"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.
