CONTENDERS
MT ALBERT GRAMMAR
Last year’s champions had the right formula and ingredients and, in Geoff Moon, they have the right coach to go back-to-back.
Invaluable talent may have left but compared with other rival schools, losing only 10 Year 13 players is moderate and the experience that remains allows for continuity.
Regardless of their undoubted talent pool, expect to see the MAGS forwards grinding teams down with polished mauls again with penetration from the backs, and explosive players like John Latu at No 8 punching holes and scattering bodies.
Moon’s teams are structured, patient and accurate and, combined with the skill levels and talent coming from the MAGS rugby system, are slight favourites to repeat.
ST KENTIGERN COLLEGE
If there is nothing surer than smelly school socks in 2017 it will be St Kent’s contending again. With their structures embedded by a settled and successful coaching team, they will be efficient and methodical on the field as usual and able to rely on some handpicked X-factor.
Whilst their returning stocks are less than 10 boys, an effective development process is in place with a young second XV and an Under 15 team that came second in the Auckland competition.
Refreshing the squad is seen as a positive from the coaching staff and the expectation will be to add to their four titles in the last six years. With fantastic resources, the Pakuranga school will once again be one of the key teams to beat for those in serious contention.
SACRED HEART COLLEGE
Now they know what it takes to get to the 1A final, the remaining squad and coaching team will have learnt what it takes to win it.
The Glendowie school hasn’t lifted the trophy for more than 50 years but the good news is that talent is in abundance and there is still starch in the leadership.
Pencilled in at centre is Sacred Heart’s first Tongan head boy, Lemeki Namoa who Leger says, “has an aura about him and when he talks, the boys listen.”
Namoa’s communication is therefore excellent and he has the right components to also play in the back three.
Renowned for their clout in the low numbers, Leger’s up-front star power comes in the sizeable shape of tighthead Fatongia Paea who continues the school’s production line of nimble props who can carry well.
Able to play No 8 at a pinch, Paea can importantly also cover loosehead and is part of a scrum that was labelled “peerless” in the lead up to last year’s finale. With roughly 15 players coming back for another go, Sacred Heart’s chances are good.