Thomas ready to even the score

Daily Post sports reporter KATIE FARMAN meets Rotorua's Thomas Malcolm and discovers pieces are in place for the New Zealand Junior Men's Volleyball team to beat traditional rivals Australia.
Thomas Malcolm cuts a mean figure.
At 197cm his lithe frame belies a sense of power while his energy and passion for the game of volleyball is obvious.
At only 18-years of age Malcolm and his identical twin brother Tute, are two key players in the New Zealand Junior Men's Volleyball team that will meet traditional foes Australia in tomorrow night's opening match of a five test series in Rotorua.
And it's a battle Thomas isn't taking lightly - having been part of the team that lost the series to the green-and-golds last year.
"Aussie has won it the last two years - in fact, last year they annihilated us," he reflected.
"They had three or four Olympians and were much stronger, but this year we're out to even the score."
Thomas, who along with Tute, began his volleyball career playing for Western Heights High School, will line up as outside in tomorrow night's match at Rotorua Girls' High School's Rotorua Community Arena while Tute will play inside.
The pair will be well supported by their teammates including fellow Tauranga men's players Charlie Stuart, Phillip Panapa and Rob Cairns while captain and setter Thomas Culley has been ruled out of the team after recently dislocating his hip playing rugby.
"We've got a lot of power and skill [as a team] and work together as a close knit unit, but we're without our captain now which may affect things," said Thomas, also known as Tame.
"The Australians have a different style - they're more clinical, robotic and take advantage of their [players'] height."
And height is a factor that may play a crucial role in the series with Australia boasting an average height of 199cm (6ft 6) compared to New Zealand's 192cm (6ft 3).
They also boast numerous Australian Institute of Sport players including Matthew Hunt and William Thwaite who tower above the team at 6ft 10 and are renowned for their blocking abilities.
However, never one to be outdone, Thomas is hoping his years of experience on the court will ensure they go one up over Australia.
Along with Tute, Thomas has spent years playing for numerous provincial and national age-group sides, was part of the New Zealand team that returned from the Sydney Youth Olympics with a bronze medal and was selected as a non-travelling reserve for the New Zealand senior men's volleyball team, which just returned from competing in the Asian Championships in Thailand.
He was also a Sir Edmund Hilary Scholar and is now studying for a Bachelor of Science (Biology) at Waikato University.
"It's been a busy year trying to fit training around study, but I love it, I wouldn't have it any other way," he said.
Brother Tute is working in Rotorua as a builder's apprentice and just returned from Thailand with the senior men's team.
Nelson-based coach Colin Redpath predicts a hard tussle will ensue between the two nations tomorrow night but is confident his team will be buoyed by excellent local support given the inclusion of the Malcolm twins.
Event manager Kuru Whitson is also confident locals will get behind their national team and said the exciting on court action should spark up the crowd.
Doors open at the Rotorua Community Arena at 6pm while on court action begins at 7pm.
Entry is $5 for adults and $2 for children.
* The New Zealand Junior Men's Volleyball Team:
John Gibbs (Shirley), Tute Malcolm, Charlie Stuart, Tame Malcolm, Phillip Panapa, Rob Cairns (Tauranga), Jason Seaward (Pioneer), Rob Burley (Otumoetai), Ben Glue (Waimea), Cameron Ward (Hamilton), Hamish Ballagh, Mark Macdonald.
* The Australian Junior Men's Volleyball Team:
Joshua Thorpe, Nick Goldsbrough-Reardon, Jarrd Christensen, Matthew Hunt, Cedric Legrand, Ashley McBroom, Greg Sukochev, John Dekker, Jason Pallant, Nils Langford, William Thwaite, Alexander Rogers.