Rugby: Fomai's selection hopes lift

Neria Fomai fits in some gym work thanks to the flexibility his job as a residential support worker at Hohepa Homes provides. Photo / Warren Buckland

It's a dream script as far as Hastings Rugby and Sports midfield back Neria Fomai is concerned.

His wife Lyrae is due to have their first baby during the first week of August. The following week the Hawke's Bay Magpies Mitire 10 Cup squad will be announced and Fomai is hoping to be in the mix.

"That would be perfect if it could happen. I can only do as much as I can and then it's up to the coaches," Fomai, 24, said.

The youngest of four brothers (Tivaini, Fiko and Ausage are the others) who have played for the Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports team in recent seasons, Fomai enhanced his chances of ticking off the memorable double with his third player-of-the-match display of the season in his team's 25-22 win against Central on Saturday.

This saw Fomai become the 13th weekly winner and establish a four-point lead on the leaderboard as the battle for the McDonalds-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award continued.

"I've heard through the grapevine several of last season's Magpies midfielders may not be back so there will be berths up for grabs," Fomai said, referring to Richard Buckman, Andrew Horrell and Robbie Fruean.

"I played in the first pre-season game against Wairarapa Bush earlier this month and I'm hoping to get the nod for next week's game against the Manawatu Evergreens."

The fifth season premier player is in his first season back after missing almost two seasons with a broken arm. Fomai attributed his hot club form to the work former Magpies fitness trainer Grant Dearns did with him last summer to get him up to speed for the Hawke's Bay Sevens campaign.

"Dearnsey did well. I'm pretty happy... I've had a big comeback from injury," Fomai said.

"However, it's still one step at a time if I want to make the Magpies. I've got to tick off the boxes Magpies backs coach Danny Lee has asked me to," the Hastings club's version of former All Black No12 Ma'a Nonu said.

"I've got to be more Conrad Smith-like on defence. I've got to talk a lot more and read the defensive plays better," Fomai said.

The Hastings Boys' High School product, who had one season of colts rugby before stepping up to the premier ranks, agreed his club team is performing better in the Maddison Trophy round than in the Nash Cup. He is enjoying playing outside his brother Ausage.

"We've still got to connect a few more dots and get a few more wins. Saturday's home game against Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports will be a good test. They beat us in the last round... we have to be more physical up front and get on top of them early."

Fomai pointed out it is different playing without his oldest brother and former Samoa and Magpies loosie Tivaini this season. Earlier this year Tivaini donated one of his kidneys so his mother Epenesa could have a kidney transplant.

"Everything went well. Mum is doing fine and Tivaini is slowly recovering," Fomai said.

"Tivaini would tell us to keep going forward and back ourselves."

That's exactly the approach Fomai will need to continue to adopt if he is going to be celebrating a memorable first fortnight in August.