Despite nickname, Fualau now a happy hooker

DEREK FLYNN/The Marlborough Express

HARD YARDS: Canterbury hooker Steve Fualau (left) and team-mate Sonny Bill Williams get in some preseason training in Blenheim.

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The smile on Steve Fualau's face disappears at the mention of his nickname.

Despite making his debut for Canterbury in 2006, a combination of injury and the presence of Corey Flynn and Ti'i Paulo has meant the big hooker has only played 11 matches in the red-and-black jumper.

Despite that, he's still had the happy knack of getting himself in the 22-man squad for each of the past two national provincial finals, earning him the nickname "Finals Footy Fualau".

But with Flynn away with the All Blacks and Paulo playing in France, the 26-year-old finally has a chance to cement a spot as Canterbury's No1 hooker and get himself a new moniker.

"I'm not happy about that," Fualau said of his existing nickname.

"We've been talking about burning the boat and not looking back to what we've done in the last two years and I'm not impressed with that nickname at all. The boys have given me a hard time about being injured and coming back and playing in the final but this is a new season and hopefully I get a new nickname."

Realising that the path to the starting hooker's berth would be clearer this year, Fualau made an extra effort to get himself fitter during the pre-season. It's paid dividends, with his nine tries for Linwood the most by any player in the metropolitan club competition.

"The boys have been giving me a hard time about that, too, but it's one of those things and I've been lucky enough to be there [to score]. The furthest one was from about 30 [metres] out, 35. I think I ran through a fullback but nothing special," he said.

Out for most of last year with a knee injury, and off contract, Fualau had concerns about his future.

"I had a few other options but I decided, `This is my chance to play for the best team in the competition and the country', so it was a matter of getting the knee right and getting fit again.

"It's been a couple of years ... I'm really happy to get the chance in the starting team."

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