Tony Lamborn in action.
In 2012 a then future Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby flanker Tony Lamborn had a series of one-on-one chats with head coach Craig Philpott.
"I remember sitting in Craig's office and looking out on to McLean Park. I told him I wanted to be a professional rugby player and command a regular starting spot out on that field," Lamborn recalled after yesterday's Captain's Run at the same venue.
Hawke's Bay's 2012 club rugby MVP, Lamborn, 23, has ticked that box with aplomb this season after serving his apprenticeship behind Brendon O'Connor and veteran Karl Lowe last year. There's a chance Lamborn could score a Super Rugby contract if he performs to his potential in tonight's ITM Cup Championship final against the Manawatu Turbos at Palmerston North's FMG Stadium.
"No Super coaches have talked to me but I know Craig has been in talks about me. Hopefully things happen that way," Lamborn said.
"My brother Sam keeps asking me when I'm coming back to work at Done Deal Builders because they are so busy. I tell him I'm hoping I won't be back."
The Havelock North club player has been impressed with the Magpies' buildup to the final.
"Nobody is panicking. We just want to go out and enjoy ourselves. When we're playing enjoyable rugby for each other we usually win and win well," Lamborn said.
He pointed out the Magpies' 29-3 loss to the Turbos in Palmy this month had provided a bit of motivational fuel for the visitors.
"They gave us a bit of a whipping last time. We wanted to be the bullies but we got bullied ... this time we have to pull our fingers out."
Lamborn was sinbinned in this match and while he was on the sideline the Magpies conceded 12 points. While he was hard done by, Lamborn agreed this added to his hunger for a successful revenge mission.
Philpott said the Bay's player development manager, Joe Payton, had to take a lot of the credit for the progress Lamborn had made.
"Tony started out at the academy as a rough diamond but he has nailed all of his learning."
The only change to the Magpies' starting XV used in last week's semifinal win against Northland sees Matt Berquist replace the injured Richard Buckman at fullback. With Billy Ropiha still in recovery mode with his fractured jaw, Napier Technical utility Ted Walters has been promoted from the wider training group to replace Berquist on the pine.
"Ted has been in the wider training group for the past couple of years and has ticked every box on and off the field. His selection is proof the opportunity will come if you keep doing the work," Philpott said.
Magpies fans won't mind Walters' promotion if Philpott's troops return home with the Championship trophy and a spot in next year's Premiership. Providing their missed tackle and handling error counts recorded in the semifinal are reduced there's a pretty good chance this will happen.
Turbos head coach Jason O'Halloran has also made one change to the starting XV fielded in their semifinal win against Southland, with Semisi Masirewa getting the nod ahead of Newton Tudreu for the left-wing berth. In-form prop Ma'afu Fia has been bracketed with Chris Eves in case Fia fails his final concussion test today.
Should Eves start, Hawke's Bay age-group product and New Zealand under-20 rep Tim Cadwallader will replace him on the Turbos' subs bench. Chiefs lock Michael Fitzgerald, another of the key architects in the Turbos win against the Magpies this month, is unavailable with a knee injury.