John Senio had good reason to be bouncing off the walls yesterday.
He had, after all, finally realised a long-held ambition to become a fully paid rugby professional after being called into the Blues Super 14 squad on Saturday.
But the quietly spoken rugby halfback wasn't exactly in party mode after being
upgraded from train-on squad member to one of the Blues' permanent players. Well, if he was, he certainly wasn't showing it.
``Yeah, it's pretty good. It is a blessing,'' was about as effusive as Senio got when asked about his promotion.
Senio was added to the Blues squad after Auckland halfback David Gibson was ruled out with injury for the entire Super 14 campaign. The 25-year-old injured his neck in last year's Rebel Sport Super 12 and will soon undergo a second operation.
Enter Senio.
The Samoan international is about to enter his third season with the Northland team and has been one of the few Northland players to pique the interest of Super 14 coaches.
But injuries had dogged Senio's selection hopes, shoulder and hamstring strains limiting his ability to impress in the Air New Zealand NPC and forcing him out of the Samoans' northern hemisphere tour late last year.
``I was supposed to get an operation on my shoulder but the specialists decided not to and told me to get in the gym and get it right with exercise,'' Senio said.
``Since then I have been working really hard on getting it right.''
Senio has already made two brief appearances for the Blues in the last two years, but both times struggled to enjoy the occasions coming into the games at short notice ill- prepared.
Not this time though. Since getting the nod as one of a handful of part time Blues squad members, Senio has been working hard to stay in the frame and taking in coach David Nucifora's tactical plans for the side.
``I have been training with the Blues squad for about a month and a half now. It has all been pretty intense and a huge step up from the provincial stuff. (Nucifora) is big on defence and really clearcut with the trainings,'' Senio said.
``We have been learning set plays for a long time now and making sure we are getting it right.''
Northland hooker Tim Dow is the only other Northlander in the Blues squad.
