Defender’s rise at the Phoenix
Whether at right back or centre back, Tim Payne has become a leading figure for the Phoenix, writes Andrew Voerman
Whether the Wellington Phoenix continue their dream run into the A-League playoffs or not, it will be one of the lasting images of the season.
Centreback Tim Payne sticking out his left leg on Wednesday night to block the stoppage-time shot from Western Sydney defender Tate Russell that could have left their top-six hopes in tatters, then roaring in celebration with a double fist pump, as if he’d scored the winning goal.
Because of that intervention, the Phoenix are now just two wins away from a place in the top six.
And as they prepare to go in search of the first of those, against Perth Glory at Eden Park today, it’s worth reflecting on how Payne came to be in that position.
The 27-year-old has been versatile throughout his football career, whether as a schoolboy at Sacred Heart College in Auckland, at Blackburn Rovers in England, in New Zealand’s old national league, or at the Phoenix.
But it was only during the 2017-18 national league season, when he linked up with his old school coach – former All Whites centre back Danny Hay, now the national team coach – at Suburbs, that he first began to play weekin, week-out in the centre of defence.
‘‘He’s helped me massively in that regard,’’ Payne said of Hay’s influence.
‘‘He’s played at the highest level as a centreback, and he’s captained the country, so the little pointers here and there and the little aspects of how he’d defend have been phenomenal for me and have helped me develop into the centreback and right back that I am.’’
While Payne became an outand-out centreback for Suburbs, leading them to the national league title in the 2018-19 season, his versatility meant he still found himself popping up in other positions from time to time.
He played as central midfielder for the All Whites in 2018, and it was with an eye to playing him there that Ufuk Talay signed him for the Phoenix in 2019.
But while that was where he made his Phoenix debut in that year’s FFA Cup, it was at right back – a position he had barely played previously – that he first became an A-League starter.
When the Phoenix lost two centre backs – Luke DeVere and Joshua Laws – to injury in the same match, he was moved infield, and has remained there for the most part since.
Payne is the only Phoenix player to have started every match this season and has been one of their most consistent performers. He is ‘‘buzzing’’ to be a key player for the country’s only professional club, which he recently captained for the first time, and he could end up being be part of the team’s core for years to come.
But would he prefer to play right back or centreback? ‘‘It’s a tough one,’’ Payne said. ‘‘I think I can offer a lot as a fullback, with the engine I have, and the ability to get up and down. I think I was getting better and better as the season went on last year.
‘‘But it’s quite nice playing centreback, as the load is a little bit less.
‘‘I still think I can offer the team a lot at right back, but I’m more than happy to play at centreback as well.’’
Another wrinkle is that what might be best for the Phoenix might not be what’s best for Payne when it comes to furthering his international career with the All Whites, as he is arguably the country’s leading right back, but is well down the pecking order in the middle, behind Winston Reid and Michael Boxall.
‘‘I guess that’s a little bit of a factor, but I just look at where personally I can contribute most to the team and whether that’s centreback or right back – I’m unsure myself – I’ll just do a job for the team.’’
Regardless of what position he plays, it’s significant that Payne is approaching the end of his second season in a row playing regularly in professional football, and appears to have a long future at that level ahead of him, having been tipped for big things since his All Whites debut at 18.
But disappointments at professional level followed with Blackburn and in the US United Soccer League, and he ‘‘probably fell out of love with the game a little bit’’.
Three summers back in amateur football with Suburbs followed, where he reconnected with Hay, a long-time mentor, and rekindled his desire to play at the highest level possible.
Then came his first season with the Phoenix, which ended on a sour note, as he spent four games in the stands serving a suspension after pleading guilty to a drink-driving charge, then suffered a hamstring injury that ruled him out just as he was set to return.
When the Phoenix began their pre-season in November, Payne had gone almost eight months without playing, but he’d put in the work to get in the best shape possible and Talay hasn’t omitted him from a starting XI since.
As things stand, the culmination of that work was Wednesday night’s season-saving block, but he hopes there is plenty more to come – starting today, where he and the Phoenix will play their third must-win match in a row.
When he was 17, Payne was described by one of his national age-group team coaches, Aaron MacFarland, as psychologically strong. That’s not a label given to many teenagers, but it’s one he looks back on a decade later with pride.
‘‘With the ups and downs I’ve had, some self-inflicted, and some to do with the football realm and disappointment in that regard, I think I’ve always recovered well from them,’’ Payne said.
‘‘There’s a piece of advice that I’ve been given that it’s not the mistakes you make, it’s how you react from those mistakes and that’s what you’re judged on, and I like to think I’ve done that pretty well over my time.’’
‘‘With the ups and downs I’ve had, some self-inflicted, and some to do with the football realm and disappointment in that regard, I think I’ve always recovered well from them.’’ Tim Payne