"He hardly ever misses a game. He looks after his body and trains all the time," says Sam, who flatted with Liam in Hamilton last summer while playing for WaiBop in the 2013-14 ASB Premiership (national summer league) and scoring a goal against Bay United as a substitute.
Standing at 1.93m, Sam Messam was here as a 22-year-old.
The 95kg lanky striker is an imposing figure but has so far come off the bench for the Blues, beginning late in their 2-1 Lotto Central League win over Marist in Palmerston North last month.
"I'm physically stronger, faster and fitter. Now that I'm 28, hopefully I'm mentally stronger," says the City Fitness personal trainer, who sees himself at the crossroads of his playing career.
"I want to take it a step further into the A-League or overseas so I want to attend a few trials at the end of the season.
"I'm semi-professional at the moment so I'm looking for a club to turn me into a professional," he says, ruling out the ASB Premiership for now unless he misses the cut to the higher echelons.
After the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Messam went to Sydney to ply his trade the following year for Dulwich Hill Club, helping them to win their first premiership title.
In 2010, he joined the Macarthur Rams outfit in the NSW Super League (two tiers below the A-League) to finish golden boot with 22 goals.
In 2011, he represented Apia Liechardt in the Premier League before helping St George in the past two years clinch the Super League crown and gain promotion to the Premier League.
"We won the grand final and I was named man of the match for scoring two goals in that game."
Messam realises it's cutthroat trying to break into the A-League.
Having come off the bench three times for the Rovers in the Central League here, he hopes to secure a starting berth.
"I've come off the bench and we've won all three games," he says, disappointed he wasn't available last weekend when the Blues succumbed 4-1 to Western Suburbs in Wellington.
The Danny Wilson-captained Rovers have lost all their games in the capital city to date to league leaders Miramar Rangers and Wellington Olympic.
"We've beaten Olympic at home so I guess the boys aren't very good at travelling."
Messam emphasises not having midfielder Chris Greatholder, who is unavailable for away games, may be the difference.
"Hopefully I'll start playing a full game for the best impact."
Messam says the Bill Robertson-coached Rovers, who are undefeated at Bluewater Stadium, lacked a little depth at the start of the season but now have a strong starting XI and good depth on the bench so it keeps everyone honest.
His injection often becomes a distraction for the opposition whose defenders tend to gravitate towards the striker, leaving the smaller Welsh import Miles John and Andy Bevin to roam freely with devastating effect.
"Whether I'm a decoy or I have the ball, as long as we're putting the ball into the net, like we did against Olympic [in the extra-time Chatham Cup 5-4 victory], then it's good because I'm helping the team any way I can."
He notes how much time and space Palmerston North gifted Rovers in their last league encounter at Skoglund Park.
"I could do what I wanted to so I'm confident we'll have a good result on Sunday."
Robertson says defender Bayley Chadderton is unavailable tomorrow but Greatholder and Messam return.
"I'm not sure of the state of the pitch. It could be moved to another pitch but I'm not sure how it works in Chatham Cup," he says, pretty confident Bluewater Stadium is often in good nick, albeit heavy at times.
"It was similar conditions last year at a poor pitch at Skoglund Park," Robertson says, ruling out any suggestions the recent wet spell will favour the visitors.
MATCH STATS
WHO: Bluewater Napier City Rovers v Palmerston North Marist.
WHEN: Tomorrow, 2pm kick off.
WHERE: Bluewater Stadium, Park Island.
REFEREE: Unavailable.
NAPIER CITY ROVERS: 1 Jonty Underhill (GK), 2 Josh Anstis, 3 Daniel Ball, 6 Miles John, 7 Matt Hastings, 8 Stu Wilson, 9 Sam Messam, 10 Andrija Ilic, 11 Andy Bevin, 12 Oli Chapman, 14 Josh Stevenson, 15 Ryan Tinsley, 16 Danny Wilson (c), 18 Angus Kilkolly, 20 Chris Greatholder, Kyle Baxter (RGK).
Coach/player: Bill Robertson.
Manager: Malcolm Wilson.
PALMY NTH MARIST: 1 Gurkarnvir Singh (GK), 3 Jeremy Wild, 4 Wade Randle, 5 Khair Jones, 6 Jordan Martens, 7 Michael Sheridan, 8 Tyson Brandt, 10 Jerram Tuck, 11 Michael Crisford (c), 14 Steve Tippett, 15 Rhys Gayler, 16 Jonothan Steele, 17 Fin Milne, 19 Brent Argyle, 20 Woody Maxey-Graham, 21 Ashish Sahayam.
Coach: Simon Lees.
