A brief taste of the NRL has given Manawatu lad Api Pewhairangi a healthy appetite.
The 21-year-old debuted at centre for the Parramatta Eels in round nine in May against the Brisbane Broncos and played against the St George-Illawarra Dragons and Gold Coast Titans, before fracturing his left hand in the third game.
At the weekend, the Eels had the bye week so he was at home in Palmerston North for his 21st birthday, rare time off before he was back into training in Sydney yesterday.
"I'm loving it over there," he said. "It was awesome to get my debut; now I just want to try and get my injury right."
Pewhairangi joined the Eels this season after leaving Palmerston North at the end of 2009 to take on a junior scholarship with the Newcastle Knights.
On his debut he was marking Broncos and England international centre Jack Reed and was more than up to the task of playing in the NRL as he made 30 tackles in the game.
"I was just starting to get comfortable, but then I'm gutted I had the injury," Pewhairangi said.
His relatives performed a haka for him in the changing rooms after the game.
One of the big things is playing in the NRL with the stars on the Parramatta roster including Jarryd Hayne, Fuifui Moimoi and Chris Sandow.
"I'm still buzzing over all the stars, seeing them day to day," Pewhairangi said. "They're all good guys, all good blokes. I'm just loving my footy and loving the move from Newcastle to Parramatta."
The other big name he has to deal with is star coach Ricky Stuart.
"People think he's grumpy. It's a common question from a lot of people in my family, but he's a good bloke, good to me."
Full-time training as a professional was new to Pewhairangi, but he was enjoying it and was hoping for a few more first-grade games at the back end of the season.
He sees a specialist about his hand next week and hopes he will be cleared to play so Stuart might give him another chance.
"I don't really know what he'll do. I'm happy to do whatever. If we wants me to play in reserve grade for a couple of games, I'll keep playing."
Pewhairangi, a former Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Mana Tamariki student, is in his third year of studying extramurally through Massey University doing a Bachelor of Arts in Maori Studies and said the Eels were lenient when he needed time for assignments and exams.
He may not be the only family member on the team roster in the future. He lives in Sydney with his younger brother Te Aorere who plays for Parramatta in the talent development squad.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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