KEY POINTS:
It was an easy decision for Ben Botica: play for North Shore or get kicked out of home. That was the ultimatum his father and double international Frano laid down to his 18-year-old son as he weighed up his options in the pre-season.
"Yeah I did say that
and I actually meant it," said Frano, laughing.
"I would have gone to watch him play no matter who he chose to play for but I am glad he made the decision to play for Shore. It was the right decision."
Ben's uncle Dean Kenny, coach of East Coast Bays and also a former All Black, introduced him to premier rugby last year while he was playing for the Westlake Boys 1st XV. Bays led the chase for his services but the Botica history at North Shore, and his father's advice, proved the defining factor.
North Shore are thanking their centurion Frano for his hard words because Ben has already played a leading role for the club. Although they didn't score a try, they won both of their opening games through the boot of Botica, who has a flawless 13 from 13 record.
Two of those penalty goals were converted from 55m and 60m on the angle, as the phenomenal composure of the teenager was on display.
Shore lost yesterday to Marist North Harbour but once again Botica notched all their points and they are yet to score a try.
"I am really happy with how I am striking it at the moment," Ben said in his understated way.
"Practice has been good but in the games, I don't know, eh, I have just been zeroing in on it. It has been good fun. Hopefully that continues."
Botica is one of those gifted players who step up when it matters most.
"One of the best things about Ben is that pressure doesn't bother him," Frano said. "He is confident in his ability and that comes from how much he practises. He enjoys pressure because he is good enough to perform under pressure.
Ben adds: "Goal-kicking is a good challenge. It is one of my jobs for the team and I like stepping up when there is a lot on the kick."
His record backs up his enthusiasm for the pressure situation.
In the semi-finals of last year's North Harbour schools competition, Botica kicked a clutch penalty for Westlake to overcome Massey with time up on the clock.
"There have been kicks that I have missed to lose games as well," he points out. "But I try to remember those times too and learn from the good and the bad."
North Shore were first champions more than 20 years ago in 1987 [and 1988, 1992] when Frano was at the helm and the emergence of another Botica in commanding form with the boot has stirred fond memories.
Current premier coach Grant Simpkins was part of that champion side alongside Buck Shelford and Scott Pierce. He believes that Botica has the ability to play for North Harbour in this year's Air New Zealand Cup.
"He reminds me of a young Luke McAlister, a gifted ball runner with plenty of confidence," said Simpkins, who thinks Botica's future lies at second five-eighths.
"He is an absolute perfectionist, just like his old man, and he is very hard on himself. He always the first to training, working on his goal-kicking and that hard work is paying off."
Frano, assistant coach and selector for the North Harbour B side, believes it is too early for his son for the top Harbour side. "There is a good chance he will make the Bs the way, he is playing," he said.
And Frano, who was unfortunate to play only seven tests for the All Blacks behind Grant Fox before he became the fastest man to reach 1000 points for Wigan, and to play for the Kiwis, is pleased with how his son's game is progressing.
"He is at the level now where he is just fine tuning his technique. I don't show him too much any more because he knows what he is doing."
And even though he has a good pedigree and a work ethic to match, Frano is reserved about his potential.
"There is no doubt he has the ability," he said.
"Only time will tell if he has the ability to kick like that at the higher level but the way he is striking at the moment is very encouraging."