Rugby: Winitana on road to being a big chief

Ahurei Winitana is a name to keep an eye on in rugby league circles.

The 16-year-old has been making a big impression - not just on the league field with his hard-hitting defence or his slick offloading skills but also the fact the youngster from Kuratau, a small lakeside farming settlement 19km northwest of Turangi, is only in his second year playing the sport and has already made the New Zealand 17s team.

Ahurei, one of nine children in the Winitana whanau, said he never thought he would take up the sport.

"I used to muck around in the horse paddock with my brothers and my [mates] playing with the rugby ball.

"Then, all of a sudden, I'm here doing this," Ahurei said.

A simple phone call turned a youngster from playing touch in a horse paddock to dreams of one day playing for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL.

"I was farming last year and then got a phone call from one of the boys to come and have a game. I'd never played league before, jumped on the field and scored a few tries and ended up loving it.

"I ended up being the captain of the Bay of Plenty 15s side and the Waicoa Bay 15s side last year and now the New Zealand side."

Currently the co-captain of the 17's Waicoa Bay team, it makes sense he takes a leadership role in the team, considering Ahurei means chief in English. His team has had a number of high-profile wins recently, first a win over Auckland and then a solid 42-24 victory against Central Vipers at the weekend.

The win against Auckland even had the Warrior league scouts having a look at the team.

Ahurei who plays centre, uses his size and speed to devastating effect, not only for Waicoa Bay but for his league club Pikiao.

The Tuwharetoa/Ngati Turumakina descendant moved from playing league for the Taupo Phoenix last season to Rotorua this year to help advance his football career.

"Me and my dad and my mum sat down and I told them 'it's starting to get serious. So I need to put my head in the game and so do you guys for support to be there for me and stuff'," Ahurei said.

"They asked me who I wanted to help me train? I said I wanted my koro [Lenny Kaipara]. I would drive to Kawerau every second day to his house and he would make me run from his house all the way up Mt Putauaki. Then he'd take me to the golf club and thrash me up the hills there."

Ahurei said his koro's efforts have been a major factor in his success to date.

"He has been to every single game. He's the reason that I play and I love it."

Waicoa Bay Colts coach Moehewa Armstrong said the youngster had worked hard over the season to get himself ready for rep football.

"He's a real confidence player and when his confidence is up he is humming."

Armstrong said there were a number of players within the squad who had the ability to take their career in league to the highest levels in the sport.