Pegasus Post: December 17, 2020

PEGASUS POST Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Thursday December 17 2020 5
Success credited to simple league principles
• From page 1
After dabbling in rugby union
with Sumner, he returned to the
Keas as a teenager and made his
senior debut as the club took out
the 2007 premier reserves title.
A year later he helped the Keas
lift the Pat Smith Trophy by beating
Papanui in the grand final
and in 2009 he made his debut
as a 19-year-old in the Stuartcoached
Bartercard Premiershipwinning
side.
Todd briefly returned to the
15-a-side game with Sumner in
2014, but he was back on Linwood’s
roster the following
season and immediately regained
his representative spot.
“I definitely missed the league
environment, but going to rugby
was something I wanted to do –
go back to my junior club where I
played rugby as a kid, give it a go
and see what it was about,” Todd
said.
The durable Todd has been at
the forefront during the Keas’
run of five straight CRL grand
final triumphs from 2016-20.
Incredibly, he has won the Mel
Cooke Trophy as the standout
player in the decider an unprecedented
three times – in 2017-18
and again this season.
He has also been a fixture for
his province over the past six
seasons, again captaining an
experienced Bulls squad in the
NZRL National Premiership
campaign.
The 31-year-old credits his
individual success to some simple
rugby league principles.
“My fitness, and just turning
up and helping my mate out on
the field. I’m not the flashest of
players, but I try and get in and
do my job,” he said.
“A lot of it’s to do with our
culture at Linwood as well. You
always want to be there for your
mate and not let them down.”
A regular skipper for Linwood
and Canterbury, the battle-hardened
Todd has slipped seamlessly
into a leadership role in recent
seasons.
“It’s something I’ve slowly
moved into. I’d been at Linwood
for a wee while and when Aga
(Fiso) stepped away from the
leadership group (he retired in
2017) it was a natural progression
to move into that role with Paul
(Sauni).
“I’m probably not the biggest
talker but I do try to lead through
my actions.”
If there has been one constant
HARD YARDS:
Linwood
Keas and
Canterbury
Bulls veteran
Alex Todd has
been named
Canterbury
Rugby League
player of
the 2010-20
decade.
in Todd’s career, it’s the guidance
of Auimatagi.
He was Todd’s first premier
reserves coach, while the pair
played together in the Keas’ 2008
grand final win and the Bulls’
successful Bartercard Premiership
campaign a year later.
Auimatagi and Todd then
teamed up as coach and frontrow
anchor in five straight grand
finals (2015-19) for four wins, and
in every Bulls campaign since
2016.
“Andrew’s had a huge influence
on my career,” Todd said.
“When I started playing premier
Bs in 2007 he was my coach,
and I came through and played
alongside him at club and rep
level, now he’s coached me for a
long time. But he’s a really good
bloke and really knows the game.
“Another guy is (former
teammate and current Keas
coach) Aga, he’s a pretty amazing
leader and someone I’ve always
looked up to,” he said, adding he
was in no rush to hang up the
boots.
“As long as the body keeps
holding up alright I’ll keep playing
for as long as I can. You’re a
long time retired.”
The 150-game milestone for
the Keas is the next achievement
on Todd’s horizon in 2021 after
he brought up three figures in
2017.
CRL chief executive Duane
Fyfe praised Todd’s contribution
when the award was presented.
“‘Toddy is a great ambassador
when representing his club and
province, and has a reputation
for doing his talking on the field
with his direct style of play.
“This is an outstanding
accolade based on his
commitment, perseverance and
achievement over the previous
decade.”
– Canterbury Rugby League
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