Wheeler helping build a Makos legacy [Nelson Mail
It's just two games into the new ITM Cup rugby season and Joe Wheeler's already avoided the nude run.
It's a quirky season-ending tradition for some rugby teams that any players who haven't scored a try during their campaign line up for a naked length-of-the-field dash.
However, the experienced Tasman Makos lock took care of business in spectacular fashion by scoring the team's first try in the first minute of their season-opening bonus-point win against Hawke's Bay in Blenheim.
No-one was more stunned than the irrepressible Wheeler who'd endured a try-less Super Rugby season with the Highlanders.
"I didn't score one all Super 15 season so it was a bit of a surprise, but it was nice at the same time to get off the nude run," he joked.
"Yeah, it was just a great way to start the year. That'll probably be it, I can pull stumps now [on tryscoring]."
The 25-year-old lock played his 60th game for the province in last Sunday's record-breaking 56-27 win over Bay of Plenty in Tauranga. Yet despite the enormity of the win, Wheeler admitted that it stirred some contrasting emotions within the camp - even disappointment.
"I think it was just the way we went about it, really," he said.
"It was the process we didn't quite get right and it wasn't quite there, but I mean five [championship] points is five points and I'm sure if you'd said to us before we went up there that we'd win 56-27, we'd certainly have taken that with both hands."
With Tasman winning last season's championship to gain promotion into the premiership, Wheeler said the team had high expectations of itself.
"We've got a good core of guys that have been together for a while now and realise that we've built a really strong team culture. We've got a good team and it's about holding our standards really high and just striving to achieve those each week.
"It's disappointing when you don't reach that and the guys know that. We expect it now. We need to be a little bit more ruthless on ourselves to demand that consistent performance and if it's not up to scratch, we've got to be honest with each other. It wasn't quite there at the weekend."
Wheeler debuted for Tasman in their 33-23 win over Taranaki at Trafalgar Park in 2008 and achieved his 50th cap last season against Otago. Yet one thing that's remained constant for Wheeler over the years has been a unique team culture that's seen the side develop into a competitive and entertaining outfit.
"We want to go from being a good side to a great side and really build on what we did last year and start a bit of a legacy of our own."That's the beauty of our team . . . [that] belief and the expectation that we put on each other and where we want to achieve," he said.
"We want something really special for the union and for the players involved. It's a special time and we want to make sure that we get it right and play to our full potential because we know if we do, we can beat anyone. So it's just about being ruthless and really demanding of each other that we do it each week."
Another significant plus for the 2-metre-tall, 109kg second-rower this season has been a refreshing absence of injuries. After back surgery had ruled him out for most of the 2012 Super season, it's been a steady and satisfying climb back to full health.
"I suppose it's like any rugby player, injuries are just part and parcel of being a footy player and we've all got our stories around injuries and I've had my fair share.
"But it's just nice that in the last year and a half the body's been holding up and it's going really well and - touch wood - that continues and I can keep playing some decent footy for Tasman and the Highlanders."
Also crucial to the Makos' success has been their reliable set piece in which Wheeler has played an integral role.
"We've kept it pretty simple and it's working pretty well. It was a little bit messy on the weekend - the delivery from our lineout was a little bit scratchy to the nines on occasions. But we're winning our ball, which is nice, so hopefully that continues and I think that's a credit to the guys who are putting in a lot of hard work.
"We've got to keep doing that because we're coming up against one of the better set pieces in the competition his weekend."
After Tasman's two big wins against championship opponents, Wheeler said the stakes would be raised significantly against premiership team Auckland on Sunday. "We've obviously got a massive challenge this weekend heading up to Eden Park, which has been a bit of a fortress for the Auckland team over the years.
"It's another chance for a Tasman team to make a bit of history - we've never won at Eden Park, so it'll be cool to go up there and try and take down one of the power-houses of New Zealand rugby."
- The Nelson Mail
