Jonah gives glimpses of his old self

Jonah Lomu, playing for Massey, lines up Marist opposite Nick Blincoe. Picture / Jeff Brass

Nick Blincoe was telling himself all week, "just shut down his space, get hold of a leg". Because this was no ordinary club assignment for the 20-year-old North Harbour Marist winger.

Standing opposite him when they kicked off against Massey on a nondescript ground out the back of North Harbour Stadium was, said Blincoe, "the most influential winger, most influential player" the world has seen.

Jonah was back ... again.

For the first time in three years Lomu took the field in New Zealand. This was grassroots rugby with a twist.

"It was great apart from the result," Lomu said after Marist beat his Massey side 25-24 to return to the top of the table with one round remaining. So after years of treatment for nephrotic syndrome, diagnosed in 1996, dialysis and a kidney transplant, a dislocated shoulder and broken ankle, the worst pain is still losing.

"Yeah, it's huge. The boys will be hurting," he said after Massey went down to a late penalty.

Lomu played for 25 minutes in front of 2000 spectators, most there to see him, before leaving the field with a pronounced limp. At times the new Jonah looked a lot like the old one.

With his second touch, he made Marist second-five Scott Adams look uncannily like Mike Catt circa 1995. Soon after, he was bundled into touch in the corner with a try in the offing.

But that was about the end of Lomu's meaningful contribution as he turned his ankle, a minor tweak according to him though it was packed in ice as he watched the rest of the game from the sideline. He was only ever due to play half an hour.

"I managed to find the only pothole on the field," he joked.

When Lomu left Cardiff Blues after he broke his ankle, he formulated some goals. This was a case of one down, several more to go.

He wants to play for the All Blacks again. The TAB would be laying astronomical odds on that happening but you can't kick a man for trying.

"It was just good to get out there and get a feel for the game again, especially at home.

"It was just about getting a bit of confidence on it [the ankle]," he said. "I will build from here. It was a great confidence booster."

Lomu doesn't expect any long-term problems from yesterday's injury and hopes to be named in Allan Pollock's North Harbour squad this week.

"You've got to earn the right to wear the jersey," said Lomu, competing for a spot with Rudi Wulf, Zar Lawrence and Viliami Waqaseduadua.

Not sticking around is Marist winger Alex Florian, the flyer signing off his Marist career with two tries before heading south to Otago.

"There were some great players out here," Lomu observed.

For the giant No 11, it might have been a small step back into the sport he loves with a passion that could hurt him but for Blincoe, it was big in every respect. "He's got 45 to 50 kilos on me. It was amazing to get a run against him."

* All Blacks Luke McAlister and Greg Rawlinson helped Silverdale to a 28-16 upset win over North Shore.

Takapuna and Helensville confirmed places in the top four, securing comfortable wins over Kumeu 33-21 and Mahurangi 38-13 respectively.

Takapuna scored all of their points in the first 20 minutes, with fullback Malakai Nareki then starring for Kumeu by scoring all their points with three converted tries.

Glenfield, with wing Malaki Pelema-Reupena scoring three tries, moved into top eight contention with a 32-20 win over East Coast Bays.