Mustangs rip into league season with Orcas clash

The Manawatu¯ Mustangs representative side is back in action, despite the lack of a club competition.

The Mustangs start their season against the Wellington Orcas at Fitzherbert Park today, the first game of senior rugby league in the region this year.

Last year Whanganui Boxon and the Linton Cobras played in the Taranaki competition, but the Taranaki competition didn’t run this season. Many of the players instead played rugby, either in Manawatu¯ or Whanganui. But they have had two recent trial matches to decide on the final squad of 25.

Haze Reweti will coach the side for a second year in a row.

Key men from last year should be fullback Logan Afoa, second rower-cum-wing Joshua Metekingi, halves Shadow Wiriori and Bernard Matthews, workhorse backrower Woody Martin and prop Gordy Karaitiana.

Veteran Corey Governor and son Jahlon are in the squad and are both options in the halves, while forwards Henning Petersen and Joshua Kerr, and wing Josaia Ratu are former rep players. Prop Gene Ropoama has moved home from Australia. Ropoama was on the fringes of the Manawatu¯ Turbos rugby team in 2013, but was an impressive rugby league prop as well.

Last season Manawatu¯ beat Taranaki 30-26 and came close to a rare upset against Wellington, losing 28-26 in Palmerston North. The Mustangs also have fixtures against the Northern Swords in Palmerston North next weekend, the Taranaki Sharks in New Plymouth on September 14 and Bay of Plenty team Coastline in Kawerau on September 21.

Manawatu¯ Mustangs: Alex Nootai, Bernard Matthews, Brooklyn Herewini, Corey Governor, Darcy Cook, Francis Potaka, Gene Ropoama, Gordy Karaitiana, Hemi Hindmarsh, Henning Petersen, Jacob Moreland, Jahlon Governor, Josaia Ratu, Joshua Brown, Joshua Kerr, Joshua Metekingi, Joshua Fifita, Kayin Katene, Leonard Matapuku, Logan Afoa, Patrick Hiscox, Shadow Wirori, Tane Raupati, Taumutu Afemui-nohotima, Woody Martin.