Candidates for No.1 Player in the Country Part 3

Tyrone Thompson Hooker (Napier BHS)

When you are growing up there is always that one player that in your grade that is just bigger, stronger and can handle more than everyone else and Tyrone is one of those players. Starting in the 1st XV in the front row as a Year 11 player Tyrone held his own. Tyrone made the most of his time in the team and ended up making that year a huge stepping stone for himself and it hasn’t slowed down. As a Hooker Tyrone plays that old school style that I am a fan of and that means he’s working heavy in the tight stuff, blowing out bodies out of the rucks, making the solid tackles close to the rucks and a lot of leg drive on contact to get that turnover momentum. Tyrone is going to be a key player for Napier BHS and this South African trip will something he’ll really thrive in because it suits his game.

Millenium Saneviri Hooker (Kings College)

Mill’s if you have ever seen him on the field he really makes adults re-think and say “Wait?….Was there anyone this much muscle and solid when I was at school?”. This kid is in a man’s body and is kill’n boys on the field. Mill’s is really a loosie that will play in the front row which will automatically give your pack extra speed, extra defense, and a very high work rate. When you can add another loosie making it 4 loose forwards on the field at one time your team is already one up on the other team. Mill’s has a way about himself that everyone just looks his way to see what they need to do next as a team and he seems to have the answers. After seeing Mill’s strong game at Hooker in the U18 Blues game I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the NZSS selection come the end of the year.

Simon Parker Loose/Lock (St Peters School, Cambridge)

Making the Barbarians last year was one of the best things to happen for Simon coming into this year because no one really knows that Otamatea HS exists or that they have a rugby team. So after making the Barbarians, he was then picked up by St Peters School where I think he is going to be a big deal for them this year. Simon is a 6’5 Lock Blind Side type of player that brings raw strength, power and a very physical work rate around the ball and carries very well too. His transfer to St Peter’s mean he’ll be under Coach Sean Hohneck who has had an NZSS Lock in 2016 and 2 Barbarians Locks in 2017 and so Simon is in the right place to make that next step.

Simeon Latu (Auckland Grammar)

Simeon has been famous since he played in Year 10 against Kings College and he put his defender on skates on TV with that crazy foot work. I do want to be fair to the defender because not a lot of players could have stopped that and that’s really put down to how good Simeon is with the ball in hand. Simeon has come a long way from then and he has grown physically and added to his game as he has gone from year to year. I have always thought that Simeon on the wing was the best way to use him because of his wide range of skills, and on the wing Simeon that is way more productive and dangerous. When he gets the ball on the wing in a one on one situation you know the percentage is in your favour that he’s going to break the tackle and gain meters. He has very good defense as well that I think is a massive plus to his game in taking down taller longer players and he brings them down and gets back to his feet like nothing.

Terrell Peita No.8 (Mt Albert Grammar School)

A huge beast of a man that has really made good strides as a new Year 11 player that played off pure “Mongrel” and Physicality, now to a player that has molded his game into a dominate No.8 that plays for the team. Terrell has seen what it is like to be in a winning 1st XV and so he knows what he needs to do as a leader, what he needs play like as a leader and what needs to be done on the field to lead his boys into every battle. Terrell is a ball carrying beast that has a great leg drive after contact, he is one of those guys that fights for any extra meters. Plays great from off the back of the scrums and can easily make his way into the back line and cause confusion when he needs too. This year will be a big one for him after his U18 Maori call up and so this year he’ll take it to that next level and throw his name into that NZSS basket.

Tevita Hala (Dilworth School)

We are just blessed with them when it comes to New Zealand 1st 5/8’s and I think Tevita is on that list of talented 1st 5/8’s out of NZ. One thing I had concerns about when Tevita was coming through was the question of “Is he going to grow taller?” Now even though height is not really something that he really NEEDS to have I mean like, he’s not trying to be a Center in Basketball. Anyway he was really short as a Year 11 but last year he got taller and bigger too, he has now found a style and system that he can play in and his true effect is coming out. His passing game is very good, he plays to the line as well and with pace. He has a very good short kicking game that he goes to sometimes to change the pace and look of the game. I think this year he can really make that NZSS push for himself and this year might be one of those years we see that big change in those game changing players and he could be one of them.

Jaylen Tuapola Center/Winger (Scots College)

I think that Jaylen is going to be the player that makes the biggest progress in 2018. I like the way he plays and the style in which he goes about his business. I like when midfielders are explosive players, with sharp footwork and he is just real physical going into contact. I think he could be like a Malo Tuitama, Sio Tomkinson kind of player at 1st XV level and if he does turn out that way that Black Jersey will be within his reach. I would like to see him as a Center and play that outside edge game and setting up his wingers and fullbacks filling in on the inside lanes. I think when he starts to really show his passing game and what he can do to benefit a backline, they will see a role for him in the NZSS Team.