Gap year lifts Gill

Marist's Ryan Gill felt refreshed after a year away from rugby and it showed in his consistent season to win the Grand Irish Bar Most Valuable Player award.

A year's break from rugby to get "refreshed" has done wonders for Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist flanker Ryan Gill after an MVP season in Tasman Tanning Premier.

Gill will pocket the Grand Irish Bar-sponsored prize for 2016 after his man on the match performance in the 45-26 win over Utiku Old Boys at Memorial Park on Saturday.

The three MVP points lifted him to 14 for the season, moving past the early leader in Waverley Harvesting Border's Nick Harding, who was rested for the last game against Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau after dealing with hamstring issues in the second round of matches.

As Utiku play a forward-orientated style, Gill was expected to be in the thick of things at Memorial Park and Marist coach Jason Hamlin confirmed on Saturday evening the veteran openside had an excellent match.

"All the boys fronted - it took us a while to get into the game," Gill said.

"We had a goal at the start of the year, and we're pretty much on track.

"Hopefully it continues on for two more weeks."

Gill wanted to thank all his team mates for laying the platform for his individual success, having been one of the key men to see Marist lift from four regular season wins and a consolation final loss in 2015, up to nine wins this year and qualifying third for the championship semifinals.

"We had a few guys all come back in the same year, which has made it easier.

"It's experience - the more you have, the better it is."

Gill will need to be on-song again this weekend as Marist travel back to Memorial Park for the semifinal against PGG Wrightson/Ballance Taihape, and is confident his side can perform in a game which could go either way.

"If we all front, from jersey No1 to No15 on the field, and do our roles well."

As well as Utiku, Gill picked up three points in the April 2 opening game where Marist signalled early intentions with a 34-0 win over 2015 champions Black Bull Liquor Pirates.

He relished playing Harvey Round Motors Ratana, scoring two tries in both the April 30 (62-13) and June 25 (70-5) victories with three MVP points from each.

Gill also received one point as one of the few standouts in the disappointing 30-13 loss to Kaierau on April 9, and another in the 26-17 defeat under lights against Border on May 6.

Harding, who has dominated the points scorers list with 176, was looking like a shoe-in for the MVP award, but the niggles from his hamstring kept him on the sideline for much of the second round, while the other leading contender in Kaierau's veteran Ace Malo also had to sit out after breaking his arm.

Finishing second overall with Harding was McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu's standout Roman Tutauha, who came into the season late after having his appendix removed.

Tutauha was then one of the saving graces during Ruapehu's uneven first round and a key man during their five-game winning streak in the second to just make the semifinals - covering second-five for several matches.

Gill is the first player since Pirate Lasa Ulukuta in 2013 to win the MVP award outright, as the prize was shared in 2014-15.