johnny Lauano and Ausage Fomai have directed the backline well.

Fomai, 27, has come out of the shadows of his brother and Hastings Rugby and Sports clubmate Neria Fomai who was Hawke's Bay club rugby's MVP this season.

"The culture within this team is the main difference from other teams I've played for. We're so tight and we all get along with each other which makes it so easy to enjoy playing for the team," Fomai said.

One of the better comedians in the team, Fomai, pointed out they could have beaten Whanganui by more in their last match had Lauano not missed three attempts and Vai Kereti two attempts at goal.

"We give each other plenty of stick but considering it's the first season Ausage and I have played together we've combined pretty well. He wants me to leave Napier Old Boys Marist and play for Hastings ... I don't know if his club can afford me," Lauano quipped.

Easily the pick of the pivots in the Hawke's Bay club comp this year Lauano, 28, was a surprise omission from the Hawke's Bay Saracens squad.

"Hopefully I might get the chance next year. But I'm not complaining about this season ... the winning Nash Cup team, the winning Maddison Trophy team and if everything goes to plan this weekend the winning Central Region High Commission Cup team."

Lauano, Fomai and Iosefo have been impressed with the coaching they've received from coach Fomai and they are tipping the former Manu Samoa flanker for higher honours on the coaching front in the future. Coach Fomai said he had enjoyed taking the team and allowing the troops to play an expansive game.

"Ninety per cent of our tries have been scored out wide. We like to move the ball and play with a lot of width ... our approach will be no different in the final."

The Hawke's Bay team for today is:
Jason Kereti, Migao Lauano, Vai Kereti, Ausage Fomai (vice captain), Misi Lealaisalanoa, Johnny Lauano, Tom Iosefo, Danya Tulou, Pouvi Fatialofa (captain), Paula Latu, Tauese Fatialofa, Toe Taliu, Paulo Nu'u, Lani Latu, Nathan Pulega. Substitutes, forwards: Desmond Manuo, Vasa Taivale, Dennis Tapusoa, Laveifaamu Mikaele, Joseph Penitito. Backs: Sami Lauano, Mika Mika, Neria Fomai.