Auckland wing Bryce Heem in action against Otago. Photo / Greg Bowker
Auckland fans will consider it a shame that Bryce Heem is heading offshore after his best domestic season yet.
At 26, and with a profitable season for the Chiefs behind him, the Auckland wing will head to UK Premiership club Worcester as soon as his commitments in the blue and white hoops are over.
He will be hoping that will be after the ITM Cup Premiership final next Saturday rather than after tonight's semifinal against his old team the Tasman Makos at Eden Park.
Heem was keen to return home to be closer to family after 25 games for the Makos, but he still has a soft spot for the 2014 Premiership runners-up. Makos captain Shane Christie said as much during the week to the Nelson Mail.
"I've got mixed emotions because I had a lot to do with the team as they rose to the Premiership. I was there for a few years and made some good mates, but there's no friends out on the field tonight," said Heem.
"I still have a lot of passion for Tassie. I still support them when they're not playing Auckland. Shane's been winding me up a bit but it's all good banter."
He laughs when it is suggested he was one of the oldies of this very young Auckland side. Only Heem and reserve prop Jono Owen were born in the 1980s, a decade when, need we remind you, Auckland were establishing themselves as the greatest provincial rugby juggernaut the world has ever seen.
"I'm no longer the koro of the team, I guess," laughs Heem.
So one might ask why Heem is heading to northern climes when he is just coming into peak form in New Zealand rugby.
"It was a tough call. It took me awhile. My fiancée and I always wanted to go travelling and see that part of the world. Playing the sport and getting paid good money to do it is a good way to do it."
The Worcester Warriors, whose assistant coach is former All Blacks and Auckland fullback Shane Howarth, have just won promotion and kick off their season tomorrow at home to Northampton Saints.
There are few Kiwis on their books, though former NZ Warriors wing Cooper Vuna is in the mix, as is Fijian Tevita Cavubati, an old Tasman teammate of Heem's.
"It'll be exciting times when I get over there," Heem said.
He reckons Auckland's 28-19 win in Blenheim, though well deserved, will count for little tonight in a playoff encounter.
"We found some inroads then, but those sort of games count for nothing in do or die matches. Tassie came off a short turnaround then and they have a long turnaround in this game. If you are off on the day, anyone can beat anyone. It'll be a killer match."
Heem had a funny old season for Tasman in 2014, scoring just one try in 12 games. Play went to the other wing, where James Lowe dotted down eight times. But that seems to be Heem's fate, to play well and yet not score a lot of tries. In the Gallaher Shield club final, for example, he was arguably the man of the match, and yet Ben Lam scored a brace on the other wing for the victorious Grammar TEC.
But now he finds himself amongst the tries. He scored a solo try off the bench against Northland and then a decisive hat-trick, including a tremendous individual effort, last Saturday against the Steelers.
"I told those guys that you have to peak at the right end of the season," joked Heem.
This purple patch followed a disappointing night in Napier last month, where Auckland lost 12-17 to Hawke's Bay and with it the chance to hoist the Ranfurly Shield.
Heem dropped a high ball in-goal and then inexplicably forced it. The Magpies scored soon afterwards. Heem was by no means the only Aucklander to make errors in the clutch, but he is not haunted by the mistake and has shown his fortitude and character in the last fortnight.
"The disappointment definitely hurt, and there was a bit of confusion on that dropped ball, but you can't dwell on things like that or they'll eat you alive. I've flushed it now."
Auckland coach Paul Feeney was quick to dissuade media of the notion that Heem had been dropped to the bench for the Northland game due to that solitary error. In truth, Feeney has been more than happy with the overall output of his right wing in a back three brimming with talent and depth.
"Bryce's new nickname is Ben Lam. He's scoring tries now. He couldn't score them before. Now he's got four in the last two games," joked Feeney.