Opportunity knocks for Hunt

Talk about taking an opportunity by the scruff of the neck.

It took Nigel Hunt some four seasons to chalk up 15 games in Wellington, tomorrow he'll play his eighth in as many weeks for Bay of Plenty in the Air New Zealand Cup.

Ironically that game will be against Wellington, the team the New Zealand Sevens representative left behind earlier this year when he headed to the Bay determined to become a regular fixture in the Steamers' backline.

"It's more for opportunities I moved up here. I'd been down in Wellington for four years, now in NPC these days you've got to get on the field to get a Super 14 contract ... I just wanted the opportunity," he told The Daily Post following yesterday's training at Te Puke Intermediate.

Hunt had divided his time for Wellington between halfback and the wing since debuting as a 19-year-old back in 2003.

He played second five or halfback while in the Porirua College 1st XV before specialising as a halfback for Tawa in the Wellington club competition and drawing the attention of their representative selectors.

He'd struggled to nail down a position in Wellington, with All Black No 9 Piri Weepu largely preferred.

He may not have played in midfield since his school days but he is looking solid in the Bay's No 12 jersey so far.

"I'm still trying to get used to it. It's fifth week in the NPC now and I guess it's going all right," he said.

Steamers backline mentor Steve Miln said Hunt was finding his feet after securing a more permanent position with with the Bay.

"As a 12 he's taking small steps forward and learning the game, he's been one of those guys who had [previously] been all over the place. He seems comfortable about being in one position in the centres."

"He's a bit of a king at line breaks, which is really good for us because he's setting a few of our plays up."

Miln said Hunt's sevens experience was a plus for his defence and there wasn't too much concern with the odd handling spill as he was a high risk-type player.

"He plays a pretty high risk game, at the end of the day that's beneficial for us, we back him, he wants to give things a crack and try and off-load. He's not always going to get it right but I don't see it as a major issue."

After securing four wins from four outings, the Steamers go into this clash with the top of the table Wellington which Hunt obviously has strong, but not insurmountable ties to.

"Obviously we're good mates and I'm marking one of my good mates but there ain't no friends on the field, it's a rugby game, we can have a good time afterwards."

This is the start of a big four-week block for the Bay with Wellington tomorrow then Otago, Auckland and Canterbury to follow. Miln doesn't believe the Bay has had a soft ride out of the draw so far but acknowledges Wellington are a step up.

"You need to play 80 minutes against Wellington. They can put you away in a short time if you don't and get away from you.

"We've got to front them down there [physically]. I think our game plan will take care of itself but, if we're not doing the small things well, that's were they'll get you."

There is only one change to the Steamers' starting line-up with Tauranga Sport's winger Toby Arnold recovering from injury and getting a start on the left wing, with Teu Nafe going back to the bench.

Although they've been named as 12 and 13, expect some positional changes in the midfield among Hunt and his centre partner Cory Aporo, with both capable of breaking the line as left and right centres.

The only change in the reserves sees Kelly Haimona return to the bench and Josh Hall drop out of the match 22. The forward pack remains the same, with James McGougan running freely.