Lock seeks first Tui

Norm Henricksen is optimistic his luck will change when he turns out for Greytown against East Coast in the grand final of the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union's Tui Cup premier division competition at Memorial Park on Saturday.

The former Wairarapa-Bush lock, who at 34 is now confining his involvement to the club scene, has never experienced the thrill of winning the main championship and is grateful for the chance to break that trend.

But at the same time he is mindful of the strength of an East Coast side who have already beaten Greytown narrowly twice this season and suggests a battle royal is in prospect.

"I don't think there will be a lot in it. We've had a couple of close goes against them and I wouldn't think this will be any different."

Henricksen rates the East Coast backline as one of the most lethal attacking units in the premier division series and says the onus will be on the Greytown forwards to deny them of a regular supply of quality ball.

"You can't afford to give their backs a sniff, they can cut you to bits if you let them run at you."

As the main "go to" man at lineout time and a rugged operator in the tighter exchanges, Henricksen will have a big part to play if Greytown are to gain ascendancy up front, but he himself would rather focus on the efforts of those around him.

"There's a lot of good young guys there and it's pretty much a case of us old fellas pointing them in the right direction. They don't mind doing the hard yards, so it's all good."

Talented as the East Coast backs are, Henricksen is confident the Greytown rearguard have enough scoring potential too to help their club to what would be their first premier division title since 1995.

"Don't under-rate the backs, they can cut loose any time. They won't let us down."

Whether Greytown will have first-choice halfback Joseph Sio in their starting line-up was still a matter of conjecture yesterday. But coach Ritchie Robertson is pleased with the progress he has made since being injured in last Saturday's semifinal success over Gladstone.

"He's doing absolutely everything he can to be there and I'd put his chances at 50-50 now," Robertson said yesterday.

If Sio fails a fitness test it is likely that Hamish Meyrick will start in the No9 jersey but, if he plays, Meyrick will be competing with Sean Duffy for a wing berth. Also up for grabs is the fullback spot, where the choice comes down to two experienced players in Seanoa Isaac and Lawrence Matthews.

The only first stringer likely to be missing from the East Coast side is injured hooker Sam Barber.