Rugby league: Panther skipper in line for treble

PIVOTS: David Neilson (left) and Sete Kereti before today's final. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

SILVERWARE from two 2015 Hawke's Bay premier club title wins sit in David Neilson's home ... can he add a third today?

That question will be answered when the final whistle is blown on Rugby League Hawke's Bay's premier final between Neilson's Pirate Panthers and MAC Pacific Warriors at Bill Mathewson Park, Hastings.

Neilson, 24, captained Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports to Maddison Trophy glory in August and his partner, Claire McGettigan, was a member of the Otane Force netball team which won their premier final a fortnight later.

"It would be awesome to complete the treble. It's going to be a tough game ... MAC beat us last time [42-16] but anything can happen come finals time," Neilson said.

The standoff who is in his third season of league is one of six players in the Panthers side who collected Maddison Trophy winners medals and will be attempting to help the Panthers go back-to-back.

His brother and centre, Jackson Neilson, fullback Matt Garland, Central Vipers utility Matt Murtha, winger Zion Clarke and hooker Tione Hubbard are the others.

"League is a lot easier fitness wise but is heaps more physical. It adds another dimension to my union game," Neilson said.

Because of his Hawke's Bay Saracens rugby commitments, Neilson has missed some of the Panthers games but he will resume the No1 goalkicking role today. It will be interesting to see how he copes with the lighter league ball, which floats more than its union counterpart.

He agreed his combination with Murtha will be a key component of the Panthers success. With Neilson an organiser and distributor and Murtha a gas man, who can be lethal on the burst from dummy half, it's a complementary combo.

Neilson hasn't ruled out the possibility of following Murtha into the Vipers National Premiership squad in future. At the other end of the league experience scale to Neilson is Warriors scrumhalf and player-coach Setu Kereti.

He first played league 15 years ago for Tech Phoenix and has also represented the Tamatea and Outkast Sports teams. Kereti, 32, tasted premier title glory with Outkast Sports in 2012 and 2013.

"I came back to MAC last year. Our goal then was to make the semifinals and we did. This year our goal was to make the final and we have. We know our mission to stop the Panthers going back-to-back will be a tough one.

"We also know finals time is a whole new ball game," Kereti said.

He pointed out there have been occasions this year when his backs have won them games and occasions when the forwards have been pivotal in the march to the top qualifying berth for the semifinals.

His combination with standoff and cousin Viper Vailoa Kereti has the potential to be just as instrumental in the Warriors success as the Murtha-Neilson one has for Panthers.

Kereti has the luxury of being able to play Samoan Sevens star Tom Iosefo off the pine at hooker or fullback.

Iosefo could prove a match-winner coming on for the last 20 minutes when the Panthers defence is tiring.

Iosefo recently returned from a Samoan Sevens trial camp and will resume a co-coaching role with the Warriors.

The reserve grade final between Bridge Pa and the Bay Bulldogs, and the women's final between MAC and Hastings Rugby and Sports will be the curtain-raisers.

BOTH TEAMS

PIRATE PANTHERS: Matt Garland, Te Kaireka Puhia, Leroy Taiapa, Jackson Neilson, Zion Clarke, David Neilson, Matt Murtha, Leon McEnteer (c), Tione Hubbard, Jeke Fatafehi, Eric Greening, Tame Shelford, Jess Kapene.

Substitutes: Billy Mete, Rakei Ngaia, Bronson Delamere, Aidan McMillan.

MAC PACIFIC WARRIORS: Jason Kereti, Sui Faleono, Filemoni Asolua, Isaako Iosefo, Sione Lole, Vailoa Kereti, Setu Kereti, Amiga Mikaele, Leva Sefo (c), Olive Peia, Tariu Toe, Tile Poutua, Sene Kopeti.

Substitutes: Tom Iosefo, Junior Faifua, Paulo Viliamu, Lotolelei Kereti, Kitiona Kereti.