Rugby: 'Unlucky' Lauano at 200-game milestone

HISTORY MAKER: Migao Lauano reckons his job has played a key role in his 13-season stint as a premier club rugby player. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

IF one had to name some of the unluckiest Hawke's Bay club rugby players not to play a first class game for the Magpies during the past three decades Napier Old Boys Marist winger Migao Lauano would be among them.

Lauano had a couple of trial and pre-season games during the 2005 and 2006 seasons after scoring 14 tries for NOBM in 2005. However, in 2005 the handy trio of Karl Mudzamba, Ray Karauria and Jacob Kennedy were ranked ahead of him.

The following year when the Magpies were promoted to the first division the selectors felt that wasn't the time to blood the Tamatea High School product at first class level and a couple of imports, Southland's Ryan Glover and New Zealand Sevens player Lote Raikabula, were selected alongside Kennedy. Today Lauano, now 35, will experience some form of consolation for not getting a taste of first class play.

He will become the first Hawke's Bay Insurances Napier Old Boys Marist player to play 200 premier games in the club's 26-year history when they host Northfuels Central in a Tui Nash Cup round two fixture at Park Island.

"Back then I was a little unlucky but I kept training hard and this weekend I'll get a reward for that. It's good that Johnny will be playing alongside me too," Lauano said referring to his brother who will start at first five-eighth.

"I'll be playing outside him at second five. It doesn't matter whether I play wing or second five these days ... I just play where the team needs me," Lauano explained.

A former Hawke's Bay B representative, Lauano, won two Hawke's Bay Colts Championships with NOBM before moving up to the premier ranks in 2003. He believed he had two more seasons at least of premier play left in him.

"As long as I keep training hard I should be able to tick that goal off."

The father-of-two pointed out one of the keys to his lengthy premier career was his switch from an apple-picking job with Johnny Appleseed Group of Companies to a picker support role in 2008.

"When I was picking apples, I was only 75kgs, but when I began driving forklifts and tractors I got up to around the 100kg mark. This gave up a little more protection," he said again showing off that huge grin which seldom leaves his face.

He has high hopes for this season's Craig Gowler-coached NOBM premier side.

"There's heaps of good young players coming through and with recent Magpies like Ellery Wilson, Joseph Penitito and Jarvy Aoake there we should be able to make the top four come Maddison Trophy time."

Lauano said he respects all of his opponents but if he had to single out his toughest in recent seasons it would be Magpies and Havelock North winger Shannan Chase.

"Shannan is fast, very good on his feet and hard to read."

Napier Old Boys Marist rugby director Matt Wyatt said Lauano epitomises the club's culture and mana.

"He has always been a player of integrity and a leader amongst his peers with his passion for the game shown on and off the field."

"I've played alongside Migao since our days in the club's colts team and to see him become the club's first player to play 200 premier games is a true representation of who he is as a person, sticking it out when times are tough and staying true to his friends and family," Wyatt added.

We couldn't leave Lauano without getting him to name his Napier Old Boys Marist Selection, a team of players he considers the best he has played alongside during his 13 years at the club. It is:

Liam Edwards, Johnny Lauano, Mark Collier, Sam Giddens, David Benson, Tyrone Elkington-McDonald, Ellery Wilson, Joseph Penitito, Pouvi Fatialofa, Michael Johnson, Mark Abbott, Matt Thompson, Jarvy Aoake, Terry Marsh, Chris Benson.

-Other round two matches today will see Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports host Carters Frame and Truss Taradale at Elwood Park, Progressive Meats Havelock North host MAC at Anderson Park, Tamatea host K9 Petfood Clive at Bill Mathewson Park and Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical take on Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports at Whitmore Park.