Rugby: Bright future for Brighouse

Napier Old Boys Marist forward Hannon Brighouse on the job as a builder's labourer for Alexander Construction. Photo / Warren Buckland

Napier Old Boys Marist premier rugby team's head coach Craig Gowler described Hannon Brighouse as "the future of Hawke's Bay rugby".

So it wasn't a surprise the Wellington age group product secured maximum points for the second time at the weekend to become the seventh weekly winner in the battle for the McDonalds-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award.

"Hannon can play all three loose forward positions and is adapting pretty well to lock also," Gowler said as he reflected on the 18-year-old's player-of-the-match performance for HBI Insurances Napier Old Boys Marist in Saturday's Tui Nash Cup seventh round 66-28 drubbing of Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports at Park Island.

The fact Brighouse is enjoying the environment at his new club is one explanation for his consistent form. He is also starting to settle on a position.

"I started the year at No8 but it looks like I will stick with 6 because I'm enjoying it more," Brighouse said.

The former Wellington under-13, 16 and 18 representative travelled north at the end of last year with two other members of the St Pat's Town 1st XV which won the Wellington College Rugby Premiership, flanker Jack Nelson-Murray and halfback Zac Donaldson. The trio flat together, play for the same club and work together for Alexander Construction when Donaldson and Nelson-Murray aren't at EIT.

That amount of time together could be interpreted by some as a recipe for disaster but Brighouse said they are all reasonably flexible and there are times when they make the odd trip back to the capital to have a break from each other.

"We all know each other's strengths and Jack is the best cook ... particularly his pasta and chicken dishes," Brighouse said.

He is equally as impressed with the form NOBM is producing and while Brighouse is hopeful about his and the team's chances of tasting Nash Cup glory he stressed the importance of "taking one game at a time". Brighouse also praised the manner in which Gowler and his coaching staff related to their players.

"They are nice and friendly when it counts and they also know how to switch on come game day."

Earlier this year Brighouse shone during his outings for the Hawke's Bay Academy team. He also made the paper-only New Zealand Marist Sevens team.

"I enjoyed sevens because there was heaps of space and heaps of holes. Playing at the Olympic Games in the future could be a possibility and making the Magpies is also a nice dream to have," Brighouse said.

His immediate goal is to make the Hawke's Bay under-19 team and it will be a surprise if he doesn't tick this off.

He agreed that with the calibre of players available for the side it has the potential to perform well.

Brighouse was quick to reply when quizzed on the toughest players he has marked in club play to date this season. Hurricane and Magpie Tony Lamborn in NOBM's loss against Havelock North and Hastings Rugby and Sports captain Ben Hamelink.

A younger brother of 2013 New Zealand under-20s prop Donald Brighouse who has made 18 first-class appearances for Otago, Brighouse said one of his long-term goals is to play with or against the former Baby Black. Should he continue to function like he has in Hawke's Bay club play it should only be a season or two before that happens.