Blues hooker Payne taking it game by game on field
Blues hooker Jacob Payne is stoked to be back out doing what he loves – playing rugby.
The Southland Stags hooker had a tumultuous 2023 season, which saw him miss most of the year with a facial injury and then a knee injury in his first game back.
While Blues were beaten 54-5 by an impressive Pirate Old Boys outfit on Saturday, in his third game of the club season, Payne’s just happy to be back on the park.
“Yeah it is good to be back out there and getting some consistent minutes under my belt. I am feeling fresh. Hopefully get a few more games in and keep trotting on.”
Payne made no secret of the fact that he wants to be back in the maroon jumper in 2024 alongside Jack Taylor and Nic Souchon.
“Yeah totally. Last year was a freak year with my facial injury and then first game back my knee. So it wasn’t the year I planned on. I am looking forward to getting back into it and pushing on with Jacko and Souch.”
Blues haven’t been helped in 2024 as two of their Stags squad members from last year, try-scoring machine Michael Manson and halfback Jay Renton are currently playing Major League Rugby in the United States.
“There is still a lot of talent there and we’re all working hard. Discipline is probably costing us. Two weeks in a row we’ve done silly stuff and it’s hurt us. We’re getting ourselves blown off the park.
“If we keep that under control and start playing some rugby we look really good in phases, but then we just give it away with some silly stuff.”
The joys of club level mean the semiprofessional players can move around a bit on the park if required and that’s exactly what is happening with Payne, who’s sharing the hooking role with Tupou Kaufononga, so when they’re not hooking the scrum, they’re packing down at flanker.
“It’s good fun. It takes me back to my under-15 days at Southland Boys’. We’re sharing the role and I am enjoying it and just trying to help him where I can.”
Payne said it was a big year for the club with their 150th celebrations quickly approaching.
“I am still loving it. The club’s 150th this year and hopefully we can get one up over the Star boys that weekend.”
Blues showed in patches they could match Pirates Old Boys in their clash at Balmoral Drive, but the visiting team had too much fire power across the park.
Fullback Anisoni Kaufononga scored an impressive try, Payne and fellow forwards Hamish Gray and Terence Gallen got through a power of work. First-five Connor Bolton showed some nice touches, while Kaufononga and Kepu Suli showed they could be dangerous with front foot ball.
Kaea Nikora-Balloch and Jaye Thompson were superb for POB, finding plenty of holes in the Blues defence, while Jacob Harrex and Matt James were strong in the forwards with Hayden Hegarty and new recruit Shaun Kempton adding plenty when they came on.
Marist caused the upset of the weekend with a 40-37 victory over Woodlands at Miller Street.
An impressive performance at home led by centre Keanu Kahukura and a hard working forward pack earned Marist a well-deserved win. The experience of Scott Eade, who made a a vital return, also helped keep their young backline composed.
The Bretton Taylor coached Eastern Northern Barbarians showed why they are genuine Galbraith Shield contenders, outclassing Star 37-22 at the Gore Showgrounds. Star led early in the contest but the Babas came home strongly to celebrate the 50th matches of Tom Simmers and Sheamus McGuigan in style.
This weekend, Marist welcome Pirates Old Boys to Miller Street, Blues host the Eastern Northern Barbarians and Star travel to Woodlands in what should be the match of the round.