Turbos sign fresh flanker

Taranaki flanker Adrian Wyrill has signed on loan to boost the Manawatu¯ Turbos’ thin loose forward stocks.

Wyrill, 26, plays for New Plymouth club Tukapa and has played 17 games for Taranaki since his debut in 2012.

Taranaki fill their larder with Gisborne players, among others, and are fully stocked with flankers. Wyrill will be following the path south laid by Callum Gibbins and Heiden Bed well curtis.

Manawatu¯ coach Jeremy Cotter said Wyrill is an out-and-out openside flanker, brought in to back up captain Antonio Kiri Kiri, who has been playing 80 minutes in every game, without anyone on the bench to relieve him.

Wyrill, 1.85m and 104kg, kept catching Cotter’s eye in club rugby in 2016, when the experimental breakdown laws were brought in.

His enlistment is timely, with the Turbos having four games to play in 13 days. They have also lost loose forwards Jackson Iose and Sam Wasley to injuries.

Meanwhile, with both hookers injured – Tim Cadwallader (rotator cuff) and Sam Stewart (AC joint) – Old Boys-marist hooker Chris Cairns has come in for a week.

College Old Boys prop Gene Syminton is also training with the Turbos.

Lock Liam Hallam-eames has one more game to serve of his four-week suspension, so won’t be available to play Northland on Friday.