KEY POINTS:
Up and coming Waikato loose forward Steven Setephano is about to discover whether patience really is a virtue.
A New Zealand age-grade representative from the age of 15, Setephano seemed to be on the fast track to the rugby big time when he graduated from the Rotorua Boys High 1st XV alongside the likes of North Harbour wing Viliame Waqaseduadua, Bay of Plenty backs Cory Aporo and Mike Delany and current Waikato teammates William Ripia and Liam Messam.
But while fellow loose forward Messam has chalked up 40 Waikato caps and 22 Super 14 appearances in recent seasons, Setephano has been cooling his heels, caught up in a loosie logjam behind Messam, Steven Bates, Jono Gibbes, Marty Holah and Sione Lauaki.
Now in his third season on Waikato's books, Setephano has made just 11 appearances for the province - many of those in pre-season games.
Lauaki's late call-up into the All Blacks' World Cup squad means that could be about to change.
Setephano admitted he was "pretty much" the second happiest man in the country when news of Lauaki's selection filtered through.
"I've been behind the loose trio here and it is pretty hard to break through," he said.
"I've learned a bit off them over the last three years, which has been great, so hopefully I'll get an opportunity this year to get out there and show my stuff.
"It has been hard but it is good to know this year could finally be the year I get to show people what I can do."
Waikato coach Warren Gatland certainly rates the athletic No 8 highly and intends to give him as much game time as possible this season to boost his prospects of picking up a Super 14 contract.
"I think he's good enough to be playing Super 14 rugby," Gatland said.
"If it's not for the Chiefs then hopefully one of the other franchises notices him and gives him an opportunity."
Good to his word, Gatland started Setephano against Southland last weekend.
But the torrential downpour that affected much of that game didn't exactly help Setephano showcase his skills and he will be back in familiar territory tomorrow night - looking on from the stands, with Lauaki having bumped him from the squad as he tunes up for the World Cup.
"To finally get that opportunity was pretty good but the conditions weren't great and at loose forward you want to get your hands on the ball and get out wide and do some storming runs," he said.
A part-time builder with a year to run on his apprenticeship, Setephano spends much of his spare time renovating his house. He's hoping to put the project on the backburner if a breakthrough season in this year's national championship leads to a fulltime professional contract.
If that happens, his patience in sticking with Waikato will have been rewarded.
Pretty much "Rotorua through and through" after moving there with his parents when he was two, Setephano, who turns 23 on Wednesday, said he had never been tempted to switch to another union where his path to the top may have been easier.
"I knew the situation that was in front of me. Just being alongside [those players], I've grown as a person and a player. Despite the number of years I've been behind them, I've not really been tempted to move elsewhere. I've sort of looked at this year as my year and hopefully I can make it happen."
Steven Setephano
Position: No 8
Age: 22
Height: 1.92m
Weight: 109kg
Waikato caps: 11
Tries: 3
Honours: New Zealand U16, New Zealand Secondary Schools, New Zealand U19.
