Predictions mostly wrong
Questions were continually being asked before Taranaki’s Mitre 10 Cup rugby season about the depth of their backline talent.
It was only natural, given they had lost the likes of James Marshall, Codey Rei, Kurt Baker and Jamison Gibson-Park while captain Charlie Ngatai was highly doubtful because of ongoing concussion problems.
It’s fair to say expectations were not overly high amongst regular observers.
What those in the glass half full camp probably did not take into account was Taranaki’s favourable draw that allowed them to largely build combinations and confidence while manage a squad over niggling injuries.
Their opening five games turned out to be a barometer for their season.
They stuttered to a first up win over Bay of Plenty before they thrashed Hawke’s Bay, lost narrowly to Tasman, pretty much cruised to victory over Southland and were brave in pipping Counties Manukau away in Pukekohe.
However, it was that Tasman loss that defined a portion of their season. In reality they should have won in a match when they created chances but were let down at vital periods of the match.
That was certainly the case when they challenged Waikato for the Ranfurly Shield. Although they had the misfortune of having the challenge at the end of their busiest period of the season, they were in a position to take the Shield because they were simply better than their opposition.
Some poor decisions, most notably from Seta Tamanivalu, cost them dearly and it was to their credit they bounced back to beat Manawatu next up.
Their loss to Canterbury illustrated to some of the less experienced players how mistakes are generally punished by the best sides.
Again they bounced back with a dominant away win over Wellington in a final score that flattered those in the capital while they produced their best performance of the season to beat Auckland and set up a home semifinal.
While the semifinal loss to Tasman was crushing to some, Tasman were the better side for longer periods of the match, executed their game plan better and minimised their mistakes.
The fact Taranaki dragged themselves into a position where they could win it in the final eight minutes points to the character of a squad that was unified from the outset and by and large should improve because of it.
The loss of young hooker Rhys Marshall to Munster is the most obvious downside to the squad although the rate at which players come and go nowadays means dramatic change is an inevitable part of provincial rugby.
Undoubtedly the positives outweighed the negatives.
The growth of teenage back Stephen Perofeta, the chances afforded players like Kylem O’Donnell and Leighton Price, the captaincy of Mitchell Crosswell and the consistent form of experienced players like Marshall, Mitchell Graham and Australian import Ben Matwijow were the real highlights.
The only real lowlight was the fact the team was capable, if they played to their potential, of making it a second national title in three years. choice starter before long. 5/10
Kylem O’Donnell: Put years of knockbacks behind him and earned starting spot. 7/10
Declan O’Donnell: Started to show signs of old form after bad run of injuries. 6/10
Latu Vaeno: Exceptional form after missing first half of season then had horror game against Wellington. 5/10
Not rated: Isaia Tuifua, Trinity Spooner-Neera, Cody Whittaker.
FORWARDS Mitchell Brown: Never waivers from being in the opposition’s face and work rate never an issue. 7/10
Berny Hall: Question marks must surround his future after more concussion problems but another whose attitude never questioned. 7/10
Mitchell Crosswell: Demanded right attitude from team but was unlucky with timing of injuries. 7/10
Toa Halafihi: Continues to make improvements in his game and some exceptional late form. Unfortunate mistakes in semifinal. 7/10
Iopu Iopu-Aso: Started to show how good he is before untimely injuries. 7/10
Lachlan Boshier: Surprisingly was not given more game time. Rule changes counted against him. 6/10
Leon Power: Struggled to make impact and season ended with knee injury. 5/10
Ben Matwijow: Brought in to do a job and did more than expected. Best lineout forward and real favourite with team-mates. 8/10
Leighton Price: Missed half of the season but continued his pre-season form on return. Defining year. 7/10
Mitchell Graham: Incredible workrate and soaked up plenty of minutes off an already busy year. Scrummaging exceptional. 8/10
Mike Kainga: Was starting to make expected impact before season ending injury. 5/10
Rhys Marshall: Arguably Taranaki’s best player whose enthusiasm rubbed off. His best season by far and will be sorely missed. 9/10
Sea Lea: Struggled to make impact because of Marshall’s form. 5/10
Reuben O’Neill: Making real progress to his overall game. 7/10
Ryan Cocker: Struggled at first after long injury lay-off but showed better signs late in the season. 6/10
Jared Proffit: Limited chances because of Graham’s game time. 5/10
Not rated: Adrian Wyrill, Harry Jones.