Tipoki looking forward to Harbour captaincy

New North Harbour captain Rua Tipoki. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Rua Tipoki draws a parallel between his personal objectives and those of the North Harbour team he leads in this year's NPC.

Harbour have never won the title, or the Ranfurly Shield since their birth 20 years ago. They have had their chances and had fine players, but something has always held them back.

Tipoki's rugby talent has never been questioned, but his temperament has. However, times have to change and Tipoki hopes the next few months will prove his point.

"People have said I'm a loose cannon, that sort of thing. But if you want to go forward and achieve, you acknowledge those things and don't let them stand in your way," he said.

"We have to look forward and realise this is our team now and no matter what any Harbour team has done in the past, it doesn't need to bind us in any way.

"We have to determine how well this team goes. We can't use history as an excuse. This is our team and we can do with it what we choose."

Eyebrows were raised when coach Allan Pollock named Tipoki as his captain. Tipoki's report card would have read something like: fine talent but prone to disciplinary hiccups, on and off the field.

But the 26-year-old, whose rugby travels have taken in Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Japan and Harbour, reckons his time at the Bay last year, when he was ever present in their march to the semifinals, taught him a valuable lesson.

"They basically said, when they took me on a week-to-week basis, 'Rua, all you have to do is ask yourself this question when you're going to do something on or off the field: is it good for the team?'

"That can steer you clear of a lot of potentially damaging situations. I still say it to myself now, I've just got to maintain my discipline and put the team before anything else."

As for his captaincy style, Tipoki plays down the significance, pointing to other leaders such as last year's captain, hooker Joe Ward, in the squad.

"I don't ever look past the playing side of things. I believe that's how I'm going to help lead the team.

"We've got good thinkers in the pack and the backline. It's not like I'm going to bring a whole new brain-set to the team. But I'll bring a competitive edge and a real determination not to go down."

Determination such as that he has seen in teams like Canterbury, where the competitive spirit, the resolve not to lose, rubs off.

He reckons the Wayne Ormond-inspired Bay of Plenty had a bit of it last year, and Jono Gibbes had the same gift with the Maori team against the Lions this year.

Tipoki likes what he has seen from the Harbour pack in their leadup matches - a pleasing hard edge to their work. He does not want to single individuals out but Nick Williams, the beefy Blues loose forward, has clearly caught his eye.

"He's almost as quick as any of our backs over 10m. He's over 100kg and he's causing a bit of carnage, but he's got to carry that form through to the NPC. Previous games don't count for anything."

Harbour will miss Nick Evans and Craig Newby, who have gone to Otago, and All Black Luke McAlister for at least the early part of the campaign. But Super 12 players such as lock Greg Rawlinson and Tipoki's midfield partner, Anthony Tuitavake, and enthusiastic younger players such as Tusi and George Pisi are coming through - combined with a resolve to keep their noses in front of big brother over the bridge. That contest starts tomorrow night.