Future bright for new Waikato loosie Bates

By CHRIS RATTUE

It may only be a couple of hours drive away, but not too many Aucklanders have hooked up with the Waikato rugby side.

Ponsonby frontrower Nick Mantell was permanently on loan with the Mooloo men a couple of years ago, but that was a rarity.

There hasn't exactly been truckloads coming the other way either, although Waikato prop Deacon Manu is strongly rumoured to be heading to Auckland next year.

Steven Bates has broken the mould.

No dallying with loan agreements for Bates.

The 22-year-old one-time New Zealand Colt and national secondary schools loose forward quit Auckland and headed lock, stock and barrel to Hamilton, signing a three-year contract with Waikato.

Bates doesn't have a Super 12 contract yet, but had two full games for the Chiefs this year when injury struck the loosies, and might have played more if it wasn't for the picky squad replacement rules which made him ineligible on other occasions.

Bates plays all three loose forward positions, although No 8 and blindside are probably more his go than openside.

With Deon Muir making noises about heading overseas this year and Jonno Gibbes looking secure on the blindside, Bates might just be the man to fill the large Muir boots.

Bates showed up with a two-try performance in his NPC debut for Waikato in their less-than-convincing win over Southland in Hamilton, although he will be on the bench against North Harbour today with Gibbes back from injury.

Bates was once a promising rugby league player, and was selected in a national under-15 side alongside Warrior utility Wairangi Koopu and Kiwi Henry Perenara from the Melbourne Storm.

Like Perenara, Bates was from the junior New Lynn club, and his sporting dream was to be a Kiwi.

Bates, whose father John played rugby league for Bay Roskill, hoped he had a toe in the professional door with a Warriors side who were to have played in the rebel Super League junior competition in 1997.

That competition proved to be a sham and was dumped before a ball was kicked, and when Bates' Kelston Boys High first XV came calling, he decided to give rugby union a crack.

"I thought I'd play for a year, give it a go, but I never thought I'd keep playing. Opportunities came up in rugby and I stayed," Bates said.

Those opportunities have now involved a shift to Hamilton, a place he had visited only a couple of times, mainly while working for his father's security company.

Bates had become frustrated at Auckland, where he had just eight NPC games over two seasons, and all as a substitute.

His league history also played a part when Waikato knocked on his door during last year's NPC.

"To be honest I was having a few problems at Auckland and I quite liked the idea almost straight away," he said. "I had to make sure a few things were right, but I never gave it a second thought.

"Waikato have got a bigger plan in mind and it is more than just targeting one player. I fit in with that larger plan.

"I was always sitting on the bench at Auckland. You can't play your best football if you only ever come on in the last 15 minutes. I've already had some 80-minute games for Waikato and the Chiefs.

"And I grew up playing rugby league. As a youngster I never dreamt about playing rugby for Auckland rugby and I didn't come up through the grades with them. I only wanted to be a Kiwi.

"I never grew up with that real passion for the Blue and Whites."

He may now be in the rugby ranks, but league is not forgotten. Bates had hoped to get to the Warriors' game against Brisbane but it clashed with the Southland match. However, he still intends getting to Ericsson Stadium with some old Auckland mates in future.

The Bates name isn't entirely lost to Auckland sport either.

His 18-year-old brother Michael is in the Auckland and national under-19 cricket sides.

Bates' girlfriend Sarah, who is studying to be an accountant, still lives in Auckland, but those are the sacrifices professional sportsmen have to make sometimes.

Bates has quickly settled in to life in Hamilton and has started an electrician's apprenticeship.

"A few mates gave me s ... about moving to Hamilton, but I feel right at home," said Bates, whose parents, John and Ann, regularly travel to watch him play.

"I used to hear all the jokes about Auckland, which never bothered me. If they were good I'd have a chuckle. Now I store them up so I can use them when I need to."

Waikato and North Harbour top the table with five points after wins over Southland and Bay of Plenty.