Thursday, October 26, 2017
LUKA Connor and the Bay of Plenty Volcanix are ready for the Farah Palmer Cup final. File photo
Adyn Ogle
OPOTIKI’S Luka Connor is pumped for this weekend’s Farah Palmer Cup championship final and she will have a little helping hand from home on game day.
Connor and the Bay of Plenty Volcanix rugby team will take on Otago and Mount Maunganui and each player was able to choose someone to run them out on to the field before kick-off.
Connor chose 10-year-old Opotiki JAB player Mac Andrews, a big fan who Connor used to look after when she was younger. Mac’s mother Donna said he was excited, and a little nervous, when he found out his task.
Connor said it was a great thing to be able to do to represent Opotiki. But after her moment with Mac, things would get a lot tougher as the Volcanix looked to cap off a remarkable season. After winning just one game in the past two seasons, the Volcanix lost just once this year to earn the top qualifying spot in the second-tier championship.
“This year is a different year and there has been a different message to the players,” Connor said.
“The key has been training and the lead-up to the campaign. Everyone had been doing their training. Competitive, everyone wants a spot in the team.
“I can feel we are starting to get more excited and starting to get into a rhythm. This is the final we have been working hard for.
“Every individual player is so talented and they bring those skills together on the field. We know how each other plays and it connects us.”
As top qualifier, the Bay had a break last weekend as Otago and North Harbour battled to earn a place in the final.
“Not playing a game is hard. It is easy to lose game fitness and that game contact. The management have been keeping our heads in the game and we have had some intense trainings.”
Connor, who played her age-group rugby at number 8, has moved to the front row in the recent season and said she was starting to enjoy the prop role.
“I feel more comfortable knowing that I have a strong pack with me. I still try to get my hands on the ball a lot.”