PUT your hand up if you've been surprised by Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports turnaround in Hawke's Bay's premier club competition this season.
You're not alone. But I was expecting it for one reason, the team who recorded just one win and eight losses during the Nash Cup segment followed by six wins and two losses to date during the Maddison Trophy segment has a bloke by the name of Pouri Rakete-Stones snr in the head coach role.
For those not in the know this is the same person who has represented New Zealand in three different codes - powerlifting, strongman and woodchopping. Now 52 and retired from all three Rakete-Stones, the father of the world champion Baby Black with the same name, regularly beat the odds on his way to numerous national and Oceania titles in powerlifting during a 14-year stint which ended when he was 30, numerous top-three finishes as a strongman from the age of 28 to 32 and multiple national woodchopping titles from the age of 34 to 42.
It's fair to say Rakete-Stones won't be short on first-hand experiences to pass on as forms of motivational ammuntion during his team talk before tomorrow's ninth-round clash against unbeatean defending champions Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports at Park Island.
"If any team can beat NOBM it's us. While we're aiming for the win we know one competition point, whether it's one for finishing within seven points or one for scoring four tries, will be enough for us to book a semifinal," Rakete-Stones said.