Rugby: The older twin steps up

Big Focus: Havelock North second five-eighth Kalin Paewai on the job as an apprentice builder for Dundeal Building Limited. Photo/Warren Buckland

It's fair to say Havelock North second five-eighth Kalin Paewai thrust his way out of the shadows of his younger twin brother Jesse in Hawke's Bay premier club rugby at the weekend.

Winger Jesse has been a consistent performer during the first six round of the Tui Nash Cup and holds second place on the leaderboard as the tussle to become the 2017 holder of the McDonald's-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award continues.

Kalin, 22, and 15 minutes older than Jesse, became the sixth weekly winner with a player-of-the-match display in his team's 13-6 win against Northfuels Central at Anderson Park.

"Those Central boys always play tough and for the last 20 minutes we didn't get much ball. We played some pretty good defence," Kalin recalled.

In a return from injury, Kalin shone with his cover defensive work.

Long-time supporters of the Progressive Meats Havelock North side said his performance was similar to the ones produced by his father and Magpies centurion Murdoch Paewai for the villagers as a midfielder in the 1990s.

When quizzed on the amount of advice he received from the old man Kalin replied: "Not much at trainings but we get a bit when we are at home for meals at the weekend. His main tip is to always have fun on the field."

Like his father, Kalin's grandfather Hepa Paewai is also a former Maori All Black and Magpie. Hepa regular stresses the need to stick to the basic skills.

"Make your tackles and everything will flow on from there, he always tell us. I get a bit cut up if I miss my tackles," Kalin said.

He pointed out there is no rivalry between he and Jesse.

"We're happy for each other. For the last two weeks he has been playing well. We feed off each other."

While Jesse was the first to make a Hawke's Bay rep team, the under-16s before heading to Australia for a playing stint, Kalin has played for the Hawke's Bay under-18s, 19s and Sevens.

Representative honours aren't a priority for him this season.

"I want to play some good club footy and help Havelock North do well. My big focus is the last year of my building apprenticeship with Dundeal Building Limited under Sam," Kalin said, referring to Havelock North loosie Sam Lamborn.

"Our Havelock backs are starting to play with confidence and are producing some good counter attacking rugby. But we know we're going to have to step up against Clive at Farndon Park on Saturday because they have been playing some good rugby and will be eager to bounce back after a loss. We all know how big a threat Jonah [Lowe] is too."

Kalin agreed the villagers have been slow starters in the Nash Cup in recent seasons but have peaked around semifinal time in the Maddison Trophy round.

"It's important we work on things during the Nash rounds so systems will work in the Maddison rounds."

Kalin said he enjoyed talking rugby with clients and fellow contractors when on building sites.

"Monday smoko times are the best, particularly when there are players from other clubs ... there's always good banter going on."

Best & fairest
Havelock North v Central: 3, Kalin Paewai (Havelock); 2, Tomo Fogarty (Central); 1, Jesse Paewai (Havelock).
Hastings v Clive: 3, Mason Emerson (Hastings); 2, Lucas Goodin (Clive); 1, Warwick Slingsby (Hastings).
NOBM v Tamatea: 3, Ricky Hayes (NOBM); 2, Mitch Drew (NOBM); 1, Sami Lauano (NOBM).
Taradale v MAC: 3, Jacob Baker (Taradale); 2, Damien Menhennet (MAC); 1, Billy Ropiha (Taradale).
Tech v Pirate: 3, Isaiah Martin (Tech); 2, Tere Joel (Tech); 1, Kelsey Miller (Pirate).
Leaderboard: 9 points: Isaiah Martin (Tech); 8: Jesse Paewai (Havelock); 6: Lucas Goodin (Clive), Kaleb Sweet (Tech). 5: Hayden Hann (Pirate).