Mike McLachlan at rugby training. Photo / Duncan Brown
Mike McLachlan at rugby training. Photo / Duncan Brown
Taradale premier rugby prop Mike McLachlan has heard the chatter.
That's talk suggesting he will play for defending champions Taradale in Friday's first round Tui Nash Cup encounter against Havelock North at Carters Arms Park and then call it quits.
It will be his 50th appearance for the team.
"It crossed my mind last year but once you commit to a side you're there for the season," McLachlan explained before last night's training.
"You never know, I might stay around long enough to help Reon [Watts] bring up his 300 within the next couple of seasons. Seriously it's now a case of taking each season as it comes," McLachlan, 36, said.
When it comes to commitment McLachlan hails from the top shelf brigade. That's whether he's playing for Taradale where he's happy to play any position as long as he's on the paddock or racing his superstock on the speedway track.
After the final whistle on Friday, McLachlan, who was a member of the Hawke's Bay Hawkeyes team which won the prestigious ENZED Teams Championship in Palmerston North for the first time in February, will make a quick dash to Meeanee to race in the East Coast Championship and on Saturday night will be out again to race in a Best Pairs event.
Mike McLachlan producing a hit for the Hawke's Bay Hawkeyes superstock team. Photo / Duncan Brown
McLachlan is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring up the half century for a club he has represented from under-19 level after completing all of his JAB rugby at Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports. He had 10 years in the club's reserve grade team before making the step up.
"I've marked some tough props up in this grade. Jarvy Aoake from Napier Old Boys Marist, Mark "Cracker" Braidwood and Tolu Fahamokioa from Tech and my Hawkeyes mate Jason Long from Hastings Rugby and Sports.
"But you have to respect everyone at this level and every scrum is different," McLachlan said.
While helping Taradale win the Nash Cup during the last two seasons was memorable for McLachlan he said helping Taradale win the reserve grade title for the first time after several years of trying has been his biggest rugby highlight to date.
"Now I want a Maddison Trophy winner's medal - that would be the ultimate ... up there with our Hawkeyes win in Palmy," McLachlan said referring to the most sought after trophy on the Hawke's Bay club rugby scene.
"Our team is building well. I'm sure we can push our way through ... there have been good numbers turning up and we've had a good pre-season."
It will be interesting to see how the Mighty Maroons perform with a new coaching regime of former Magpies captain Jason Shoemark in the head coach role and former Magpie Dan Waenga and former Hurricane Campbell Feather as his assistants.
McLachlan, who won the Weekend Warrior Trophy for the entertainer of the year in Palmerston North, will trial a new engine on Friday night so he won't be approaching the East Coast Championship with any high expectations.
Northfuels Central coach Exham Wichman has every right to be optimistic about his team's chances of a home win against Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical. There's plenty of experience in his pack.
Promising backs Cole Eru and Tommo Fogarty have made solid progress in the off season.
Maddison Trophy holders Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports should prove too strong for Tamatea at Tamatea Park and close encounters are expected when MAC host Hawke's Bay Insurances Napier Old Boys Marist and Clive take on Ansin and Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports at Farndon Park.
