MPV - Petone halfback Logan Henry loving being back

MPV (Mana, Professional, Villagers) is a newly conceived philosophy at Petone. Halfback Logan Henry explains its meaning.

"Mana is about having pride in the club and ourselves. Villagers is who we are, where we are from and professional represents turning up on time, working hard, setting and maintaining high standards."

The season is only three weeks old but Petone have already won two trophies - the Bill Elvy Memorial Trophy against Marist St. Pats and the Morgan Family Cup against Avalon. These results align with another team slogan, 'Trophy Hunters.'

"Were taking things one week at a time, but this is a different club from the one I left in 2015. The culture and work ethic is way better." Henry warns.

Petone lost the Hardham Cup final last year, but with nearly the entire roster under 25 years of age and a growing maturity optimism is high, something untrue for Henry 12 months ago when he shifted to Rotorua.

"I lost a bit of edge and wasn't entirely happy with the way I was playing so I jumped at the chance to go. My family on Dad's side has connections in Rotoiti," he recalls.

At Rotoiti, Henry missed a sought after Bay of Plenty contract but the experience proved invaluable. 

"I played every minute of every game. Our team made the semi-finals and I scored about 120 points. The players are way bigger up there, but the pace is a lot slower. I got beaten up, but I grew some mongrel." Henry reflects.

Henry from the Ngati Pikiao tribe needed mongrel to survive Hutt International Boys' School. The rugby program matured greatly in his time, but initially it was a baptism of fire.

"I made the First XV in Year 10 in 2011 and it felt like I was mucking around at first. I have been a halfback all my life but because we were so short of players they put me at centre, fullback and wing. I thought they were going to put me in the forwards at one stage." Henry moans.

"I actually have cap number two in HIBS’ history. Our 2014 captain and hooker Zac Hrstich, now Petone Senior One fullback, has the first. We didn't even have caps up until a few years ago." Henry continued.

From Premier Three, HIBS eventually climbed into Premier One. Former All Black Captain Graham Mourie was an influential coach.

"Mourie built a really strong culture. We had some good players like Tai Mourie and James O'Reilly, but everybody took themselves seriously. We didn't win all the time, but we were always tenacious. The boys in the team are proud of the history and legacy we created." Henry explains.

Henry kicked all five penalties in a notable 15-12 pre-season win against Palmerston North Boys' High School at Trentham, but the biggest shock was a monumental 6-5 triumph against Wellington College in the WelTec Premiership. The account of the game, played at the Petone Rec in a storm, was the second most read article on Sky Sport College Rugby's website in 2014.

"They played into the wind in the first-half. After 20 minutes it was still 0-0 and they were taking quick taps five-metres out from our try line. I thought they were cocky and at that point I knew we were a chance." Henry recalls.

Wellington scored the only try of the game despite three yellow cards and led 5-3 until the final few minutes when Henry nailed a 30-metre angled kick, a goal which proved to be the match winner.

"I still can't put that into words, but I knew I had to kick it. I only had two shots in the game. It was unbelievable it happened on my home ground. I was pumped." Henry chuckles.

Henry's consistent excellence was surprisingly ignored by school selectors and he missed the Hurricanes Under-18 training squad.

"I was gutted to miss that camp. They only took one specialist halfback from Wellington and a couple of utility backs. I didn't think it was a competitive situation. I felt shafted." Henry grizzles.

Spurred on by rejection Henry earned selection for the Wellington Under-19's in 2015 for the National tournament in Taupo. The title defence proved to be a disaster for Wellington when they were walloped in the first game by Taranaki.

"We had such a talented team, it was ridiculous, but we were too confident. I remember some of the boys playing Play Station until 2am the night before the game." Henry ruefully recollects.

Why did Henry return to capital where he could be ranked behind recently arrived New Zealand Schools halfback Carlos Price?

"I am a Petone boy at heart and I could still play NPC for Bay Of Plenty, it just depends. Carlos is a great player, but he is somebody to chase which is better for my game." Henry responds.

Price has been busy with Hurricanes commitments allowing Henry to start the first three weeks of the Swindale Shield where he has made a big impression. Henry scored two tries in Round one against Norths, but Petone came unstuck.

"Norths had good ball runners in the forwards and we played them the wrong way. We tried to beat them at their own game and it didn't work. Avalon is a similar side to Norths, but we took them on the edges and they got tired."

Petone won the latter contest 41-15, but it was the 24-20 upset of Marist St Pat’s which made people take note. Henry attributes the win to sheer attrition.

"It was a tough fight. We had to guts it out. MSP properly dominated a lot of the game, but we took a couple of chances and our confidence grew," he says.

Interestingly Henry is the cousin of Hurricanes halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi who hails from Rotorua. His Dad Wiki owns four Wellington businesses and his brothers Taylor (electrician) and Mason (plumber) both play for Petone.

Henry works as a fulltime drain layer in Whitby commuting from Lower Hutt five days a week at 6:30am. In addition to Petone trainings he works closely with James Porter who he attributes for installing greater MPV.

Petone v Oriental-Rongotai at the Petone Rec, 2.45pm on Saturday

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