Rugby: Ropiha puts best foot forward

Billy Ropiha stacks boxes of export beef while on the job in the freezers at Silver Fern Farms Pacific Plant at Whakatu. Photo/Warren Buckland

Billy Ropiha is backing up his Taradale premier club rugby coach Blair Cross' prediction big time.

Cross predicted a couple of weeks back his Carters Frame and Truss Taradale midfield back Ropiha would be hard to beat in the Tui-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award. With two weeks remaining in the tussle for the award Ropiha has taken a three point lead.

"Of all the players who have been in the club competition since the start of the season, Billy has been one of the most consistent," Cross said.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he makes the Magpies ITM Cup squad and while that means we won't have his services for the rest of the season it means we have done our job as much as he has.

"Billy has also made massive improvement since the start of the season. He brings what he has learnt at Magpies wider training group sessions into our camp and everyone benefits," Cross added.

Ropiha, 23, took the outright lead in the battle for the award with a hattrick in a player-of-the-match display as Taradale ended the faint hopes defending champions Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical had of qualifying for the semifinals with a 62-15 drubbing at Whitmore Park on Saturday.

In addition to his hattrick, Ropiha impressed with his distribution to his outside backs, option taking, communication and defensive work.

"I've had a few good weeks and you're right, I'm probably in the best form of my career," Ropiha said.

"Our forwards have been providing good go-forward ball all season which allows our halfback Chris Eaton plenty of time to provide quality ball. I just feed off that," Ropiha said.

A former Hawke's Bay age group representative, Ropiha is in his first season with the Mighty Maroons after transferring from the Clive club. This is his second season back in the Bay after spending two English winters playing for Crowborough in the South London competition.

"I've done a lot of mahi [work] this season with the wider training group including gym sessions every morning. I've concentrated on getting the small things like nutrition right," Ropiha said.

"Obviously making the Magpies is the big goal. I have to keep doing what I've been doing particularly in the trial [tonight in Waipukurau] and then it's up to the coaches."

Defence has been his biggest work-on from the Magpies coaching staff and he's ticked that box regularly. He said the return of former Magpies captain and midfield back Jason Shoemark to the Taradale club and Magpies camp has also assisted.

Ropiha is an on call worker in the freezers department at Silver Ferns Farms Pacific Plant at Whakatu. He relishes the physical work.

"All the same people who were there before I went to Britain are still there. It's like I never left. There are a few blokes from other clubs like Havelock North's Murdoch Paewai and we give each other plenty of stick when we play against each others' clubs. "

Should Ropiha maintain recent form in tonight's trial as well as upcoming Magpies pre-season games, those workmates will be among the first to congratulate him should he make the ITM Cup squad for the first time.

Likewise coach Cross.