A star is born as Etene dazzles

The noise surrounding Etene Nanai-Seturo keeps beating louder with every step the talented teenager takes.

At the Hamilton Sevens yesterday, Nanai-Seturo demonstrated why New Zealand Rugby and the Warriors are desperately trying to retain him as the row over who the 18-year-old can play for rumbles on.

French sevens player Paulin Riva will hope Nanai-Seturo goes back to league after being thrown to the ground like a rag doll during New Zealand’s 52-7 trouncing of France in their opening pool game in the fourth leg of the World Sevens Series.

A rare French attack went foul, the ball was loose and scooped up by Nanai-Seturo, who then cantered towards France’s line with Riva in pursuit.

Instead of passing inside to two team-mates in space, Nanai-Seturo was selfish and went alone, and the chance for another New Zealand try was surely being butchered by a young man with confidence that was too outrageous.

But the teenager had other ideas. Riva grabbed him but was quickly chucked to one side by Nanai-Seturo’s immense power.

Hamilton gasped. Riva punched the ground in disgust. Nanai-Seturo just waltzed over the line for New Zealand’s seventh try against a hapless French outfit.

Oh, to be a Warriors fan watching such talent prosper in the rival code.

Nanai-Seturo was then promoted to start in New Zealand’s second game against Scotland.

After a quiet first half, he soon found space and left two Scottish defenders for dead with two dazzling sidesteps to create a try as New Zealand won 24-5.

A head knock meant he failed to finish the game but not before making a big impression yet again.

A schoolboy rugby star for St Kentigern’s College in Auckland, the Warriors signed him to a five-year deal in 2015.

But NZ Rugby officials claim the contract is not binding, as he was just 15 at the time.

The Warriors have invested time and resources developing NanaiSeturo, who has enjoyed all the benefits of the arrangement, such as the four airline tickets he is entitled to per year.

New Zealand sevens coach Clark Laidlaw was prickly when probed on Nanai-Seturo on Thursday.

He said he would continue selecting Nanai-Seturo, who is rumoured to be joining the Chiefs, despite the dispute.

‘‘We’re only having conversations about how he gets better,’’ Laidlaw said.

‘‘I know there’s been a bit going on in the background, but my job is to coach rugby and his is to play.’’