Napier Technical lock Todd Cushing takes a breather while on the job as a builder for Prontobuild. Photo / Paul Taylor
It's fair to say Napier Technical rugby lock Todd Cushing is as hard and honest off the field as he is on it.
Mention the possibility of his making the Hawke's Bay Magpies team in the future and he's critical of the number of imports in the wider training group.
"The local players get overlooked for players from Auckland and Wellington which is a bit of a downer. But if I got good enough I would be happy to play for them," Cushing said.
He knows making the Hawke's Bay Saracens team would be a step towards Magpies selection.
"If the Saracens picked me I would consider it. But I've got heaps of other sports and stuff on my plate. I like to get into my wake boarding, fishing and diving and I'm just starting to build my own house too."
A Prontobuild builder for the past nine years, Cushing, 26, pointed out his diving and wake-boarding pursuits, like his job, give him a good aerobic base for his rugby. This base allows him to produce consistent displays like last weekend's player-of-the-match performance in Altherm Window Systems Napier Technical's 31-10 win against Jarks Tamatea at the Hawke's Bay Regional Sports Park.
This saw Cushing become the week 16 winner in the tussle for the McDonald's-Hawke's Bay Today Club Rugby Player of the Year award.
"All the boys knew we had to win that match to avoid the promotion-relegation game. We were up for it," Cushing recalled.
It was the Texans' first win in the Maddison Trophy round after finishing second in the Nash Cup round. The fourth-season premier player pointed out a lengthy injury list and the transfers of imports JJ Taulagi and Sebastian Visibia to Clive were key factors in the Whitmore Park lads' contrasting campaigns.
"We've got most of our injured boys back now and we are all gelling again," Cushing said.
A former Tech colts player who didn't play much junior rugby as a youngster because of his motocross commitments, Cushing said the Texans are eager to finish the season on a high when they play defending champions WIT Napier Old Boys Marist at Park Island on Saturday.
"I know they have a big injury list but they also have plenty of depth. We're not as fortunate as them.
"It will be a tough game but we've got the players to do it," Cushing said.
"If there was a third round we would make the final."
While he has had stints as a loosie throughout the season Cushing said he prefers the locking role.
"I like locking the scrum with the brother-in-law [Elijah Martin] and giving it plenty of go forward."
He ranks Taradale's Angelo Mufana as the toughest lock he has marked.
"Angelo is so good in the air ... it's always tough coming up against him."
Best & Fairest
Napier Technical v Tamatea: 3, Todd Cushing (Tech); 2, Elijah Martin (Tech); 1, Lincoln McClutchie (Tamatea).
Hastings v Clive: 3, Jardine Chung Ching (Hastings); 2, Jono Makris (Hastings); 1, Timo Vaiusu (Hastings).
Taradale v Havelock North: 3, Nathan Tweedy (Taradale); 2, Phil McRoberts (Havelock North); 1, Brad Truesdale (Taradale).
Central v MAC: 3, Jason Cutbush (Central); 2, Faleniu Iosi (MAC); 1, Jack White (Central).
NOBM v Pirate: 3, Jack Nelson-Murray (NOBM); 2, Damien Scott (Pirate); 1, Pouri Rakete-Stones (Pirate).
Leaderboard: 14 points: Chris Johnston (NOBM). 10: Hannon Brighouse (NOBM), Pouri Rakete-Stones (Pirate). 9: Johnny Ika (MAC), Mason Kean (Tamatea). 8: Aleki Vuki, Timo Vaiusu (both Hastings), Nathan Tweedy (Taradale), Solomone Funaki (MAC), Tom Parsons, Jason Cutbush (both Central), Lincoln McClutchie (Tamatea). 7: Ben Hamelink, Danny Toala (both Hastings), Michael Buckley, Ricky Hayes (both NOBM), Phil McRoberts (Havelock North), Fa'alemiga Selesele (MAC). 6: Jason Long (Hastings), Jonah Lowe, JJ Taulagi (both Clive), Mark Braidwood (Tech), Kianu Kereru-Symes (Tamatea).