Jamie Hughes clocks up 50 games for Steelform Whanganui

Jamie Hughes has been at the forefront of Steelform Whanganui's 2021 campaign. Photo / File

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It was a hot afternoon when forwards had to lead the way, and just like he has for his 49 first-class games before that, Steelform Whanganui flanker Jamie Hughes was the man for the moment.

The biggest little man in the WRFU, the Ruapehu loosie Hughes celebrated his 50th game with the opening try, some big defence and vital turnovers, as Whanganui overcame recent rivals Thames Valley in Te Aroha on Saturday.

The 32-year-old Hughes had his first-class debut off the bench for Whanganui and also scored a try that day in the Ranfurly Shield Challenge against Waikato in Cambridge in 2016.

A few months later, he came off the bench to secure the vital final turnover, after hounding Buller's proven match-winner James Lash, in the Meads Cup final at Cooks Gardens, with retiring skipper Peter Rowe naming Hughes as his heir apparent in the post-match television interview.

Hughes would have to share that mantle with Border's industrious flanker Angus Middleton for a few seasons – as coach Jason Caskey would start either one or the other in the prestigious No7 jumper in what was often a case of "horses for courses".

But in the last couple of seasons, Middleton's retirement from representative rugby has seen Hughes make the jersey his own, with Caskey praising him for a massive contribution in the last few weeks, as he outplayed King Country's All Black Sam Cane in Taupo, and led the charge in the big win over North Otago at Cooks Gardens.

The Thames Valley fixture was Hughes' 43rd Heartland game, having also played three Ranfurly Shield challenges and the four first-class games in 2020 when Heartland was cancelled.

Of those fixtures, 32 were in the starting lineup and 18 off the bench.

He has won two Meads Cups (2016-17) and will be looking to add the Lochore Cup this coming weekend.

The Thames Valley game was also an important milestone for try-scoring fullback Te Rangatira Waitokia, who played his blazer game for Whanganui with his 15th match, having rejoined the side this season after being the NZ Heartland Player of the Year in 2016.