DARK HORSES
Peter White predicts a positive season ahead for the Steamers.
Bay of Plenty steamers fans usually just hope to stay up in the Premiership. After all, it’s a rare occurrence for the blue and golds to be playing in the top division.
but under the guidance of Clayton Mcmillan, fortunes have risen in the bay, with promotion in 2019 and a trip to the semifinals last season before eventual champs Tasman ended their season.
Mcmillan has moved on to the Chiefs, with Daryl gibson taking over. The former Crusaders and All Blacks midfielder did not have a great time as head coach at the waratahs but there is unlikely to be any coach turning that organisation round in a hurry.
gibson knows the game of rugby as well as anyone. He takes over a strong squad with three of the best signings made in recent months in Maori All blacks sean wainui, whetukamokamo Douglas and Manaaki selby-rickit. They all come with valuable super rugby experience, which adds to the professionalism of the squad.
“we are looking to get lots of game time out of them. Manaaki is one who had limited game time in the Highlanders season so we are really looking forward for him to stamp his mark,” says gibson.
“we all know what whetu and sean have been doing over the last few years. I think they will really add some value to our team.”
winger wainui is a talented athlete who impressed with the Chiefs for his workrate and ability to win disputed tackle ball possession as much as crossing for five-pointers.
no 8 Douglas and lock selby-rickit will add steel to a forward pack that boasts one of the best front-rows in props Aidan Ross, Jeff Thwaites and Tevita Mafileo, plus blues hooker Kurt eklund and former All blacks rake nathan Harris.
wainui joins All blacks sevens stars regan ware and Joe webber plus Fijian flyer Emoni Narawa out wide, with utility back Chase Tiatia and fullback Kaleb Trask also high-class attacking weapons.
Closer to the pack, blues star Otere Black will run the show at first five. He would love to leave for Japan with an NPC title to match his super rugby Transtasman crown with the blues.
gibson says they are fortunate to have some excellent ‘spine’ players at no 9, no 10 and no 15.
“we have good competition at halfback with Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Luke Campbell, who had a good season with the Hurricanes, and up-and-coming Leroy Carter. so we have good depth in those key positions.”
gibson has put together a high-quality coaching team with legendary Chiefs and Bay of Plenty flanker Tanerau Latimer joining up with Mike Delany and former Hurricanes assistants Dan Cron and richard watt.
“I sold the vision of what we are trying to do at the bay. with an eye for the future it is great for former players in Mike and Lats to get on the coaching pathway. They are in a great position to add value to the team with their experience with the bay.”
getting the vast expanse of the wider bay of Plenty catchment area behind the team is another key goal for gibson and his coaching team.
“Our job as coaches is to really bind our identity that will appeal to our community, by making sure we know what we stand for and what we represent from the style of rugby we want to play.
“The bay has always been renowned for that and it is something I am looking to build upon and continue.”
gibson is talking up his side’s chances of contesting the final this year and trying to win the union’s second top-grade NPC title after the 1976 triumph.
“A lot of our work has gone into providing an environment to build on the stuff that was done last year. The team has done really well over the last four to six years to get out of the Championship and perform well in the Premiership.
‘Gibson knows the game of rugby as well as anyone and takes over a strong squad with three of the best signings made in recent months.’
“we are trying to take that next step and working hard to improve ourselves to do that. I am looking forward to seeing our established super rugby players really stand up and perform well at this level.”