League: Toopi starts climb back

Clinton Toopi (with daughter Waimania) has decided to take his life in a new direction. Picture / Kenny Rodger

LONDON - Just 24 months ago New Zealand rugby league centre Clinton Toopi had scaled his Everest.

A leading contributor to the New Zealand Warriors' 2003 grand final run, the then 23-year-old underlined his "coming man" status with a hat-trick in the Kiwis' 30-16 upset of the Kangaroos at North Harbour Stadium.

Soon afterwards, a poll of international rugby league journalists voted him into the World 13 alongside the likes of Darren Lockyer and Shane Webcke.

But being labelled the world's best centre didn't sit easily with Toopi. The mantle weighed heavily around his neck, the burden of expectation took its toll.

"To be honest, it did," Toopi admitted.

"I started thinking about it, the big expectations, having to do this and having to do that. At the end of the day, all I had to do was believe in myself and enjoy myself.

"All those big expectations took my mind elsewhere. It seemed like I was playing for everybody else instead of myself. That's what I've learnt over this last year, to be able to absorb all that and learn from my mistakes."

Mistakes that took him from the lofty heights of international recognition to the Warriors' interchange bench.

Over the last two years, mention of Toopi being the best centre in the world has always been prefaced with the words "used to be".

Now, however, it seems he is back.

Having played just two of the Kiwis' three Tri-Nations matches, he sits on top of the try scoring charts courtesy of a second hat-trick against Australia and a double against Great Britain in London.

Like so many of this current crop, Toopi attributes his reversal of fortune to a new-found faith in God.

"I've come back and I'm enjoying it. I've got a new faith; my faith is in God now. It comes down to self-belief.

"That's the good thing about Bluey (coach Brian McClennan), he's encouraging that in the team. We've got a lot of passionate boys and a lot of very spiritual boys. That really motivates us and gives us that big up."

Messages posted under his hotel door by Ali Lauiti'iti during last year's winless Tri-Nations tour made Toopi question where he was going, but it wasn't until he returned to New Zealand that he decided to take his life in a new direction.

"Ali put it on offer for me but I didn't think I was ready then. But I came back and Odell Manuel invited me along to church. Ever since then it has been a bit of a blast. It has all been up and up. I haven't had a beer since that time last year, which has been the longest time for me (not drinking)."

Toopi is certainly playing like the weight of the world has been lifted from his shoulders.

The tries have returned.

"It is always good to score tries and Bluey has just given the reins to the boys to go out there and have fun. That is what every footballer wants, to go out there stress free and just enjoy the game and play footie. And that is what we've been able to do.

"We've got a lot of talent in the team and a lot of skill. I just run and link up with some of the top offloaders in the game. We have a lot of gifted guys like Ali and David Solomona, who are presenting opportunities for the guys out in the backs.

Having once again scaled the heights, Toopi certainly doesn't sound like a man about to come tumbling down again.

"I'm loving every moment of it. All glory to God, my wife and family -- and the coaching staff for selecting me to come along."

- NZPA