WHEN his name first hit an Auckland team sheet four seasons ago, Tom McCartney wasn’t known of further afield than his Pakuranga stamping ground.
As the versatile Auckland rugby hooker now lines up for his fourth national provincial championship in the ITM Cup, and after three seasons in the Blues Super Rugby squads, he’s an established name on Auckland’s player roster and is recognised by most knowledgeable pundits.
He’s learnt fast and developed and matured into a fine first-class player and has benefited from being the understudy of Keven Mealamu, the Otahuhu veteran who has played 76 tests for the All Blacks.
McCartney has similar skills to Mealamu. He’s a thinking forward who’s usually low to the ground doing the donkey work of tackling, foraging for possession and supporting the ball carrier, as well as being an accurate lineout thrower.
McCartney says he started out as a loosehead and was chosen in that position when first making the Auckland Academy a few years back. It was in that environment he was tried successfully as a hooker.
He’s also had time at hooker and loosehead in Pakuranga’s recent excellent run in Auckland club rugby, when they reached the Gallaher Shield semi-finals for the first time.
McCartney adds it was a great ride being part of Pakuranga’s progression into the club playoffs top four under the guidance of top coach Wayne Pivac. He says it bodes well for next season and the club’s depth, especially with the reserves and under-21s making their respective competition grand finals last weekend.
McCartney, who has 33 caps for Auckland, is now a senior member of the “leadership group”.
“It’s about holding the other guys accountable, to keep challenging the players to lift their standards and to get the best out of them, to be consistent in performance,” he says.
Auckland coach Mark Anscombe says: “It is a stronger squad than last year.
“There’s a good mix of experience and youth and we’ve got a couple of promising young guys to blend in as the season progresses.”
One of the youngsters named is Pakuranga winger Charlie Piutau, who is in his first year out of high school and has just completed his first season of senior club rugby.
McCartney says: “Charlie’s a really talented player. He’s lightening quick, runs hard and is difficult to stop.”
