Rugby league: Tango to make Unicorns debut

James Tango (left) will be hoping to be as big a force in league as he is in rugby tomorrow. Photo/File

For more than a decade James Tango has been raising eyebrows with his no-fear approach when playing for the Clive premier rugby side.

Newcomers in particular to the Hawke's Bay club scene struggle to comprehend how the openside flanker who weighs less than 85kg can smash and crash his body around and seldom get hurt. His ability to produce phenomenal defensive workrates in union is legendary and tomorrow he will have the opportunity to replicate these feats at a higher level when he makes his debut for an under-prepared Hawke's Bay Unicorns rugby league team in their Mid Central inter-provincial competition opener against the Wellington Orcas at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park in Hastings.

"That's why I got the phone call ... my defensive work," backrower Tango, 29, said last night.

He last played league when Clive had a team in the Hawke's Bay Spring Comp reserve grade four years ago. Prior to that he turned out for an MAC team which won the reserve grade.

"Because of work and family commitments I haven't played for the Clive rugby boys since the Nash Cup round. I don't want to stop playing rugby," Tango said.

A father of four who works as an apprentice for High Torque Builders, he has had little time for training because seven-day working weeks have been the priority recently.

"Hopefully the body can hold out until halftime," he said with a laugh.

Providing he has the necessary time to devote to his league training Tango could prove as valuable to the Unicorns in future as a bloke of similar size and with similar ticker, Bradley Higgs, was in the mid-1990s.

"I know I might have left it a bit late. But hopefully this stint might open some doors for me," Tango said.

"This weekend's team looks pretty good on paper. But we haven't had a lot of time together so we will just have to react to the challenge in front of us," he added.

Along with Karamu High School product Tango, the other "big name" in the Unicorns team is former Central Vipers hooker Colin Hokianga, who will start at scrumhalf if he fronts. Last night he was still pondering his schedule for tomorrow.

He may just focus on the Tamatea premier rugby team's eighth round Tui Maddison Trophy encounter against MAC at Flaxmere Park. Tamatea must win this match to keep their slim hopes of avoiding the promotion-relegation game alive.

"I could play the first half for the Unicorns and then go and join the Tamatea boys. I probably won't decide until the day as I've also some of my daughter's basketball games to watch too," Hokianga said.

Unicorns coach Aki Renata said his team hasn't had the best of build-ups because several players in his extended training squad still have union commitments.

"Basically the aim is to be as competitive as possible this weekend and gauge our work-ons as we prepare for Manawatu and Taranaki. By the time those matches come all of our squad will be playing in our eight-team Spring Comp and will be better prepared."

The Unicorns play Manawatu in Palmerston North on August 20 and Taranaki in Hawera on September 3.

Teams for the 2pm clash:
■Hawke's Bay Unicorns: Lima Eteru, Hemi Waerea, David Neho, Ihaka Waerea, Kaipo Aneterea, Harris Solomon, Colin Hokianga, Boy Waaka, Kenny Makomio, Des Manuo, Hayden Rapana, Sio Seumanutafa, James Tango.
Interchanges: Richard Gillies, Raun Makirere, Tahi Neera.
■Wellington Orcas: David Saumolia, Andre Sukroo, Rikki Simmonds, Tony Sukroo, Jordan Makatea, Levi Manhire, Takua Faauga, Mose Skipworth, Junior Filo, Johnny Skinnon, Logan Saumolia, Jeremy Mckee, Satch Pryor.
Interchanges: Leo Fuimaono, Lui Afamasaga, Joshua Kohika-Skipper, Brendan Kingi, Kurt Karini-Heta, Jon-marc Stowers.