Change of plan for Mustangs squad
The Manawatu Mustangs have had a false start this weekend.
The Mustangs rep rugby league team were meant to open their national championship campaign against the Hawke’s Bay Unicorns at Fitzherbert Park on Sunday, but now Hawke’s Bay have pulled out, just this week.
Wellington destroyed Hawke’s Bay 86-6 in Hastings last month and have not entered in the national competition now.
So now Manawatu will play Taranaki team Te Atiawa in a pre-season game in Waitara tomorrow, then have their first competition game against the Taranaki Sharks in New Plymouth the following weekend.
It means Manawatu are now without a home game this season, with their other national championship qualifying match against the Wellington Orcas in Wainuiomata on September 2.
If Manawatu can beat Taranaki and upset Wellington, they will qualify for the next round of the championship and play the other regional winners.
Te Atiawa has been described as ‘‘a team stacked full of experienced league players and senior club rugby players’’ and they ran Taranaki close in a 40-34 Sharks win last weekend.
Mustangs coach Matthew Cole said the game this weekend will give them an idea of where they’re at and will act as a proper pre-season game.
‘‘[Hawke’s Bay] was the only home game,’’ Cole said. ‘‘The one good thing about it is we’re going to play 20 players [against Te Atiawa], unlimited subs, so all my boys can get a run.
‘‘That’s what I’m after, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have gone up there. We’ve got a team of 23 players and trying to pick a team this week is going to be pretty hard.
‘‘Everyone’s in the same boat.’’
For this weekend’s game,
Manawatu will be missing dangerous young centre Awatere Kiwara, who is playing for the Manukura first XV rugby team in the Manawatu premier one secondary schools final against the Palmerston North Boys’ High School second XV.
Also away are two soldiers, second rower Solomua Falemai and centre Nikalao Ioane, who are in Auckland, and air force man Hayden Gouman is on his way back from the United States.
Kia Ora Warriors second rower Johnny Kerrisk and Linton Cobras prop Pita Marshall will co-captain the side this year.
Cole said at the start of the year he wanted to develop players and in his squad are a few teenagers. Among those are impressive young prop Wesley Veikoso and hooker Hitaua Butler, both with the South Sydney Rabbitohs age-group system
Jahlon Governor, who is in the Canberra Raiders setup, will play halfback, while they also have standoff and deadly goal kicker Taylor Haimona.
Also in the squad is Linton halfback Hayden Lovie and another dangerous centre in Tevita Faukafa, while Kia Ora prop Matthew Malama gives them another strong ball carrier.
‘‘We’ve got the direction of Kia Ora and the grunt of Linton,’’ Cole said.
Kia Ora forwards Zane Warbrick and Josh Kerr were unavailable for the rep season due to family commitments.
Ohakea Magpies coach Morehu Dellow is Cole’s assistant.