Huata stepping up for the seasiders

Walter Huata is proving to be the find of the season for the New Brighton club.

One of the team’s rising stars, Huata continues to impress, scoring two tries for the third time this season in the club’s 26-19 win over Shirley on Saturday.

Huata sits third equal on the competition’s Hawkins medal MVP table in his debut season in the premiership competition.

The second-five was elevated from the colts team this year when two of New Brighton’s premier midfielders left the team in the offseason and it has paid off for coach Scott Pawson.

‘‘He is a player who gets better with every game. Week after week he exceeds expectations.

‘‘He takes every opportunity that comes his way and makes the most of every minute of every game. We couldn’t be happier with him at this stage of the season,’’ Pawson said.

Huata played for New Brighton colts for the past two seasons and for the Canterbury Maori side last year. He hoped to be selected for the Maori squad again and on the radar of the Canterbury Metro selectors.

At 95kg he is a physical player who carries the ball well. He is a good tackler and skilled at offloading the ball wide.

While Huata is considered a quiet achiever by his team-mates, Pawson said he is a ‘‘sponge’’ when it comes to taking everything in.

‘‘Walter is so quiet at training that you wouldn’t really know he was there.

‘‘He is very quiet and very levelheaded, however you most certainly know that he is on the paddock on a Saturday.

‘‘He lets his playing do all the talking that he needs and he has most certainly impressed us all.’’

New Brighton sit fourth on the competition’s leaderboard with 35 points with just two more matches in the first round.