My life in sport: Sam Rapira

Sam Rapira doing his job well is more important than statistics. Photo / Getty Images

They may come bigger, but NRL props don't come any better than Sam Rapira.

The front rower has even drawn predictions he is capable of holding that subjective title of No 1 prop in the game.

Since his first-grade debut in 2006, Rapira has built a reputation as a ball carrier who hits defenders very hard, with an offload at the ready.

At the ripe young age of 23, Rapira finds himself as the senior prop at the Warriors, who have converted a few second-rowers to help round out the front row resources.

Rapira, a matter-of-fact character from Hamilton, is itching to re-establish his credentials. He missed 10 rounds last season because of a knee injury, and a wrist strain has not helped his preparation for this year.

Having bypassed the Kiwis' Four Nations triumph, Rapira should be fresh and firing for the 2011 season, which starts for the Warriors against Parramatta at Eden Park on Saturday next week.

Rapira takes a few questions from the Herald.

Has the pre-season gone to plan?

I've got two games under my belt against Parramatta and the Burleigh Bears. Things have gone okay but in saying that there is a lot of improvement to go.

Why did you miss the Kiwis' campaign late last year?

We've got a young [2-year-old] daughter and my partner was studying for her exams - family is number one for me. It's an honour to play for your country but they were difficult circumstances so that's what needed to happen on that occasion.

Are you looking forward to playing at Eden Park?

It's just another field. If you start worrying about things like that it means you are concentrating less on what you have to do in the game. The facilities there are nice ... I've never actually seen a game there, though. I've never sat in the grandstand.

You were from a league family in Hamilton ...

Rugby league might lack the numbers in Hamilton but the people involved are very passionate. League is strong in Ngaruawahia and Huntly but Hamilton City Tigers are the Waikato champions at the moment. My dad [Cliff] and uncles played for Hukanui and we watched them every week. Hamilton Boys High School is a strong rugby school so I played rugby on Saturdays and club league on Friday nights. When the first XV coach found out he wasn't too happy and said we had to choose. So we chose league.

You say 'we' ... your brother Steve has returned to the Warriors from the North Queensland Cowboys - is it exciting to be reunited?

We've always played together and it's great that he's back again. People have been asking us about it but we are more worried about what each of us has to do than that.

Who were your childhood heroes?

We didn't watch the Winfield Cup or NRL - we only took any notice of that later, about the time we got more serious about our careers. Our heroes were all in dad's team at Hukanui. We looked up to dad and the people in his team.

Career highlight?

Making my debut for the Kiwis in '07 and being given the opportunity to lead the haka - that was nerve- wracking.

Lowlight?

The knee injury last year. Injuries are always frustrating.

Favourite opponents?

The Bulldogs, Manly and Brisbane. They are big and physical which is always good.

If you weren't a professional league player ...

I'd be building. I wasn't too good in the classroom but I always loved carpentry and spent half a year as a builder and enjoyed that.

What are your major career aims?

To come away with a trade [in building] before I finish football. I'm in the process of arranging that. While I'm here, I want to win a premiership with the boys.

League has turned into a numbers game - do you worry about the statistics for hit-ups, tackles etc?

Some players pride themselves on that, but it's all about whether you've done your job. The numbers don't always say everything. The important thing in a team is that everyone is doing their job. I don't try to take every single hit up and do 200 metres - what I'm aiming for is to hit the ball up really strongly when it is my turn and then you hand it over to the next guy. If you look at the St George stats, their forwards have very even numbers which I suppose means they are all doing their jobs ... and they won the title.

Has your role changed since you made NRL first grade in 2006?

Not much. It's a pretty simple job in the front row. You've just got to do things well. I suppose I have become more of a senior player at the club and there are young guys coming through so they look for tips and I try to help them out. But I learn off them too.