NRL: Call out of the blue brings dream alive

Aaron Heremaia remembers playing against the Russians in England with ice on the pitch. 'We were leading by 60 points so I said to the coach 'I'm coming off'.' Photo / Dean Purcell

Hooker Aaron Heremaia was a Warrior who caught the eye in the disappointing opening round loss to the Gold Coast Titans at Robina.

Less than two years ago, he had all but given up on an NRL career, after a decade of chasing his league dreams around the globe.

Now, after a dozen games for the Warriors, and with the combative Ian Henderson injured, the 27-year-old can establish himself in a team looking to make amends for a rotten 2009.

Heremaia's re-introduction to the Mt Smart Stadium faithful tonight will have a special note for the NRL late bloomer.

The Perth-born, Manurewa-raised Heremaia will be up against one of his boyhood heroes, the Cronulla Sharks' coach Ricky Stuart.

Heremaia takes a few questions from the Weekend Herald.

A starter for 10. Can you rattle off the clubs you have played for?

My junior club was Manurewa, I played for Hibiscus Coast in the Bartercard Cup, went across to Wests in Sydney, then North Sydney, had a stint with a little football team called Asquith, then to England and played for Widnes, Leigh, Halifax, back home I was with the Auckland Vulcans (in the New South Wales competition) then the Warriors.

Ten clubs exactly. Was this done on your lonesome?

No, I travelled with my wife, Enrica.

Did you always dream of playing in the NRL?

Yes, that's why you play. In the end it happened by chance. I came back to New Zealand in 2008 and was resigned to the fact that it wasn't happening - I had nothing in front of me and was going to take a year off.

Bernie Perenara, the Auckland Vulcans coach, rang and asked me to help out. I only trained with them one day a week.

I was carrying a bit of weight - I was about 97kg. Then the Warriors signed me to a pre-season contract. I had to get out and do some running and lose 10kg.

I'd known Bernie from when I played for Hibiscus Coast in the Bartercard Cup - he was coaching Marist Richmond.

And he'd coached me in the New Zealand Maori team. I'm so thankful for that call he made - it was the turning point.

Your career highpoint?

Playing my first game for the Warriors last year, against Wests Tigers. Making your debut at home is quite a thing. I had family there, people ringing me up for tickets ... I had a fair few supporters there.

How did you move from the halves to hooker?

The Warriors had plenty of halves when I joined on the off-season contract at the end of '08. Grant Rovelli, Nathan Fien, Liam Foran had just signed, Stacey Jones ... there were so many I decided to slip into hooker now and then at training.

I only had a three-month contract and couldn't stand around - I had to impress people somehow. So I'd jump into hooker. Ivan Cleary said I looked pretty good and asked if I'd ever played hooker, which I hadn't.

As a halfback, I knew what I wanted from the hooker and did that. I've probably only ever played about 20 games in the position.

Dummy half is the glamour forward position nowadays - do you feel daunted by comparisons to Cameron Smith, Robbie Farah and co?

Those are actually the two guys I'm always studying in the video room, trying to find things to add to my game. They both play 80 minutes, and I'm trying to find what they do to get through a whole game.

Hooker is very exhausting. Against the Gold Coast I got 65 minutes in the middle, and I thought I could carry on although I got subbed. My aim is to become an 80-minute hooker.

Were you from a league family?

My dad, Neil Aspin, played league down Rotorua way and for New Zealand Maori. I think he was a hooker. He lives in Auckland now.

Childhood heroes?

The Canberra Raiders were my team. They were a glamour team. My dad and uncles all supported them, so naturally I followed. Ricky Stuart, Laurie Daley and Bradley Clyde - that little triangle represented the three people I followed closely.

Who is the hardest hitter you've come up against?

[Parramatta's] Fuifui Moimoi would be up there. I tried to tackle him last year and got knocked out. I felt those thunder thighs - I got up but fell over again. I stayed on the field but I definitely felt the crunch of those thighs.

How does English league compare to the game Downunder?

The game is very different there. The boys are a lot bigger, and it is more of a power game. A fond memory was playing a Challenge Cup game against a Russian team at Leigh. It was freezing cold, with actual ice on the pitch.

We were leading by 60 points so I said to the coach 'I'm coming off'. I don't mind the snow, but not ice. That's not my scene. The only reason the game wasn't called off was because the Russians had already arrived.

If you weren't a professional league player, you would be a ...

Policeman. League has paid the bills so far for the past nine or 10 years. I still want to pursue a career in the police, though.

You are out there in the community helping out, every day is different, and there is the excitement of it.

Your aim for the season?

To play consistently well and keep my job ... when Ian Henderson comes back into the frame, he will want the spot. I want other teams to think of me as a threat - I want them to feel they really have to watch out for the number nine.

Are you aiming for the Kiwis?

That has definitely not been in my thinking - I am just happy being the starting No9 for the Warriors. Staying there is my big ambition. My form last year doesn't warrant me thinking about the Kiwis.