KEY POINTS:
Sam Rapira's first experience of league was watching his dad, Cliff, play for the Hukanui club at Resthills Park in Hamilton.
By age 5 he was playing himself and, apart from a brief spell in rugby while at high school, he has played ever since.
Over the space
of the past four years Rapira has graduated from the club to Bartercard Cup, then the Junior Kiwis, to the Warriors development squad and now the top side.
He had his 13th NRL game in the loss to the Melbourne Storm last weekend and agrees he is starting to feel more comfortable in the big time.
But he has a long way to go to fulfil the predictions that observers of the game make in naming him as understudy to veteran Ruben Wiki.
"I'm still a rookie, I still have to prove myself," Rapira said this week while preparing for their next match, against Manly on Sunday. "I am getting more confidence each time I go out there, but I'm also still really nervous.
"I don't want to get too comfortable at any stage. Each game gets a bit easier but I know I have to keep my concentration. This season for me is about playing well consistently, keeping my spot in the team."
The focus in training this week has been starting fast and hard, not allowing the opposition easy ground from the kick-off and limiting the errors.
A slow start cost dearly against Melbourne. The Manly pack is lauded for its hard-and-fast starts - Rapira knows the Warriors need to match that, and his job is maintaining the momentum when he comes off the bench.
His brief from coach Ivan Cleary is clear and concise. "Get go-forward, stay solid in defence. All he wants is the basics, nothing flashy. If we get the basics right, good things will happen for us."
There was disappointment in the camp last weekend and a feeling they'd let themselves down, Rapira said. "We have to prove to ourselves that we can play football."
His own effort in grabbing the second try of his career was over-shadowed by the loss, he said. He remembered little of the 20m run to the line late in the game. "Melbourne just opened up and I went for it."
It was an example of the good pace he has for a big man.
His father was a prop/second-rower and that background helped.
"He offers bits of advice but mostly encouragement. I grew up watching him play and that's where I got my love of the game, I guess. It's good to talk to him because I know he's been there, done that. Mostly he encourages me to do my own thing."
After last year extending his contract with the Warriors for another three seasons he is focused on learning as much as he can from Wiki and captain Steve Price.
"They are probably the best in the game. The other players help me too. I'm always watching how they tackle, what angles they run. There's a lot to learn."
The life of a professional league player is a good one, Rapira agrees.
It fills most of his time, leaving a little for surfing at Raglan. "I couldn't ask for anything else. It's not easy but it's a great opportunity."
His brother Steve, 18, has the opportunity to follow in Sam's footsteps. He was picked up from the Hukanui club last season and brought into training with the development squad.
Like Sam, he has played the game for all bar his senior college years when the rugby-dominated high school wanted his services.
Said Sam: "I used to play league on Friday nights when I was in the 1st XV and they didn't like that so they made me choose between league and rugby."
Looks like he made the right choice.
Sam Rapira
* Born: April 8, 1987.
* 184cm, 106kg prop.
* Hamilton Boys High School; Hukanui rugby league club; Waicoa Bay Stallions 2004-06; Junior Kiwis 2004-05 (captain in 2005).
* NRL debut v Wests Tigers at Ericsson Stadium, round 11, May 2006.
* 13 games, 2 tries.
