SEMIFINAL TIME
Veteran Taranaki lock Leon Power does not want to find a real job just yet.
After years playing professionally around the globe, Power has yet to sign a contract beyond his current deal with Taranaki.
There’s the possibility he might try to pick something up in Japan but for now his focus remains with the province where he grew up and trying to help Taranaki make a second national provincial final in three years.
He’s first to admit getting the body back up to speed after a serious knee injury has been hard work.
‘‘I’ve felt a lot better the second half of the season,’’ he said. ‘‘The first couple of games coming back from the knee [injury] I didn’t feel that flash but I feel I’m playing better now and feeling a lot better physically.’’
Having started his career in Taranaki, Power, 31, said it’s been fantastic to come back.
‘‘Just playing for your home province, with all your friends and family here, it makes a difference. We’ve also got a great coaching group and an excellent culture here with a great bunch of guys.’’
Winning has helped that, clearly, but Taranaki were getting the rewards from the work they put in, he said.
Still, that would be forgotten in a heartbeat if they failed to get past Tasman for a second successive semifinal.
‘‘Finals footy is a different beast and we know that,’’ he added.
‘‘Tasman have been playing some really good rugby and they had a red card and a yellow one against us at home and they were still in it with 15 to go before we got those late tries. They play a really high tempo game, they score tries in no time at all so you can’t ever really switch off against them.’’
Add in the quality of their ball runners, a strong set piece and some quality finishes and Power was expecting a really tough shift at Yarrow Stadium on Saturday night.
‘‘It’s very exciting but everyone knows it’s going to be really, really close and whoever turns up best on the day will win.’’