Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (right) looks on during his Super Rugby debut for the Highlanders in March. Photo / Photosport
When Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby loosie Marino Mikaele-Tu'u was called to Dunedin as injury cover for the Highlanders earlier this year he was counting on a couple of appearances at the most.
"I was pretty stoked with what I ended up with," Mikaele-Tu'u said last night referring to one starting XV appearance and five as a substitute.
The 2017 world champion New Zealand under-20s player who has made 11 first-class appearances for the Magpies and was one of the Bay's most consistent forwards during last year's disappointing Mitre 10 Cup campaign made his Super Rugby debut during the week-four 33-15 win against the Stormers in Dunedin off the pine and his starting XV match was the week-15 18-15 victory against the Reds in Brisbane.
"Hopefully that experience will prove beneficial when I play for the Magpies," Mikaele-Tu'u said.
Although he played all but two of his nine games for the Magpies at No 8 last year when Hurricane Gareth Evans was injured he knows Evans will be the first choice No 8 this season.
"I'm not focusing on a position at this stage. I'll just focus on what I think I should be doing and I'll be happy wherever the coaches put me," Mikaele-Tu'u said.
While Magpies coaches Mark Ozich and Josh Syms will have the footage of Mikaele-Tu'u's Super outings to analyse they will be able to watch him in Hawke's Bay's premier club rugby competition for the next three weeks at least. He has been released from the Highlanders and will have his first outing for the unbeaten Tui Maddison Trophy competition leaders Auto Super Shoppe Hastings Rugby and Sports when they take on fourth-placed K9 Petfoods Clive at Farndon Park today.
"Playing for Hastings will be a good opportunity for me. It's my third season with the club and it's always good to play for them. I'll be a little bit rusty with the calls," Mikaele-Tu'u said.
"It was pretty unreal down in Dunedin when I was checking the results for Hastings each week. Clive have been doing just as good as Hastings so I'm expecting a big physical game this week. It should be a fun game against my good mate," he added referring to Hurricane Jonah Lowe.
Hastings manager James Rosenberg is thrilled to have Mikaele-Tu'u available as both of their regular No 8s, co-captain Ben Hamelink and Danya Tulou, are on the injured list. Magpies wider training group utility back Danny Toala is also unavailable with his ankle injury collected on Wednesday night and fellow wider training group member prop Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe is doubtful because of his concussion issues.
This match is one of three eighth-round encounters which will attract more attention than normal. Fifth-placed Progressive Meats Havelock North will have to beat the second-placed and in-form Taradale Rugby and Sports at Tareha Recreation Reserve to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
While the villagers have under-achieved in recent weeks the opportunity to retain the Cooper-O'Dwyer Cup could be the inspiration they need. New Zealand under-20s loosie Devan Flanders is scheduled to play his first game for Havelock North since returning from the World Championship in France and he is capable of giving the visitors a huge boost.
Jarks Tamatea host Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park. The loser of this match will end up in the promotion-relegation clash.
Tamatea are likely to have the services of former All Black hooker Hika Elliot. However the captain, Magpies prop Mason Kean, and experienced loosie Everard Reid were on the doubtful starters list earlier this week.
Texans manager Cyril Whitburn said his troops will be close to full strength and know the importance of the occasion. Captain and hooker Tere Joel is unavailable with his concussion issues and utility back Niue Vaimoli is injured.
"We should have the team to do it. If we don't beat Tamatea we will have to beat Napier Old Boys Marist the following week and we all know how hard that is."
Other tussles today will see Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports host WIT Napier Old Boys Marist at Tamatea Park and Northfuels Central host the enigmatic MAC at Waipukurau's Central Park.
■ Both of Hawke's Bay's Super 8 1st XVs will have home fixtures today. Joint defending champions Hastings Boys' High School, who have recorded three wins and a loss to date, host New Plymouth Boys' High School, who have one win from four outings.
Napier Boys' High School, who boast the same record as Hastings, take on Rotorua Boys' High School, who have two wins and two losses on the points table.