League: Pikiao stalwart still going strong

Rocky Ahuriri (bottom) in action on Saturday. Photo / Ben Fraser

Pikiao stalwart Rocky Ahuriri only knows one direction and one speed on the rugby league paddock. Full pace and straight ahead.

Ahuriri debuted for the Pikiao premier side almost two decades ago and has been a damaging force for the Rotorua club since then.

On Saturday he lined up in the front row for Pikiao, leading the way with a typically big effort against competition leaders Pacific.

Ahuriri was not unlike a wrecking ball during the match and said his focus when running the ball was simply to go hard and straight.

"I just think the faster you run the more the [opposition] are going to feel you.

"If you go slow and you get banged you are going to feel it, so I just run as fast as I can - I wish I could run faster," he said with a laugh.

Ahuriri said he was coming up to 20 years playing for the Pikiao premier side, the same Rotorua club he represented as a junior.

"I started playing prems when I was 18 and I'm 38 at the end of the month but it's all good, I still love it."

Ahuriri and his teammates were part of a very entertaining and brutal match against Pacific on Saturday at Puketawhero Park, a match which Pacific won 8-4.

Despite losing to the undefeated Pacific Sharks (Tokoroa), Ahuriri said he was proud of his team-mates who put in a big effort.

"Everyone just backed each other," he said.

"Everyone stepped up eh, we all knew what to expect of Pacific." The result was one of the closest matches the high-flying Pacific Sharks have had this season in the Bay of Plenty Coastline premier competition, and will give the likes of Pikiao confidence they can match them later in the season.

The Pikiao Warriors won the Bay of Plenty District premier competition last year defeating Pacific in the grand final.

Ahuriri said they were confident they could still do something special again this year, despite juggling a new-look team and losing former head coach Thomas Wharerau to a full-year suspension.

-Bay of Plenty Coastline premier table (after eight rounds): Pacific 16 points, Taupo 10, Otumoetai 8, Pikiao 7, Mangakino 4, Ngongotaha 3.