He's used to performing on the field but it was performing on the stage that ultimately led Mikahare Tepania to return to his Pikiao roots.
The 21-year-old centre was living in Sydney playing club rugby after his contract with the Cronulla Sharks ended. Then his aunt asked if he wanted to perform for Te Puu Ao at Te Matatini, the national kapa haka championships.
"Pikiao heard I was back so they gave me a call," he said.
"I said I would stay for a year. I enjoy being back home. I have family and friends who support me, I'm tempted to try my luck again [in the NRL] but I've got to get back into training and give it the hard work."
He's settled straight back into the Pikiao club where he started playing league aged 5. Pikiao take on Pacific today in the semifinal for the Bay of Plenty Championship and Tepania will be on the field trying to score his trademark running tries.
He scored three in each of the last two games and knows there'll be some pressure to score more. They've trained well this week and their sets have been coming together.
This is almost as good as their final, coach Moehewa Armstrong admitted earlier this week. They may have beaten Pacific already this season but when it comes to finals anything can happen.
Armstrong is glad to have Tepania in the squad. He's a reluctant leader but needs to accept his playing experience is held in high regard.
"I know what he's capable of. He does too but it's all about leadership. It's not just in the team but in the community. The whole team is pretty much whakapapa to each other.
"He's the younger brother but he hasn't taken on the older brother role. He's been flying under the radar, not really saying much but I'll be looking to him, Richard Sobels and Pirikiwana Taiatini to step up."
Armstrong knows the team look up to Tepania for his NRL experience. He moved to Australia in 2005 as a 15-year-old and signed with the Cronulla Sharks. In 2008, he was playing the club's Under-18s in a match against St George when his career changed forever.
"My friend had me through a hole, I was away, just me and the fullback, it was two on one," Tepania said. "I went to get past but he went low and caught me on the leg."
His leg was broken but "we got the try, that's the main thing".
He stuck with the Sharks for another two years but then his contract ended last year and he was faced with club footy again. He's relishing his time with Pikiao and only now starting to speak up.
"I felt I was in a position where I was new to the team and I didn't want to have a say... come in and give orders. Moehewa says the boys look up to me, that I give them that extra urge to go harder. Being that kind of person is a privilege."
Playing for Pikiao is very different to the Sharks but he's keen to pass on his skills and knowledge.
"It's about having vision. There's a lot of skill in Pikiao, a lot of natural talent but they've got to train. I had a really good coach and I don't want to let that knowledge go."
Even a good result today might not be enough to hold Tepania. He dreams of playing NRL again, returning to Australia next year to try his luck.
"I want to make a name for myself and to pull on the Kiwis jersey. That's a childhood dream. Pikiao being black and white, you get that feeling, some day it might be a Kiwis jersey."
Pikiao take on Pacific at Puketawhero Park at 2.30pm today.
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