Payne’s path matches Phoenix — upwards

AUCKLAND: Life has always been an exercise in ups and downs. Two years ago, Wellington Phoenix defender Tim Payne experienced the latter.

As the Phoenix relocated across the Tasman in an initially unsuccessful attempt to complete the Covidhalted 201920 ALeague football season, Payne broke quarantine and curfew, commandeering a golf cart with teammate Oli Sail for an illadvised latenight joy ride.

The hijinks ended with a visit to the local police station, a fine and a fourmatch ban.

In the immediate aftermath, Payne vowed to do better.

Fastforward two years and the evidence of his personal and professional growth is clear. Payne has now played 65 times for Wellington and is one of the side’s leaders.

He is a lockin for Danny Hay’s New Zealand side for next month’s intercontinental playoff against Costa Rica and a crucial player in the Phoenix’s hopes of progressing deep into the playoffs.

‘‘I don’t like to reflect back too much. I like to keep looking forward,’’ he said.

Adversity has been a catch cry for the Wellington Phoenix this season, too. If being forced to spend another full season based in Australia wasn’t bad enough, they were hit with Covid, injuries to key players, ongoing issues with access to international players and a schedule in which it played 12 games in seven weeks.

Under those circumstances, a place in the top six seemed fanciful, but the Phoenix will play Western United at 9.45pm tonight in the ALeague elimination final in Melbourne. — NZME