Sione Tongia laughs, then says what just about everyone else in Group 10 is thinking.
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“I’m probably the biggest centre anyone has ever seen,” the 28-year-old Orange Hawks three-quarter smiled.
“I don’t have a big game though, if I come up against a centre here with a big name, I’m up for the challenge.
“I’ve just got to stay focused on defence, really ... and try and survive the 80 minutes.”
Tongia’s entry into Group 10 has been spectacular.
If Miley Cyrus came in like a wrecking ball, then Tongia arrived at Hawks like a pendulum full of them.
He terrorised the Blayney in round one while he gave Mudgee centre Lee Hicks nightmares during the two blues stunning upset of the defending premiers last weekend.
With a reputation as one of the most damaging outside backs in Group Nine before he ventured north, appearing with the Central Queensland Capras over the last two years, comments like the following are sure to strike a bit of fear into Bathurst Panthers ahead of Saturday’s clash at Waratah Sportsground.
“For us, it’s about being ruthless and showing some mongrel in defence,” Tongia said of the 2-1 Hawks.
“We have to, we’ve seen a bit of Panthers at the knockout and how big they are and how well structured they are and physical.
“We can’t take a backward step.”
Tongia linked with Hawks during the 2017 pre-season thanks largely to his close-knit relationship with new captain-coach Willie Heta.
The pair grew up together in New Zealand, playing for the same junior club, the Otahuhu Rovers, before later playing NSW Cup together with the Auckland Vulcans.
With two great wins book-ending a disappointing showing against the Tigers at Oberon, Tongia said the key for Hawks was maintaining intensity for 80 minutes.
“We don’t know a lot about the comp … we had a good start but we struggled against Oberon. They were just too good for us, to be honest,” he said.
“A lot of people say Mudgee had a lot of players out, but from myself when you play footy there’s no excuses. If you’ve got players good enough for A grade then they’re good enough to win.”
The softly spoken giant reserved special mention for Nicko Foliaki and Tony McClure, the pair helping Tongia settle in Orange since moving here during summer.
“Nicko is my manager, I call him that. He keeps me in check,” he laughed.
Hawks take on Panthers at Waratah Sportsground from 2.30pm on Saturday.