Nickname: Steelers

2020 finish: Sixth in Championship

Coach: Tai Lavea

Co-captains: Orbyn Leger and Matiaha Martin

GAINS: sekope Kepu (england), nili Latu (Japan), Alex Mcrobbie (Japan), Jared Page (North Harbour), Sila Puafisi (France), Joe royal (Auckland), Amanaki savieti (Japan), Hoskins sotutu (Auckland), ray Tatafu (southland), Tanielu Tele’a (Auckland), Asaeli Tikoirotuma (north Harbour), Kalolo Tuiloma (northland)

LOSSES: Leigh Hughes (Australia), Kris Kuridrani (Australia), Potu Leavasa junior (Italy), Donald Maka (injury), Clinton Malolua (Australia), sione Molia (sevens), Conan O’donnell (Canterbury), Kieran read (retired), Jason robertson (France), Mickey woolliams (southland)

GO-TO PLAYER: Sekope Kepu The wallaby Test centurion is a gold star signing for the steelers.

He will play tighthead prop and will be top value in rotation with Kalolo Tuiloma and Sila Puafisi.

Three games for Karaka, helping that club to an historic first premiership, took care of his match fitness in July after he ended his latest contract with London Irish earlier this year.

One can easily imagine that Moana Pasifika will have its eye on Kepu, a wesley College product.

BREAKTHROUGH PLAYER: Alex Mcrobbie This man is tall timber and hails from a great Counties Manukau rugby family, the Mcrobbies.

He is still just 21, so there is still learning and filling out to do, but Alex Mcrobbie has come a long way from the Counties Manukau under 16s and the st Kentigern First XV, where he first came under Tai Lavea’s tutelage. He could develop nicely alongside co-captain Matiaha Martin and ray Tatafu.

OUR PREDICTION: Third in Championship The Steelers should be much better than the 2020 outfit that tended to clock off at inopportune moments.

There looks to be more starch and experience to their roster and they have beefed up the front-row, while coach Lavea has got more of the players he wants.

It might be a stretch to supersede the likes of Otago and Taranaki, who can draw on more super rugby talent, but the Steelers should be good enough for the semifinals.