Rugby: Loosie's high hopes for 'Barbarians'

Banter Time: Isaiah Martin on the job as a graphic designer for Unison. Photo/Duncan Brown

Isaiah Martin laughed when he heard the new nickname for his Napier Technical premier rugby team.

Blokes from other clubs have labelled the Texans the Hawke's Bay Barbarians, a reflection of the talent among the new arrivals at the Whitmore Park-based club. Frontrower Tere Joel from MAC, former Magpies loosie Kaleb Sweet from Taradale, utility back Johnny Bristol from Havelock North and pivot-fullback Tamati Samuels, who has returned from a stint in Wellington, are the most notable.

"In previous years we've had some good teams on paper and we haven't lived up to expectations. We've under performed a bit but with some new faces coming in it keeps everything fresh," flanker Martin said.

"Making the Maddison Trophy final is our goal this season and we've got the team to do it. We've got to try and peak for every game."

Supporters of the Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical team got an indication of the side's potential when they walloped K9 Petfoods Clive 40-10 at Farndon Park last weekend. Fourth-year Texan Martin said some polished defensive work was influential in the visitors win.

"Clive had a couple of players missing. But they still had a big strong pack. We knew we had to get up in their faces early and we managed to do that."

Martin had a huge workrate and with his player-of-the-match performance became the second weekly winner in the tussle to become the 2017 winner of the McDonalds-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award.

"I'm a bit more fitter this season because we took sevens more seriously during the off season to get our bodies prepared for 15s. Fingers crossed I stay fit and healthy because that always hasn't been the case," Martin said.

The former Hawke's Bay age group rep who had three years in the Napier Boys' High School 1st XV missed one season with a bout of concussion and another after having surgery on a hand injury. It was during one of those spells Martin missed out on playing in the 2013 Maddison Trophy-winning side.

"I was still part of the team and still went to trainings but I was gutted I couldn't play in the final. That has made me determined to help the boys reach this season's final," Martin said.

With the new arrivals Martin pointed out there is a lot more depth in the Tech squad this season which creates more internal competition.

"This makes the boys realise you have to train hard and play well otherwise you will lose your spot."

He is rapt with the influence his cousin Sweet is having on the squad.

"His physical presence and powerful ball carries are factors we have lacked in the past."

A graphic designer and member of the marketing and communications team with Unison in Hastings, Martin, works alongside several Havelock North players and supporters. There is always plenty of banter in the buildup to their games but Martin knows he shouldn't be looking any further ahead than Saturday's match against the in-form Tamatea team at Flaxmere's Ron Giorgi Park.

"There are no easy games this season. Each team is as good as any other and you have to make sure you are prepared for each week's game," he added.

Best & fairest
■ Tech v Clive: 3, Isaiah Martin (Tech); 2, Kaleb Sweet (Tech); 1, Peter Bassett (Clive).
■Pirate v MAC: 3, Hayden Hann (Pirate); 2, Kome Palaamo (MAC); 1, Kane Nepe-Apatu (Pirate).
■ Havelock North v Hastings: 3, Isaac Paewai (Havelock); 2, Jason Long (Hastings); 1, Phil McRoberts (Havelock).
■ Taradale v Tamatea: 3, Chris Eaton (Taradale); 2, Hunta Marsh (Tamatea); 1, Jordan Kupa (Taradale).
■ NOBM v Central: 3, Jarvy Aoake (NOBM); 2, Lau Ta'a (NOBM); 1, Ellery Wilson (NOBM).
Leaderboard: 5 points: Hayden Hann (Pirate). 3: Isaiah Martin (Tech), Jordarn Harmer (Tamatea), Tom Agnew (Hastings), Tom Bywater, Jarvy Aoake (both NOBM), Chris Eaton, Ramiha Smiler (both Taradale), Jacob Henry (Clive), Isaac Paewai (Havelock).