Rugby's loose forwards are almost as bad as frontrowers when it comes to revealing secrets to their success.
Fortunately Hastings Rugby and Sports captain Tivaini Fomai is an exception.
Fomai was quick to reply when asked what the key was to IMS Payroll Hastings Rugby and Sports' upset 30-25 win against previously unbeaten Havelock North in Hawke's Bay's premier club rugby competition last weekend.
"Family. We know how each other plays and we've got each other's backs," Fomai explained.
With three sets of brothers in his team Fomai wasn't short on evidence. Magpies openside flanker Fomai, 27, played alongside two of his brothers, winger Neria, 20, and midfield back Ausage, 23, in the win against Havelock.
A fourth Fomai, 25-year-old Fiko, who also plays on the wing or in the midfield, played alongside his three brothers in pre-season games and at the Spillane Cup. Depending on circumstances Fiko, a regular Development team starter at the club, could get promoted to play alongside them again during the Maddison Trophy competition which Hastings Rugby and Sports opens with a match against defending champions Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports in the feature game of the club's club day at Elwood Park today which also doubles as a Challenge Trophy encounter.
"It was always the plan to have the four of us playing together in the same team and it's neat to have achieved it," captain Fomai said.
First five-eighth Luke Makris, 19, regularly gets to play outside his brother Matt, 23, who is the team's second string halfback. A 2011 Hawke's Bay under-20s representative Luke has been one of the side's big improvers this season and has been selected in the Magpies wider training squad.
"The Magpies coaches have been awesome and I'm learning plenty off Karl," Luke said referring to Hastings assistant coach and former New Zealand Secondary Schools mentor Karl Jones.
Luke pointed out the victory against Havelock has boosted the Hastings side's confidence in their quest for a Maddison Trophy semifinal.
"If we can build on that we should do well against Pirates ... we know we had them last time but those soft turnovers let us down," Luke said referring to a 32-21 loss to Pirates in the Nash Cup round.
Matt and Luke's 16-year-old brother Johnno plays lock for the Hastings Rugby and Sports Colts and Matt is prepared to keep playing until the trio get to play alongside each other. Their father John is the Hastings premier side's manager this season which adds to the team's family flavour.
Another set of brothers, Fatu and Olive Peia travel from Otane to play for the club and have also played alongside each other for the premiers.
"I can't fault their commitment. Tivaini is right ... family is a big part of our success," Hastings coach Adam Bartlett said.
"Families in the club's age group teams see there is a pathway to the premier team and this will only enhance the premier side in future," Bartlett added.
Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports will be missing six regular starters with injuries including first five-eighth Aayden Clarke, the master of piloting the ball to the corners in tight encounters. He has a knee injury.
"Fortunately Duck has returned from injury and I managed to bump into Karl in the TAB and he agreed to a comeback," Pirate coach Phil Rumpler said referring to Clarke's deputy David Neilson and former Magpies midfield back Karl Broughton who will be making his first appearance of the season after recovering from an achilles injury.
Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical will miss the services of Magpies loosie Trent Boswell-Wakefield with a knee injury when they host Clive at Whitmore Park. Lock Izaiah Martin is out for the rest of the season with a hand injury and prop Tobias Allison has returned to Dannevirke with work commitments. Versatile frontrower Nathan Pulega and winger Brian Tareha are also on the injured list.
Other first round matches will see Nash Cup holders Progressive Meats Havelock North host Central at Anderson Park, Taradale host MAC at Carters Arms Park and Hawke's Bay Insurances Limited Napier Old Boys Marist host Tamatea at Park Island.
The Rugby World Cup will be on display from 10am today at the Hastings Rugby and Sports Club. Today is club day for both the junior and senior sections of the club.