Bay of Plenty halfback on the fast track

Kevin Senio is determined to make the most of his chances. Picture / Herald on Sunday

As an Aucklander, Kevin Senio could have been forgiven a pang of mixed emotions when he helped Bay of Plenty lift the Ranfurly Shield off his old home patch at Eden Park last year.

Instead, Senio relished being part of a memorable day, a 33-28 win as the Bay lifted the shield for the first time in their 94-year history.

Though the shield was gone after just one successful defence against Waikato, the memories linger.

"To actually be part of that team and get a win, just the pleasure of watching it all and being part of it was a really humbling experience," Senio said.

"It brought a lot of smiles and positive vibes from the community. To be a part of it, I was just blown away. People say the shield has lost its aura, but when it came into the region you saw what it could do for people."

Three weeks later, Canterbury came north and pinched it, 33-26, in a thriller when the Bay were fingertips away from hanging on. Had second five-eighth Grant McQuoid been able to win the race to the ball in goal, Jackson would surely have converted to get the draw.

And now, sooner than they might have thought, the Bay get another chance at the shield in Christchurch tomorrow.

Senio's backdrop includes a battle for his services next year between Canterbury and Bay of Plenty. But that's irrelevant to the job at hand tomorrow.

The Bay are paying $8 at the TAB, to $1.06 for the holders, and it's those sort of numbers which back Senio's thinking that there's only one way to approach a game which has added significance.

"You can go out with the attitude to attack because the shield is won and lost in 80 minutes. It's a bit like a test, a one-off. If you don't give it your best shot, take advantage of your opportunities, you're going to leave the game thinking about would have-could have.

"That was the approach we took against Auckland, enjoy it, take advantage of the situation because they don't come round that often."

Speaking of tests, Senio got as far as the All Blacks bench for Saturday night's Bledisloe Cup. That put him one step short of his ultimate ambition, but he's not getting too far ahead of himself.

Justin Marshall's departure removes one big peg from the board above Senio. His call-up suggests he lies third in the All Black selectors' thinking. So ...

"It's pretty pleasing, but I can't rest on that. I know things can change very quickly but I've just got to try and cement being in that bracket they're looking at."

Senio, who might have been on the All Blacks' European tour late last year but for torn ankle ligaments which cut his NPC short by half, possesses plenty of self-belief in his rugby ability. Sitting on the bench at Telstra Stadium showed him the national selectors are of a similar mind.

"Getting selected helped me get closer to a goal I'd set within myself. If anything, it was just reconfirming my confidence in my ability."

Senio's job in the next few weeks is to help the Bay repeat last year's semifinal run, maintain a high calibre of rugby and make sure he stays near the top of the halfback pecking order.

And if he does the first, he's sure to have achieved the second - which will fulfil the third objective. Simple, really.