Milan Kriletich leading from the front at MSP

Beware the Red Machine.

For many seasons, that was a given at this time of year, as Marist St Pat’s were synonymous with title success.

But they have only played in two finals in the past decade. That last one in 2021 also coincides with the year that current captain and openside flanker Milan Kriletich made his debut for the side, appearing briefly in the Premiers that season from the Colts side and subsequently watching from afar as Tawa won 36-7 at the Hutt Rec.

Since the start of 2022, Kriletich has played 40 Premier matches for MSP and he has started at openside in each of their last 20 games going back to the 10th round of the Swindale Shield last season.

This season he has shown consistent form and Club Rugby understands he holds a frontrunning position in the race for the Billy Wallace Trophy Best & Fairest competition.

Speaking with the Huddy Hui in a recent interview (linked below), Kriletich said that any personal recognition for playing well is down to his follow-me approach:

“I have tried to maintain a big workrate this year,” he said. “Being named captain at the start of the year I felt a bit more pressure than I normally to show the boys the amount of effort that needs to be put in during the games. So it is just something I have tried to lead with, to get off the ground and try and make as many tackles as I can and to really just get stuck into everything.”

“I am not the biggest player physically, but that is where I try and make that up and that has been a bit of a catalyst this year. “

Kriletich was handed the captain’s reins at the start of the year when he returned from his home growing up in Auckland. “Sean Horan asked me if I wanted the role. I like taking up opportunities and challenges so I took it on.”

Sean Horan, a former MSP player and Black Ferns Sevens coach, took over as Director of Rugby ahead of this season, and Kriletich said that he has brought a lot of energy to the club, as well as putting an emphasis on the club’s traditions.

“One thing I like is that he has brought back a lot the history. He has that strong link to some of the old players and some of the trophies that we play for and what it all means.”

Former players Daniel Kauraka and Edwin Meachen are coaching with Horan. “From the short time I have been at MSP I have met a lot of Meachens they’ve made a big impact on our club. He is a really good defensive coach and is a passionate club man.

On the side of the scrum. Kriletich packs down against Paremata-Plimmerton recently. Photo: Caroline Lewis.

On Saturday, MSP were desperately unlucky not to beat Old Boys University for the Jack Lamason Cup. The visitors and likely Swindale Shield winners scored a late converted try from the sideline to win 22-20.

Nevertheless, MSP had already booked their place in the ‘top 8’ for the upcoming Jubilee Cup with a string of wins and only a couple of disappointing setbacks.

This followed several well documented changes in playing personnel at the start of this season, along with the new coaching group.

“With some new players, we just wanted to go out and show we were still a strong side and prove that we could compete right up there at the highest level.”

“There have been some peaks and troughs throughout the season, but some of those learnings we have made are really starting to come through now.”

Kriletich is out Sacred Heart College, Auckland, and came to Wellington study for this software engineering degree which he is at the tail end of now.

“When I to Wellington I never knew anyone at the club, I was just this new sort of guy around there. I do still feel like that even though I am now one of the more experienced players in the group!”

Apart from the obvious Sacred Heart Marist connection, Kriletich and a group of other ex-Sacred Heart students joined MSP on arrival in the capital in 2021 on the advice of his P.E. teacher John Sullivan, a former MSP player.

Other former Sacred Heart players in the Premier squad include front rowers Charlie Hankins and Tom Gordon and wing Noah Guise, while wing Grady Walsh and lock Curtis Finnigan were in the squad last year.

This week the club is also celebrating their latest All Black selection, with centre Billy Proctor announced in Monday’s first national squad of the year.

This weekend, MSP play Johnsonville on Old Timers’ Day at Helston Park. On current form, MSP would be expected to win with a bonus point, which could see them climb a spot and finish sixth and earn a home opening weekend knockout match and their supporters would be eager for victory to advance to the following weekend’s quarter-finals in which anything can happen.

Last year, MSP finished fifth and earned a home playoff, but came unstuck against Oriental-Rongotai (20-25), who then went on to win the Jubilee Cup. MSP eventually lost to Petone in the Hardham Cup final.