While his side fell just short of their ultimate goal in the competition, Auckland Blue skipper Zyon Maiu’u was recognised as the country’s top domestic U20 player last weekend.

The runaway winner in the NZRL National 20s Most Valuable Player race, which saw votes given out after each game, Maiu’u put his strong campaign down to a desire to lead by example after being named team captain.

"Being captain was something pretty new for me. I wasn’t the type of leader to be super vocal, but Al [coach Alan Ettles] said to lead by my actions, so I just tried to do that,” Maiu’u said. 

“It helped me be better. I am usually an aggressive player but the captaincy calmed me down a bit.”

Maiu’u, who at 17 was among the competition’s youngest players, was named at second row in the Team of the Tournament alongside Auckland Blue teammates Ali Leiataua, Jeremiah Schuster, Albert Fifita and Stanley Iongi plus Doux Kauhiva and Elam Payne from the Auckland White team.

Article added: Monday 12 April 2021