Tosi stars in losing side

NO 8 Lio Tosi again banged loudly on the Southland Stags selection door yesterday despite Southland B losing 5729 to Tasman B in Nelson.

Southland B wrapped up its 2018 campaign with the loss, which, much like the Southland Stags in the Mitre 10 Cup, came down to a horror nineminute period.

The southerners trailed 1714 at halftime but let in 27 points in just nine minutes at the start of the second half.

Southland B coach Mal Dermody said it had been the story of the season.

‘‘In 240 minutes of rugby, in the competition games, there were three nineminute periods where we let it slip,’’ he said.

The loss meant The Stags feeder team finished the season with a four winthree loss record.

Dermody said he could not fault the players’ attitudes this season.

Southland Stags squad members Aleki Morris, Rueben Northover and Rory van Vugt were all released to play for Southland B in Nelson.

Tosi had been outstanding this season, Dermody said.

‘‘To be honest, he would be the best forward in this competition.’’

Tosi had been instrumental in helping Marist win Galbraith Shield titles over the past two seasons and last year was a key figure in the Southland under19 team.

He progressed to Southland B this year but is likely to be capturing the eye of the Stags selectors as they search for improvement following the seven losses from as many games this season.

Whether Tosi, who hails from Levin, could provide the same sort of impact at Mitre 10 Cup level is the big question. But with the Stags out of the semifinal race, he might be provided with an opportunity to test himself at the next level.

The 20yearold 125kgplus No 8 is a former New Zealand secondary school rugby league representative who moved from Rotorua to Southland after his final year at Rotorua Boys’ High School. He linked with both the Rugby Southland academy and the Marist club in Southland.

Flanker Presley Tufaga is another who has done well for Southland B and he, too, may well be in the selection frame.