Sweat drips down his flushed cheeks and he stares at the man opposite him.
There's a fire in his eyes and a bellowing grunt escapes from deep within his chest.
His shorts are stretched over his muscular legs, which spasm with anticipation. He crouches down, ready to pounce.
I wouldn't want to be
in this battle because I know I would come out second best.
This man is tough. He's strong, skilled and serious and is one of the men who play for the Bay of Plenty's premier rugby team.
He is proud to be a Bay of Plenty Steamer and is looking forward to the first clash of the season when the team takes on Taranaki this Friday in the ITM Cup pre-season match in Katikati.
"I'm ready to go out there and play some hard, fast rugby," prop Tristan Moran says. "It's not NPC level yet but I haven't played a game of rugby for a while so I'm looking forward to it, definitely."
Moran is one of a group of players who are practising their scrum, under the watchful eye of coach Sean Horan.
The commands "crouch, touch, pause, engage" are repeatedly called and players repeat the drill over and over again.
It's perfection they're searching for and Moran said on Friday the team will be shaking out loose ends and trying out combinations.
"We're all bursting to get out there because we've done a lot of training and it's not going to go perfectly and there will be times of frustration but it will certainly be good to get out there."
Beyond Moran, standing alone in the centre of the field in an olive green hoodie is newcomer Chris Noakes. He's practising his goal kicking. Noakes transferred from Otago where he played for the Highlanders for the past four years while managing his studies as a lawyer. Pursuing his career and rugby dreams led him to the Bay of Plenty and Noakes is stoked to be involved in a side that wants to be the best.
"I finished my studies and wanted a change of scenery and the Bay called," Noakes said.
"Change is always good and it's great it worked out that I can play rugby and pursue my job."
Balancing his work and full-time rugby commitments has been a challenge but his employer, Holland Beckett Lawyers, have allowed him time to pursue his rugby career. And being a part of a welcoming team has made his transition from one region to another that much easier.
"The boys have been extremely supportive and so have the coaches, particularly because I have my work commitments as well."
"I don't particularly like getting up at 5.30[am] and training then going to work until about 5.30 then coming back to train at 6pm but this is the way it's got to be. I mean, I'm getting paid to play rugby and not many people are paid to do the thing they love. I get to run around the field and enjoy myself while others have to squeeze in a round of golf in the weekends or a game of tennis, but they don't get paid for it."
Noakes says his friends are jealous of his lifestyle but he guarantees it isn't "all that glamorous".
"We do work hard and we train every day, three or four times a day, so it does get pretty intense."
As Noakes kicks and collects, Lance MacDonald and Jason Hona, both 25, run laps around the pitch. It's cold outside and as the men exhale, large plumes of white air expel from their mouths and trail behind their moving bodies. Assistant coach Paul Feeney times the duo as they run 300 metre, 200 metre and 100 metre sprints.
Ten minutes later the sprints are completed. Puffing hard, MacDonald takes off his shoes and walks through the frosty grass.
It's been a tough two-hour workout for the squad, which began with a gym session at 8am.
Abby Galenzoski, the team's assistant strength and conditioning coach, has been preparing the team for the upcoming ITM Cup season. This year her focus has been on strength and conditioning, rehab and prehab (injury prevention).
On the wall inside the team gym is a list of names, exercises and weights. Moran tops the "clean" category of 130kg followed by Dan Waenga, with 120kg. Ms Galenzoski said the boys "really loved the bench" with the majority lifting around 120kg.
Gym sessions are personalised and are complemented with outdoor and indoor training, where players can analyse their individual performances. Players are also offered pool sessions, massage and nutrition information.
With less than a week to go before their first match, coach Sean Horan says his team is "well prepared".
"Yeah I'm absolutely looking forward to it. It's going to be a big day for the players because it's an opportunity for them to prove themselves, because this is still a trial, and I'm looking forward to that."
Off the field, the men are engineers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, bank tellers, real estate agents and students, but on the field they are staunch, tough rugby players who play with heart.
After practice is over, the players head to the changing rooms to get out of their smelly training gear. All but one.
Hooker John Pareanga hops on his road bike and ventures out of the stadium, ready to face another day.
The Katikati community is also looking forward to this Friday's game when the Steamers take on Taranaki.
Katikati Rugby and Sports Club president Lester Gray says the match will be "really exciting" and "hugely beneficial" for the club and the rural community.
"The community has really got behind this event ... the whole town is buzzing and I hope the ties made between everyone involved will stay long before the game is over."
The Game
Who: Bay of Plenty Steamers v Taranaki
When: Friday, June 24
Where: Moore Park, Katikati
Gates open: Noon
Curtain raiser: 12:30pm. Katikati College First XV vs Tauhara College First XV
Main kick-off: 2:30pm
Entry: Adult $5, kids free (in school uniform).
Sweat drips down his flushed cheeks and he stares at the man opposite him.
There's a fire in his eyes and a bellowing grunt escapes from deep within his chest.
His shorts are stretched over his muscular legs, which spasm with anticipation. He crouches down, ready to pounce.
I wouldn't want to be
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