Tisdall shocked but excited to lead side Heartland Championship
Palm Nth, tomorrow 7.05pm
PATIENCE, you imagine, is an essential virtue for a plumber.
You would surely not last long in the industry if you did not keep your cool while dealing with one of those emergencies that would terrify a mere mortal.
Hayden Tisdall knows all about the worth of being patient.
A plumber by trade, he has had to bide his time to get an extended crack at a starting role in the North Otago team in the Heartland Championship.
He made six appearances (all off the bench) as a green rookie in 2014, and played eight games — including starts in the semifinal and final for the Meads Cup champion team — in 2019, but that has been his lot in a gold jersey.
To be fair, Tisdall (28) has had a not insignificant obstacle in front of him in the form of the outstanding Sam Sturgess, the longserving Old Golds hooker and captain.
Sturgess is easing into his most important role — he recently became a father for the first time — and while he is still in the squad, it will initially be in more of a supporting role.
That means Tisdall gets not only a start in the opener against WairarapaBush tomorrow night but the captaincy.
‘‘It was a bit of a shock, really,’’ he said.
‘‘But I’m excited at the same time. It’s always an honour, no matter what team you play for, so it’s pretty cool.
‘‘I’m not one to say much before a game or anything. I sort of just try to lead by example.’’
Tisdall, married to Blayze with children Macey (2) and Freddie (1), has plenty of captaincy experience for his beloved Maheno club, which he led to Citizens Shield glory in 2016 and 2019.
He will lean on senior men in the North Otago squad such as Manulua Taiti and Hayden Todd for support, and also knows
North Otago: Levi Emery, Mone Samate, Jermaine Pepe, Hayden Todd, Ben Paton, Josh RobertsonWeepu, Tini Feke, Junior Fakatoufifita, Josh Reid, Seta Koroitamana, Manulua Taiti, Epineri Logavatu, Lisivani Tuifua, Hayden Tisdall (captain), Kelepi
Funaki. Reserves: Sam Sturgess, Sione Palaa, Alex Nettleton, Paea Fifita,
Angus Foster, Jake Matthews, Inoke Fisilau, Matthew Vocea. WairarapaBush: Tafa Tafa, Charles Mataitai, Te Kahui Bishop, Inia Katia, Soli Malatai, Aidan Champion, Sam WaltonSexton, Sam Gammie, Logan Flutey, James Goodger, Will Porritt, Andrew Smith, Tolu Fahamokioa, Sam Siaosi, Doug Juszczyk. Reserves:
Ryan Wilson, Dominic Herlihy, Tupou Lea’aemanu, Eddie Cranston, Daryl Pickering, Harry Eschenbach, Nathan Hunt, James Coburn.
Sturgess will provide plenty of guidance.
‘‘Sam’s always good to work with. Obviously he’s a really accomplished player, and it’s always good to have him part of the team.
‘‘He will still be keen to compete for a starting role and I will be keen to stay there myself, so that should mean we have a healthy competition.’’
The Old Golds were beaten Lochore Cup finalists last year.
That was a bit misleading, as they finished fourth, which in a season not delayed by Covid means a place in the toptier Meads Cup.
Tisdall knows the province has high expectations every season and he is eager to see how his squad performs tomorrow night.
‘‘I think it’s excitement more than anything, really. We’ve had a couple of preseason games to build into it but to finally have a competition game is exciting.
‘‘I think we’re coming together well. It’s a pretty exciting squad.
‘‘There’s a decent mix of new players, young players and a few old heads who have been there a while.’’
He has probably been called to fix a toilet on a Sunday night but has less experience playing a televised game of rugby in that time slot.
‘‘It’ll be a first, that’s for sure. I’ve played night rugby but never on a Sunday.’’
If plumbing gets too draining (sorry), Tisdall has another career path he could revisit.
No bull — the burly hooker was a handy exponent of rodeo as a youngster.
‘‘When I was at school, I gave it a bit of a go. It’s a bit of a family tradition and that’s why I got into it for a couple of years.
‘‘It’s very exciting — a bit of a rush — but I’m probably a bit heavy nowadays for the old rodeo.’’
Taiti plays his 50th firstclass game for North Otago tomorrow night.
Mone Samate, Jermaine Pepe, Josh RobertsonWeepu, Josh Reid and Epineri Logavatu will make their Heartland Championship debuts, while Seta Koroitamana plays his first game for the Old Golds at this level after a stint with Mid Canterbury.
ZingariRichmond prop Alex Nettleton will make his debut off the bench.