Slow bloomer Mara determined to make up for lost time
‘‘It does cross your mind, that you might not be given a chance. But at the start of the season Bluey told us all he’d be picking players based on form so I knew that it would come down to how I was playing and not anyone else.’’
It was in about 2005 when former Auckland Rugby League official Stan Martin first noticed a young player in the opposition Wellington team who was ‘‘a head and shoulders above’’ the rest.
In fact, Alehana Mara was one of three individuals who stood out, the others being Ben Matulino and Mose Masoe.
Even then, Martin said it was clear all three were destined for big things.
‘‘The three of them made that Wellington team competitive,’’ said Martin, now a leading player agent in Auckland.
‘‘They were the players the Auckland guys always had to watch out for.’’
So it was hardly a surprise when Masoe, a nephew of former All Black Chris, soon moved across the Tasman to take up a contract with the Roosters. Likewise, Martin understood when Matulino’s career with the Warriors began to take off.
But Mara is yet to match the success of his former team-mates. He has been on the cusp of making it for three seasons but as the No 2 hooker at the Warriors he has continually found himself overlooked for selection.
As a result, he has made just 10 appearances since his first-grade debut in 2010 and spent most of his time playing for the Auckland Vulcans, the Warriors’ feeder team.
That is until now. With regular rake Nathan Friend out for six weeks after breaking his jaw last weekend, Mara will finally be given the chance to stake his claim as a first-grader, starting tomorrow night when he pulls on the No 9 jersey against the Roosters in Auckland.
‘‘I only found out on Tuesday before we had a field session,’’ he said. ‘‘I saw Bluey (coach Brian Mcclennan) walking around and I tried to make some eye contact with him but didn’t get the knowing look.
‘‘I was like – ‘oh, man, I’m not so sure’. But once I got the news it was like happy days.’’
Happy days indeed for a 22-year-old former panelbeater who admits playing second fiddle at the Warriors, especially when his two former Wellington team-mates have kicked on, has not been much fun.
Mara balks at being called an understudy and backs himself to prove he belongs in the top flight over the next six weeks.
‘‘It does cross your mind, that you might not be given a chance,’’ Mara said.
‘‘But at the start of the season Bluey told us all he’d be picking players based on form so I knew that it would come down to how I was playing and not anyone else.
‘‘For me, it didn’t matter if it was for the Vulcans or the NRL team, if I was playing well I knew I’d get a chance.
‘‘This is huge for me. Friendy’s out for six weeks and this is my opportunity to have a dig, have a go and show Bluey what I can do for this team.
‘‘Hopefully I can do enough that when Friendy is back from injury, there’s still a place for me in the side.’’
If Mara needs any inspiration as he returns to the first-grade side for the first time since round 26 last year, he can look at how Matulino has ‘‘grown’’ since his junior days in Wellington.
The 12-test Kiwi is arguably the leading prop in the NRL this year and last weekend took his game to the next level, pummelling a number of Broncos players into the turf at Mt Smart Stadium with brutal Sonny Bill Williams-esque shoulder charges.
But to Mara, Matulino remains just plain old Benny. And Masoe, who has now played 37 games for the Roosters and is a similarly ruthless bighitter, is still just Moss.
‘‘It’s a big buzz. It’s still unreal, you know, hearing people talk about Mose Masoe and how well he’s going,’’ Mara said.
‘‘To me, I think, yeah, that’s just Moss, you know? And that’s just Ben being Ben.
‘‘Have you seen that TAB ad? It’s like – Benny, Benny, Benny, just putting on the massive hits.
‘‘I watch it and I’m like, yep, that’s Ben right there.
‘‘Man, that’s motivation enough. I grew up with him and he’s come so far already. ‘‘It makes me want to be there too. ‘‘But I guess it has been a bit frustrating seeing them go and I’m still waiting for my chance. ‘‘But all I can do is wait. I’m only 22.’’ Tomorrow night at 7.30 the waiting, for Mara at least, will finally be over.