Much has changed since Leicester Fainga’anuku’s 21st birthday last month.
The explosive Tasman wing marked the October 11 milestone with a couple of tries in a 33-7 beat down of Bay of Plenty in Nelson, a result which dropped the Steamers to 1-4 and appeared to have all but ended their playoff hopes.
Only they haven’t lost since, stitching together five-straight wins to book a tasty semifinal clash with the Mako at Nelson’s Trafalgar Park on Saturday night.
As Fainga’anuku put it, “they’re a different beast” from the one which looked odds on to finish dead last in the premiership only five weeks ago.
“Man, we understand this competition is anyone’s game. We know that Bay of Plenty have come a long way, and we give them full respect.”
The Steamers are without a doubt the form team in the competition heading into the sudden-death stage, while Tasman have had to stew over heavy defeats to Auckland and Canterbury in the second half of the regular season.
But, a year after facing little adversity on their way to an undefeated season and maiden title, the way they bounced back from those defeats had been pleasing, Fainga’anuku said.
Particularly with a vastly different team this year, one which can’t call upon the likes of Tim Perry, Wyatt Crockett, Liam Squire, Jordan Taufua, Shannon Frizell, Will Jordan, and injured duo Ethan Blackadder and Pari Pari Parkinson.
