WILDCARD

RONGOTAI COLLEGE

A breeding ground for special players like Julian and Ardie Savea, Rongotai have the right ingredients to go all the way if they can put it all together.

But, it is a big ‘if’ and they were let down defensively last campaign. Inconsistency saw their 2016 run end in the semifinals and, while they impressively accounted for Silverstream twice, they were pushed aside by runners-up, St Pat’s Town, also twice.

Perennially there or thereabouts, it’s a matter of time before the small school goes all the way and takes out all the main players in one season. With a small roll of 650 and only seven teams in their school system, depth over a campaign is the big hurdle.

ABOVE: CLOSE THING Wellington were taken all the way in last year’s final.

LEFT: HARD SHIFT Moala Katoa of Scots College.