Rugby: Pivot Timu eyes shield first

Hastings West Ross Shield team player Monte Timu prepares his boots for next week's tournament. Photo/Warren Buckland

Mention the Taupo Trophy to Hastings West Ross Shield rugby player Monte Timu and his eyes light up.

"It would mean a lot to win that. To be the first set of brothers named on there would be huge," Timu said.

The 13-year-old Peterhead School Year 8 student was referring to the fact his older brother, 2010 world champion Baby Black Star Timu, won the trophy for player of the tournament in 2003 in Waipukurau, the venue for next week's 117th edition of the Heinz-Wattie-sponsored tournament which will be played from Tuesday until Saturday. Timu is one of two members of last year's winning team in the West side. Lindisfarne College hooker Jonty Roil is the other.

The youngest of five brothers, four of whom have played Ross Shield for Hastings West, Lucky followed Star in 2004 and Texas played in 2007, Timu, will play first five-eighth next week after playing flanker last year.

"A couple of us backs moved into the forwards last year because we had a game plan which required versatility. But I've played most of my rugby at first five-eighth and some at second five-eighth," explained Timu who has played at the Hastings Rugby and Sports club since he was five.

A nephew of former All Black winger Roger Randle, who played in the Hastings side which won the 1986 Ross Shield tournament, Timu, pointed out he picks up plenty of tips from going to Star's rep team training sessions. Star will play first five-eighth for the Hawke's Bay Saracens against Wellington Development at Napier's Park Island today.

When asked if he believed West had the ammunition to go back to back next week Timu replied:

"I've got faith in my teammates."

Timu, who is just as handy on the basketball court and softball diamond as he is on the rugby field, reckoned there are several players in his team likely to stand out. They include halfback Tom Baines, second five-eighth Preston Whatarau, winger Montell Godinet and flanker Salvidor Karangaroa-Mackenzie.

"I can't wait for the billeting aspect of the tournament as that is going to be a new experience," Timu said.

He will attend Lindisfarne College next year and hopes to be a professional rugby player or doctor in the future. His oldest brother predicted a bright future for Timu.

"I've watched him every week. He is pretty skilful and a few years ahead of his age," Star said.

"Monte is a good goal kicker and during the last few weeks we have been working on his kick and chase game," he added.

Hastings West lock Izaiah Craig is a cousin of last year's West kingpin and Taupo Trophy winner James Craig. Fellow lock Daniel Toala is a younger brother of Magpies squad member Danny Toala.

West openside flanker Tori Randell is a son of former All Black captain Taine Randell who is one of head coach Luke Rurawhe's assistant coaches. West utility back Brodie Lewis is a son of former Magpies first five-eighth and multiple Maddison Trophy winner with Taradale, Ryan Lewis.

Rurawhe said it's too hard to predict whether West is capable of back-to-back titles. However he is happy with the way the team has built each week during pre-season matches.

"I haven't gone and watched the other teams in their pre-season games because so much experimenting goes on with combinations before the tournament. The team which does best at tournament is the one which can cope consistently throughout the week so it's important we focus on one day at a time."

In addition to the Taupo Trophy, which has been awarded since 1988 and the Ross Shield, there will be several other pieces of silverware up for grabs next week. The Life Members Salver is awarded to the best finishing country team, Central who won it last year, Wairoa or Dannevirke.

The Jarrod Cunningham Trust Trophy is awarded to a player identified as having potential and he or she will earn a stint at the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand.

Wednesday is Cup Day at the tournament and hosts Central will take on Wairoa for the Tino Amato Trophy, Napier will play Dannevirke for the Steve Cottrell Cup and Hastings West will play Hastings East for the Bill Mathewson Trophy.

The draw is:
Tuesday: 1pm, Napier v Hastings West; 2pm, Wairoa v Hastings East; 3pm, Central v Dannevirke.
Wednesday: 1pm, Central v Wairoa; 2pm, Napier v Dannevirke; 3pm, Hastings East v Hastings West.
Thursday: 1pm, Hastings West v Dannevirke; 2pm, Central v Hastings East; 3pm, Napier v Wairoa.
Friday: 1pm, Central v Napier; 2pm, Dannevirke v Hastings East; 3pm, Wairoa v Hastings West.
Saturday: 11am, Napier v Hastings East; 12noon, Dannevirke v Wairoa; 1pm, Central v Hastings West.
Teams:
Central: Riley Campbell, Charlie Stephenson, Koston Macdonald, James Robinson, Bryce Wind, Jahmaige Reti, Cameron Brans (captain), Barnaby Butler, Harry Wilson, K.P. Reti, Max Wilson, George McKenzie, Aries Crawford, Caleb Watene, Rhys Kawana, Libby Morrison, George Bagley, Rueben Taylor, Alex Hurring, Tom Burne, Bailey Kittow, Marcus Leach.
Dannevirke: Cavan Murphy, Manaia Hauiti (vice captain), Toby Walker, Rico Phillips, George Prouting, Jack Stratford, Hayden Weber, Angus Prouting (captain), Dreiz Huata, Kempa Kopua, Trent King, Drew Tayles, R'A Tawhiao, Callum Gibbons, Josh Augustine, Zachary Filer, Samuel Fleming, Dylan Taylor, Maia Beale, Thomas Barrow, Chance Sherrard-Chase, Ryder Crosswell.
Hastings East: Reef Luxford, Max Beard, Sam Rasmussen, Schalk Fourie, Ollie Barham (captain), Yuri Dempsey, Sovereign Staples-Tiopira, Zavier Dunn (vice captain), Myles Harding, Joel Russell (vice captain), Toby Powdrell, Kyan Lowe, Taufaeteau Kaufononga, Calvin O'Rourke, Noah Edmonds, Marcus Hildesheim, Lachlan Varcoe, Henry Massingham, Tawhirirangi Kiripatea, Noah Ioasa, Daniel Aitken, Francis Kirkland.
Hastings West: Membrenz Tahu, Jonty Roil, Giovanni Renata, Daniel Toala, Izaiah Craig, Salvidor Karangaroa-Mackenzie, Tori Randell, Payton Godinet, Tom Baines, Monte Timu, Penehuro Ta'a, Preston Whatarau, Prayhz Te Amo, Montell Godinet, Crichton Crawford, Joseph Iosefo, Sterling Mouat, Tu Teira Brightwell, Dante Taylor, James Harper, Jonty Lowe, Brodie Lewis.
Napier: Juan Ross (vice-captain), Zack Swanwick, Richard Magele, Ford Rarere, Dontae Puna, Iosefa Sa, Tyler Vette (captain), Jordan Dvorsky, Hunter Kinney, Adrian Dixon, Tama Pohatu, Ryan Tantrum, Te Aotaki Edmonds, Cleo Roderick, Tiare Reti, Kiane Fatu Tuifao, Cohen Batterham, Eneri McGrath, Gabriel Bryan, Harry Campbell, Ricco Tran, Brodie Potts.
Wairoa: T.J. Tupai, Krucial King-Huata, Reign Waiwai, Shane Ashby, James Vennell, Rakatoa Wallace, B.J. Sewart, Kael Thompson-Maxwell, Kazhmia Shelford, Sefton Solomon, J'Dan Taumata-Tarawhiti, Toko Turipa, Rome Kawana, Azzaria Smith, Hamuera Waiwai-Tipuna, Toby Colqhoun, Xzavier Edwards, Ford Aranui, Ranginamu Lambert, Zade Thompson-Maxwell.