But a milestone for his beloved club will have to wait.
Lio-Willie was yesterday named to make his test debut at No8 for the All Blacks in the first test against France at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
It caps some sort of journey for the qualified dentist, who plays his Super Rugby for the Crusaders but is an Otago NPC player, and will become the first All Black from Kaikorai since Byron Kelleher — and the club’s 15th overall — when he runs on to the field.
"Kaikorai is a huge part of my journey," Lio-Willie said yesterday.
"Their coach at the time, Ryan Martin, came up to Auckland when I was at school at Massey High, and he’s the one who got me down here.
"I played all of my club footy for Kaikorai. I haven’t played for any other club since.
"I love the footy down there, the club culture and everything. I’m actually one away from 50 [games]. It’s a pretty special place to me and my journey."
Lio-Willie, 26, will join fellow Otago forward Fabian Holland in the All Blacks.
The pair made their provincial debuts in the same season, 2021, and while Lio-Willie might spend much of his year in Christchurch now, he still bleeds blue and gold.
"I’ve still got a lot of friends and loved ones down here who have been supporting me since day one.
"I’m just keen to get out there and make them proud."
The value of persistence is clear when you consider a player like Lio-Willie.
He grafted away at club level for four years before he made his Otago debut, and while he had a brief taste of Highlanders rugby, he had to leave in search of more opportunities.
He played for the All Blacks XV in 2022 and 2023 before being called into the All Blacks as injury cover during the northern tour last year.
Initially selected again this year as cover for the injured Luke Jacobson, he was quickly upgraded to a full squad member when Wallace Sititi succumbed to injury.
"Yeah, it’s obviously been a rollercoaster of emotions.
"I’m just feeling proud and humbled in the journey that’s got me here, and I’m ready to go and keen to get stuck in on Saturday.
"For me, it’s just doing my job and trusting in my skill set and in the game I want to play."
Lio-Willie said he could not have imagined, even a couple of weeks ago, he would be starting a test in Dunedin.
"Heck no. No way.
"When I saw my name up on that screen, I just sort of numbed out. I didn’t even know what the second half of the team was.
"It’s pretty awesome, eh."
A dramatically new loose forward trio will feature Ardie Savea at openside and regular lock Tupou Vaa’i at blindside.
Lio-Willie is leaning on star loosie Savea, in particular, for guidance and confidence.
"We’ve been real connected, and there’s a lot of trust between us.
"It’s not just helping each other out but trusting that the other man in the group is going to do his job.
"That’s the sort of confidence that I take, being a newcomer, into it.
"Just the likes of Ardie ... someone I’ve always watched and looked up to, and the amount of trust he’s had in me now, and always being there as someone I can lean on to get better in my role."
