The powerful Otago No 8 celebrated a milestone yesterday — happy birthday.
He was planning a low-key day. He has a job to do tonight.
Otago will play Auckland at Eden Park and a win would set the side up nicely to push for a spot in the playoffs.
Lio-Willie will pack down at the back of the scrum and launch himself at the Auckland defence from there.
By now everyone knows what to expect from the newly-minted 24-year-old.
He is powerful ball carrier, ferocious defender and it is his job to get Otago across the gain line.
Wind the clock back just a little bit more than a year and he was just plugging away at club level. Anyone who had seen him play for Kaikorai would have noticed his enormous potential.
But his Otago debut was still ahead of him. Super Rugby was still a dream and not really a priority.
The main focus of the Auckland-born Samoan was on completing his dentistry qualifications. He graduated at the end of last year.
Mum was very pleased. It was her hope her son would have a very solid fall-back plan once his rugby career had wound up.
And boy, that rugby career is winding up.
That Otago debut came against Southland in August last year. He came on as a sub and made a rampaging run to help set up the winning try.
The Crusaders certainly noticed. But the Highlanders came up with a more compelling offer initially and he joined the Dunedin-based club this year.
He fractured a bone in his hand during the pre-season, which was disappointing for him. But he did manage to make two appearances later in the season and impressed.
The Crusaders came knocking again and signed him on a two-year deal.
"It has definitely been big 12 months, for sure," Lio-Willie said.
"I’ve been blessed with the opportunities given and I’m just trying to take them with two hands."
Following the NPC he will join the Crusaders in Christchurch and plans to work part-time as a dentist to keep up his registration.
"Originally I was suppose to go up there for the pre-season after my stint with Otago last year. But the Highlanders opportunity came up for a longer stint, so I took that
up.
"But Razor [Crusaders coach Scott Robertson] kept in contact."
Moana Pasifika and the Highlanders were also interested.
"But really [I went with the Crusaders] just because I’ve been down here six years in Dunedin doing my thing with dentistry and it was time to move on and see what happens there."
Lio-Willie is signed with Otago for another season and plans to "stick around" for it.
An ankle injury prevented Lio-Willie playing in Otago’s opening three games this season. But he started in the 37-32 win against Southland in Invercargill on Sunday and was back charging the ball up.
He is hoping to build on that form tonight. A win will help lift the late birthday celebrations.
NPC
Eden Park, 5.05pm
Otago: Sam Gilbert, Jake Te Hiwi, Josh Timu, Ray Nu’u, Vilimoni Koroi, Josh Ioane, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Christian Lio-Willie, Sean Withy (captain), Sam Fischli, Josh Hill, Fabian Holland, Jermaine Ainsley, Henry Bell, Abraham Pole. Reserves: Ricky Jackson, Josh Hohneck, Saula Ma’u, Oliver Haig, James Lentjes, James Arscott, Cameron Millar, Freedom Vahaakolo.
Auckland: Jordan Trainor, Tomas Aoake, AJ Lam, Corey Evans, Salesi Rayasi, Harry Plummer, Taufa Funaki, Jackson Pugh, Adrian Choat, Blake Gibson, Hamish Dalzell, Jamie Lane, Marcel Renata, Soane Vikena, Alex Hodgman. Reserves: Te Ariki Te Puni, Jordan Lay, Hamdahn Tuipulotu, Connor Vest, Vaiolini Ekuasi, Sam
Wye, Simon Hickey, Sofai Maka.
