HRS fullback Star Timu runs for the line during a match against NOB Marist. Photo / Warren Buckland
It's fair to describe Star Timu as one of the forgotten players from the World Cup-winning 2010 New Zealand Under-20 rugby team.
While the likes of Julian Savea, Charlie Ngatai, Luke Whitelock and Tawera Kerr-Barlow have gone on to become All Blacks and former Magpies winger Telusa Veainu has turned out for Samoa, Timu, 26, hasn't been sighted on the first class scene since his 11th outing for the Magpies in 2012.
"It's time to make up for lost time. I've had a few seasons out, I'm pretty keen to get back into the Magpies and this week is another step," Timu said as he pondered the Hawke's Bay Saracens match against the Manawatu Evergreens in Palmerston North tonight.
There's no doubt Timu, who was unsuccessful with attempts to crack the Northland and Bay of Plenty teams before family commitments lured him home in 2014, is ticking every box in his quest. Magpies assistant coach Danny Lee pointed out the Hastings Rugby and Sports club player is in the best shape of his career and his versatility makes him a top candidate.
"I'm definitely the fittest I've been after eight months with the Magpies wider training group. I can play almost anywhere in the backline - first five-eighth and centre but it's the fullback position I'm chasing and I see me and Chiefs player Sam McNicol battling for the No15 jersey with Israel Dagg going so well for the All Blacks," Timu said.
The Flaxmere College teacher's aide has kicked 98 points for his club this season and succeeded with six of his seven attempts at goal in slippery conditions during Saturday's 30-20 win against Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports. He hopes goalkicking will be another string to his bow during the countdown to Magpies selection.
"I've got to thank Osh [Magpies goalkicking coach Peter O'Shaughnessy] for the pointers he has given me. There's a few of us who have been having session with him every Monday before wider training group trainings," Timu said.
He has heard the weather could be nasty in Palmy tonight and he stressed it's important the Saracens play as a team to get the desired result rather than as individuals attempting to get the tick of approval from Lee.
NOBM's substitute hooker Logan Ede shook off a niggle at training on Monday night and will travel west today. Taradale's Joe Simeon drops out of the 25-strong squad.
The Evergreens team will include two former Magpies in starting No8 Mark Atkins and lock Tom Parsons. Former Hawke's Bay age group hooker Travis Taylor will also start and another former Bay age group rep, former New Zealand under-20 prop Tim Cadwallader, will get time off the pine.
Parsons' brother Ben, a clubmate of Timu's, will start at lock for the Saracens. Their dad, former Magpie Rod Parsons, will no doubt keep the lineout steal statistics for the pair.
With 14 of his wider training group unavailable for the encounter Lee is expecting a tough encounter.
Manawatu coach Jeremy Cotter has named eight contracted Turbos in the starting line up and a further two on the bench compared to just two contracted players in the entire team used in last week's 34-15 win against Wanganui.
Harrison Brewer, a son of former All Black loosie Mike Brewer, will get his first crack at blindside flanker for the Evergreens. He is a former Ireland under-20s midfielder who linked up with the Te Kawau club after leaving Irish club Leinster and opting for a shift to the forwards.
Squads:
Manawatu Evergreens: Ambrose Curtis, Newton Tudreu, Curtis Reid, Hamish Northcott, Luther Hirini, Ben Wyness, Toby Morland, Mark Atkins, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis (captain), Harrison Brewer, Tom Parsons, Liam Hallam-Eames, Fraser Armstrong, Travis Taylor, Tuki Raimona.
Substitutes, forwards: Sean Rankin, Tim Cadwallader, Sam Tufuga, Liam Mitchell, Kepu Tuifua, Antonio Kiri Kiri, TeeJay Oliver. Backs: Nathan Tudreu, Mapa Tuipulotu, Shai Wiperi.
Hawke's Bay Saracens: Star Timu, Shannan Chase, Neria Fomai, Cole Eru, Dan McIntyre, Dan Snee, Zac Donaldson, Lucas Goodin, George McPherson, Hannon Brighouse, Sanaila Waqa, Ben Parsons, Jarvy Aoake, Jorian Tangaere, Jason Long (captain).
Substitutes, forwards: Logan Ede, Tolu Fahamokioa, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tom Bywater, Ben Taylor, Matt Gardner. Backs: Mason Emerson, Kody Lancaster, Tim Sciascia, Tianua Poto.