KEY POINTS:
They've been likened to human wrecking balls and Warrior Epalahame Lauaki and older brother, Waikato No 8 Sione, get the chance to do just that in today's two big oval-ball games in Auckland. Epalahame comes off the bench in the Warriors' crunch league match against the Gold Coast Titans at Mt Smart Stadium while earlier at Eden Park, Sione also comes off the bench in Waikato's rugby match against Auckland.
SIONE LAUAKI
* Born June 22, 1981, Tonga
* 1.94m, 120kg, loose forward
* Provincial debut: Auckland 2002.
* Super 14 debut: 2004
* All Black test debut: 2005
Sione Lauaki is one of the most damaging ball-carriers in New Zealand rugby while his power makes him a wicked defender as well.
For a huge man, Lauaki has great speed and agility which he uses to telling effect in his midfield charges or from the base of the scrum. Strangely, Lauaki has only scored one try in his seven All Black tests.
However, he gave notice of his potency in a ferocious fortnight in 2004 when he scored tries for the Pacific Islanders against the Wallabies, All Blacks and Springboks. Coach Michael Jones urged the All Blacks to pick Lauaki then but it was not until a year later when he made his test debut against Fiji.
Lauaki's rugby fortunes have been blighted by injury and it appeared that pattern would continue when he broke a wrist before the start of the Super 14. He was in robust form late in the series, ending with an explosive performance against the Crusaders before needing minor knee surgery.
That appeared to have derailed his late claims for the World Cup but when the selectors decided to use Reuben Thorne as the lone lock-loose forward utility, Lauaki was included in the squad for France.
Since then he has been undergoing intensive training to get him into match trim, topped up with the sort of impact role he will be asked to produce from the bench tonight for Waikato.
All Black coach Graham Henry on Sione:
"He is a marvellous ball carrier&he can add to the potency of this team. He has got exceptional ability and we need to use that."
EPALAHAME LAUAKI
* Born January 27, 1984, Tonga
* 184cm 104kg
* Secondrower
* NRL debut for the Warriors: 2004
"Hame" Lauaki was marked for big things from an early age.
Epalahame and big brother Sione were born in Tonga and their parents brought them to Auckland.
While at Kelston Boys High School he stood out in age-grade league at the Glenora Bears.
He was picked up by the Warriors development squad in 2003 and made his debut for the club in 2004. Then followed a hiatus, when his talent was obvious but so was his error rate.
He had an entourage who would watch training at the Bears with rap music blasting from their cars. They had to be told to go and he to focus.
Now that he is, the damage he does when coming off the bench is becoming a major attack weapon for the Warriors. Lauaki led the turnaround against the Roosters last weekend, when the Warriors were 16-0 down, sparking two tries with his tackle busts and off-loads and scoring one himself. He's a bit stunned by the attention he's drawing all of a sudden.
He's enjoying making such impact on the field, though, and hopes to push on and play more minutes.
Sione is a regular source of support. "He always texts before the game and afterwards. ... It's good to have a brother who picks on you and tells you where you're going wrong and if you're playing well."
Lauaki's season preparation was hampered by injury. Coach Ivan Cleary said he had been hitting peak fitness just in the past six weeks - six weeks that coincide with a big change of fortune for the club.
Warriors captain Steve Price on Epalahame:
Lauaki's a threat to any opposition&he can absolutely destroy teams. He's an animal, and I just love playing with him. His big brother [Sione]is even bigger than Looky."
