Clubs ready to mount challenge
Manawatu¯ club rugby gets under way tomorrow. Shaun Eade takes a look at how the clubs are shaping up for the senior one season.
OLD BOYS-MARIST 2017: Champions 2016: Semifinalists Coach: Reece Robinson Main gains: Sam Bergeson (England), Colin Sturgeon (Scotland), Sean Pape (Horowhenua) Main losses: Matt Maoate (Kia Toa), Liam Giltrap (concussion), Bain Champion (overseas), Rhys Pedersen (suspended), Zane Burn (overseas), Hunter Prescott (Wellington), Ambrose Curtis Main men back: Chris Long, Jason Temara, Isaac Gulliver, Michael Gattsche, Benedict Grant, Ben Werthmuller, Chris Cairns, Liam Hallam-eames, Hunter Waller, Kameli Kuruyabaki, Hamuera Baker, Luther Hirini (returning April), Matene Ruawai, Bradley Fountain, Anthony Guerin, Ben Crozier Super Rugby: Antonio Kiri Kiri (Blues), Fraser Armstrong (Hurricanes) Prediction: Semifinalists. Good depth ensures they get over the hump of losing a pile of talented players. Will be hard to replicate their championshipwinning run of late last season, but they have the players to pull it off. COLLEGE OLD BOYS 2017: Semifinalists 2016: Semifinalists Coaches: Ben James and Hayden Triggs Main gains: James Tofa (Canterbury), James Durston (overseas), Mathias Konia (FOB-O), Matthew Cressy (Linton), Matenga Baker (Spain), Scott Anderson (Te Kawau) Losses: Andrew Mcdougell (injured), Curtis Reid (North Harbour), Manaaki Selby-rickit (Southland), Zane Rangi, Tyla Mcneill, Tyler Rogers-holden, Alex Johnstone, Kurt Mcnamara, James Kaloto, Jamie Karatea (Australia), Nick Blundell (Auckland), Brad Truesdale Main men back: Cory Purton, Tim Cadwallader, Adam Coll, Brice Henderson, Cory Waho, Jared Goodson, Karl Bryson, Gene Syminton, Jared Goodson, Curtis Reid, Cyrus Baker, Adam Coll, Tuki Raimona Super Rugby: Otere Black (Blues) Prediction: Champions. New coaches and plenty of new players, but it should be the same results for COB, who will once again be frontrunners. Tofa is a player to watch on the wing. FEILDING 2017: Seventh 2016: Sixth Coach: Kelvin Tantrum Main gains: Talo Mikaele (Bulls), Tila (Freyberg), Hayne Leota (Freyberg), Ken Funaki (Auckland), Lux Funaki (Auckland), Jack Fleury (Feilding High School), Griffin Culver (FHS), Valentine Meachen (Wellington), Tarps Rahui (overseas) Main losses: Timo Bristow (overseas), Jesse Mckail (overseas), Crete Cribb (Bulls), Travis Taylor (Central Hawke’s Bay) Main men back: Matt Dalley, Sean Rankin, Brad Carr, Ricky Cribb, Ben Wyness, Kane Ellmers, Rex Lambert, Kere Marino, Patohi Ropoama- Third, Robert Roneke, Carlos Ropoama-third, Luke Clarke, Sammie Pesamino, Chris Willoughby, Zane Dallinger Super Rugby: Heiden Bedwell-curtis (Crusaders), Kayne Hammington (Highlanders), Aaron Smith (Highlanders) Prediction: Sixth. Big year for the club celebrating their 140th anniversary. Solid recruitment, especially in the backs, should have them in the race for the top four for most of the season. FEILDING OLD BOYS-O¯ ROUA 2017: Fifth 2016: Eighth Coaches: Glen Gregory, Paula Maisiri, Murray Stewart Main gains: Jonathan Osborne (Canterbury), Blair Osborne (Whanganui), Tyson Sola-peranara (Tu Toa), Tyler Moeau (Feilding High School), Pedar Collins (Ireland), Hamish Bennett (FHS), Mesake Vaioleti (Petone), Lucas Puts (Germany), Brett Illston (Utiku), Jaid Wiltshire (England) Losses: Cody Shailer (work commitments), Raphael Sau (injury), Simon Smith (Playing Bs), Lewis Marshall (Hawke’s Bay) Rogan Moffitt (injury), Matt Iwikau (Playing Bs), William Butters (Playing Bs), Rhys Smith (work commitments), Willy Ambaka (Kenya) Main men back: Amon Panikoula, Jamie Perigo, Will Butters, Simon Smith, Hemi Bettridge, James Jenkins, James Coogan, Simon Goss, Ollie Brosnahan, Alex Hawira, Jacob Ackerman, Mason Bettridge, Tipene Harrison, Cameron Black, Tom Stewart, Max Fryatt, George Macpherson, Jeremiah Tuimanua-fryer, Nathan Handy, Zeon Mcnabb, Paora Rakatau, Sean Paranihi Prediction: Fifth. Many of the same returning names help give them an edge. If they can stay healthy, it could be a breakthrough year for the Stags. FREYBERG 2017: Ninth 2016: Seventh Coaches: Glen Christini, Michael Lalogafau Main gains: Isaac Tupai, Mike Wilson Main losses: Graham Sullivan (Australia), Tila Peti (Feilding), Mapa Tuipulotu (injured, but may return), Tony Samau (Kia Toa) Main men back: Michael Lockwood, Isaac Tupai, Andrew Wood, Lawrence Liuvale, Vili Siafua, Karl Stewart, Jacob Freeman-broaderick, Josh Sanson, Lota Pulega, Iosefa Mataroa, Christian Kellerman, Wiremu Morgan, Regan Hunt, Josh Leung-wai, Adam Beech, Alesane Mene Prediction: Eighth. Much better retention of players than in past years. No 8 Leung-wai and centre Mataroa are both players to watch. Interesting positional switch with usual halfback Liuvale and flanker Kellerman switching roles. KIA TOA 2017: Runners-up 2016: Runners-up Coach: Bertus Mulder Main gains: Jono Ihaka (Wellington), Matt Maoate (OBM), Leighton Ralph (OBM) Tony Samau (Freyberg), Spencer Bishop (Foxton), Sam Mapuilesua (overseas), Taumutu Nohotima-afemui (Melbourne Storm), Dino Rutten, Alan Harding, Tone Fauolo (Freyberg), Mackenzie Tansley (PNBHS), Iakopo Mauola, Tamatea Marsh Main losses: Newton Tudreu (Waikato), Jordan Bunce (Waikato), Nathan Tudreu (Fiji), Kingsley Teppett (retired), Tevita Talamaivao, Joey Te Huna, Keaton Kawana (injured), Keilan Henry (Auckland), Kenny Wihongi Main men back: Fraser Stone, Atutahi Henare, Neal Tudreu, Moeaki Samita, Taare Ferris, Vilikesa Raboiliku, Jackson Iose, Daniel Monaghan, Sione Asi, Tevita Fehoko, Ben Lynch- Phillips, Jeremy David, Tyler Goodwin, Jaxon Taylor, Brayden Iose, Devon Scott, Jade Te Rure, Geordie Redfern, Tobias Wickhammanuel, Malua Mauola, Moeli Mauola Super Rugby: Jackson Hemopo (Highlanders), Jason Emery (Sunwolves), Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes) Prediction: Runners-up. Five consecutive club finals appearance and runners-up in the past four. Losing the Tudreu brothers and Bunce takes a lot of firepower out of their attack. But they did a good job replacing them with Ralph, Maoate and Ihaka. Te Rure and Brayden Iose will be dominant when they play. LINTON ARMY 2017: Eighth 2016: Ninth Coaches: Dwayne Eriksson and Jaxon Tagavaitau Main gains: Mason Nestor (overseas), Jared Deal (OBM), Troy Sheriff (OBM), Don Bailey (overseas) Main losses: Matt Cressy (COB), Sonny Watson (posted elsewhere), Hamiora Thomas (posted elsewhere), Josh Devine, Jimmy Bergham (deployed elsewhere), Manu Maihi-ioane Main men back: Nick Fakahau, Angus White, Oveleni Tonga, Tejay Oliver, Adam Erimiha, Tamatoa Ropati, Hakarangi Tichborne, Jaxon Tagavaitau, Kaden Morrison Prediction: Ninth. Not a lot seems to change for Linton, with player availability set to challenge the team all season. Will push the frontrunners in the rare weeks they are at full strength. Tagavaitau is a genuine game breaker who the team missed for much of last season. TE KAWAU 2017: Sixth 2016: Fifth Coach: Alistair Mitchell Main gains: N/A Main losses: Jordan Henare (broken leg), Taylor Lowe (Dannevirke), Tom Parsons (Hawke’s Bay), Harrison Brewer (Ireland), Tui Katoa (Hamilton), Scott Anderson (COB) Main men back: Shay Ashworth, Cam Barr, James Tennant, Te Atuarere Albert, Shaun Lawton-sue, Scott Wheeler, Jack Leenards, Liam Mitchell, Adam Boult, Osea Rokobu, Ethan Woodmass, Temm Kauri, Patrick Hiscox, Keegan Laursen Prediction: Seventh. It is shaping as a rough year at Rongotea. Coach Mitchell will lead the team for the first couple of weeks until he heads overseas and hands over to a yet-to-be-named replacement. The side is light on numbers and has lost a host of quality players. VARSITY 2017: Semifinalists 2016: Hankins Shield champions Coaches: Scott Lewis, Daz Horsley Main gains: Cody Hemi (Whanganui), Jaden Falcon (Hawke’s Bay), James Oliver (out of retirement), Ben Mccolgan, Izak Eksteen (Horowhenuaka¯ piti), James Stratton (Palmerston North Boys’ High School), Jacob Millen Main losses: Tom Hughes (Christchurch), Sam Malcolm (Australia), Rhodes Featherston, Sam Healy, Doug Juszczyk (Belgium), Willie Cribb (work commitments) Main men back: Nick Birchfield, Nick Grogan, Hamish Northcott, Kirk Tufuga, Max Tufuga, Sam Tufuga, Ueta Tufuga, Reece Brosnan, Alex Murray, Ian Burmeister, Robin Praat, Matt Hathaway, Mickey Woolliams, Nathan Tweedy, Te Rangatira Waitokia, Thomas Kalin, Jarrod Harawira, Scott Davidson, Conor Mclean Super Rugby: Nehe Milner-skudder (Hurricanes), Jamie Booth (Hurricanes) Prediction: Semifinalists. Good recruitment means the Sky Blues should handle the loss of some experienced campaigners. James Oliver’s return is a big plus for the forward pack. Battle for the No 10 jersey should come down to Davidson, Mccolgan and Birchfield.