Mitchell Scott looking to complete some unfinished business
Mitchell Scott, seen her playing for the Western Force, is looking to cement a starting position with the Tasman Makos.
Unfinished business has brought tearaway winger Mitchell Scott back into the Tasman Makos' fold.
That, and the loss of last year's two starting wingers, James Lowe and Bryce Heem, has seen the Tasman union reconsider its options after terminating Scott's contract at the end of last season. Instead, Scott headed to Perth to take up a contract with the Western Force Super Rugby franchise, but with fresh opportunities opening up back home, Scott's once again looking forward to his fifth season with the Makos since playing the first of his 32 games for the province against North Harbour in 2011 - the same year he was named in the New Zealand under-20 team.
Perth provided an interesting diversion for the 24-year-old winger. But it was during the Force's visit to Hamilton to take on the Chiefs in April, that Scott began to re-evaluate his options.
"I enjoyed it over there but it was probably the fact I came back to New Zealand for a trip and I just saw a few of the boys and caught up with a few of them and I guess it was a bit of unfinished business with coming so close last year," Scott said in reference to Tasman's 36-32 loss to Taranaki in the national provincial championship premiership final.
"Probably the fact that when I started [with the Makos] we weren't that flash and I just felt like we haven't finished what we set out to do. I guess that's the main reason for coming back.
"I spoke to KK [Makos' coach Kieran Keane] after [Western Force] played the Chiefs and said that I might be looking at coming back and then rang them again and had another conversation with them. After I sowed the seed, it all just eventuated from there and I was pretty happy to come home and have another go and lucky enough that they were happy to have me as well."
However, it required some intensive sessions with Tasman's strength coach Glenn Stewart to get Scott back into shape.
"My fitness is good. I did a bit of extra training with Glenn and missed that first week because KK thought that I needed a bit extra. He's not usually wrong about too much so by the time I got into my first game against Bay of Plenty I felt pretty good, I felt fast and over my little injuries and niggles and with my fitness where it needed to be.
"Glenn's been working pretty hard [with me] and I've been doing what he tells me with the food part of it. I'm feeling in pretty good shape and hopefully the form will take care of itself."
He's aware of the opportunity that Lowe and Heem's absence offers.
"I'm just trying to do the best I can for the team and just play the role that I need to play and hopefully that'll result in back-to-back starts," he said.
"I just enjoy getting out there and running around with the boys, so it is a good opportunity this year, I guess, with J-Lo [Lowe] and Bryce out. Last year it was just as much fun coming off the bench, I mean those two are pretty amazing players, so it is a shame not to have them this year. But it gives me a chance to play some more consistent minutes."
He celebrated his return with a clever try against Bay of Plenty following a pin-point double miss pass from centre Kieron Fonotia.
"Yeah, it was a pretty nice pass. [Their defence] was quite tight and I said, `how about we try this', Fonzy's like `yep, let's do that', so it was pretty good - a good way to get back into it."
Scott's constantly working on improving his biggest asset - his blistering pace.
"I'm definitely getting there and I'm obviously always working on it to try and get faster. I do feel like I'm starting to get the fitness back into my game."
And with Otago looming tonight in Dunedin, the banter began last week after former Tasman halfback Kaide Whiting scored the winning try for Otago against Taranaki in New Plymouth.
"I sent him a text after the game and said `good on ya mate'. It's a tight competition, so we'll be looking to get out there and keep winning. You can't afford to drop one game."
TASMAN MAKOS: Robbie Malneek, Viliami Lolohea, Trael Joass, David Havili, Mitchell Scott, Marty Banks, Billy Guyton; Liam Squire, Shane Christie, Pete Samu, Joe Wheeler, Marco Kotze, Ross Geldenhuys, Jesse MacDonald, Tim Perry. Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Suia Halanukonuka, Brock Kaahu, Jeff Lepa, Vernon Fredericks, Jimmy Cowan, Trent Renata, Kieron Fonotia.
OTAGO: Peter Breen, Matt Faddes, Jayden Spence, Teihorangi Walden, Jack Wilson, Fletcher Smith, Josh Renton, Charlie O'Connell, Adam Knight, Josh Dickson, Tom Franklin, Blair Tweed, Hisa Sasagi, Liam Coltman (c), Craig Millar. Reserves: Sam Anderson-Heather, Donald Brighouse, Aki Seiuli, Mikaele Mafi, Naulia Dawai, Kaide Whiting, Sio Tomkinson, Michael Collins.
KICK-OFF: 7.35pm at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium
