A sobering season for Muliaina

By WYNNE GRAY

Auckland centre Mils Muliaina was a mix of emotions after his side's 40-28 NPC final win against Waikato.

It had been a superb finale to a sobering season for the gifted utility back.

This was a year when he collected a Commonwealth Games gold medal and a fortnight suspension after his social misdemeanour in an Auckland hotel.

The 22-year-old admitted he had been shattered by his ban in August.

"It was a big downer, it was the biggest mistake of my life," he said.

"It is gone but it was tough at the time."

However, support from his family and the team helped him get through a rough patch.

"It was my fault, there were lots of things going on in my life then."

Muliaina was suspended by Auckland about the time the coaches wanted to use him as centre in a rejigged backline.

That plan was put on the backburner but in the latter stages of the competition Muliaina showed his class at centre.

"I am going to celebrate, definitely, but what happened will always be in the back of my mind, it is something I don't ever want to go through again," he said after the final.