‘It’s up to him now’: Hurricanes unleash young star Peter Lakai in round one

Super Rugby Pacific, round one: Reds v Hurricanes

Where: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville When: Saturday, 9.35pm (NZT)

Live coverage: Sky Sport 1, live updates on Stuff

The Hurricanes had no hesitation throwing Peter Lakai into the deep end for a Super Rugby Pacific debut against the Reds in Townsville on Saturday.

Coach Jason Holland is confident he will swim.

The 19-year-old powerhouse will make his first appearance for the Hurricanes in their season opener in Townsville after being named to start at openside flanker.

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Lakai is an exciting new addition to the Hurricanes. The New Zealand under-20 rep is coming off a breakout season with Wellington in the NPC, where he helped his home province capture the Ranfurly Shield and win the overall title.

Growing up in the capital, Lakai has been a lifelong Hurricanes fan. Catching the train with his friends to watch the team play at Sky Stadium was a regular occurrence on the weekends.

His favourite players were the Savea brothers Ardie and Julian and he recalled snapping a photo with the pair of them after one particular match against the Waratahs.

Lakai will take the field alongside his heroes at Queensland Country Bank Stadium after getting the nod ahead of his Wellington Lions captain Du’Plessis Kirifi.

“I was at intermediate and I would always catch the train in and watch the games. It’s surreal when I think about it like that. But this week I’ve just been trying to narrow in and get ready for the weekend,” Lakai said.

Operations manager Tony Ward delivered the news that he would be starting against the Reds prior to training on Wednesday and Lakai said it came as a complete surprise.

His mum was the first person he told.

“I was pretty shocked to be honest. Wardy just read out the team and I heard my name. I was shocked but I’m grateful and looking forward to it.

“There was a lot of talk, a lot of people were pushing for me to sit back and learn and settle into Super Rugby but I knew I wanted to come in and compete and put my best foot forward.

“My goal was always to be in contention for that match day 23 at the start of the season.”

Lakai described training alongside Savea as “unreal” and said it would be a dream come true to run out behind the All Blacks star on Saturday.

“He’s the best player in the world and just learning off him, I’m real grateful,” he said.

“Just watching the things he does, he’s real professional and the stuff he does off the field as well.

“It’s been a real good insight into where I want to get my game to.”

Lakai’s emergence has created a lot of excitement in Wellington, with some comparing the hard-running loose forward to a young Savea.

But Lakai said he was not fazed by the hype as he approached his first season of Super Rugby.

“I just embrace it and have fun with it. Pressure doesn’t really get to me. There’s hype and stuff but it doesn’t get to me, I just play my own game.”

Although he is one of the youngest players in the competition, coach Holland has wasted no time unleashing Lakai onto the Super stage, naming him to start in the less familiar position of openside flanker.

Holland said he had shown throughout the pre-season that he was ready.

“He’s got maturity beyond his years and he’s just slotted in seamlessly. It’s just up to him now,” Holland said.

“It feels like he belongs here already. He’s still a young kid and there’s still a bit to learn but he’s competed well with the boys and won the race.

“Nothing has popped up in the last five or six weeks of pre-season when we’ve put him under pressure to suggest he won’t handle it.”

Lakai predominantly played at number eight for Wellington but with Savea a nailed-on starter in that position it is in the No. 7 jumper where he will begin his ‘Canes career.

“Maybe in the under-20s a few times I played at No. 7 and last year in the NPC maybe once or twice, but I’ve had a good crack at it,” Lakai said.

“In pre-season against the Blues and the Crusaders I spent a bit of time there.”

Keen to improve on last year’s fifth placing, the Hurricanes will need to hit the ground running against the Reds, who they beat 30-17 in their only meeting in 2022.

Lakai said his intention was to get his hands on the ball as early as possible to help settle the butterflies.

“Just get stuck in I guess,” he said.

“It’s real important [we start strong]. Going up to Townsville it’s going to be real humid and hot and boys won’t be used to that, but we want to put our foot down in this competition and contend for that championship.”

Hurricanes: Josh Moorby, Julian Savea, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Salesi Rayasi, Aidan Morgan, Cam Roigard, Ardie Savea (c), Peter Lakai, Devan Flanders, Isaia Walker-Leawere, James Blackwell, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Xavier Numia. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Tevita Mafileo, Tyrel Lomax, Caleb Delany, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Brayden Iose, Jamie Booth, Harry Godfrey.