Confident Perofeta to bring flair to Blues' Super Rugby campaign

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A key performer in Taranaki's unbeaten NPC Championship campaign, Perofeta scored 172 points and drove his team around the rugby fields of the country.

Perofeta said: "I built my confidence during the Bunnings Cup. It was more around owning the team, and my role and it's more around growing that to the next level which is a different level," he said.

The Super season offers something different due to Moana Pasifika and Fiji Drua's inclusion.

He looked forward to the flair they would bring to the competition.

"They're going to be hard teams to beat, they've got a lot of talent, big packs that are dominant and physical, so it is pretty exciting," he said.

"It's going to be a well-rounded competition. We're not going to be getting battered and beaten each week, it will be a good change-up," he said.

Perofeta said his mindset was on preparation. He enjoys training within what is shaping as a competitive Blues backline.

“I'm turning up to work. I love seeing the environment and the boys around me and the training process – I'm enjoying that.”

Stephen Perofeta

"If I'm training well, and they want to pick me, I'm happy with that, but I'm happy if I'm just chipping away at my game," he said.

Perofeta said he enjoyed the Taranaki campaign. The coaching group had developed a 'fun environment' while working hard.

It was also a benefit of enjoying his longest run in professional rugby without injury setbacks.

That had been helped, ironically, by the Covid disruptions that reduced the intensity of the campaigns by providing lockdown breaks.

"In 2021 we had that Covid break and it allowed my body to regenerate again," he said.

There had been a two-week break in the Mitre 10 Cup, but that had only served to refresh him.

During the enforced breaks, he worked on getting his body in good shape and goal-kicking.

"It probably worked wonders for me," he said.

The kicking routines developed with Blues assistant coach Dan Halangahu proved beneficial.

While Taranaki was unaffected by Covid lockdowns, Perofeta said the Auckland players, who missed most of the competition, had made the most of a training block with the Blues before Christmas.

That resulted in e being in good shape when the squad came together after the holiday break.

Now it was about building on that whenever opportunities arise.