Impressive Heta retains place
Waikato flanker Emma-Lee Heta has kept hold of the No 7 jersey for their Farah Palmer Cup clash against Manawatu in Palmerston North today.
Heta, 26, earned her first start in three years with Waikato when she ran out in last Saturday’s 11-5 loss to Wellington at Marist Park.
‘‘It took a long time, but I finally got a start and it was amazing,’’ she said.
‘‘I think I played a bit excited, but it was a tough game because of the conditions, the park definitely got ripped up and we probably just tried a bit too hard to close that gap at the end.
‘‘Granddad normally comes to watch every game, but he hasn’t been able to for the last couple,’’ she said.
‘‘It was great for him just to be able to come out, and for him to present me my jersey was really special.’’
After the game last week, Waikato coach Wayne Maxwell said that Heta ‘‘was a standout player’’.
‘‘It’s always good to get feedback like that, I give a lot of credit to our team management and former players for getting me here,’’ Heta said.
‘‘They have made this journey so worthwhile.’’
Heta moved back to Hamilton from Christchurch three years ago and used to play in the front-row.
‘‘I always wanted to be a flanker, I had to work hard to lose all that weigh and I’m going to hold onto this jersey now, for sure,’’ she said.
‘‘I’m going to do everything I can to keep it.’’
Waikato welcome Chelsea Alley, Toka Natua and Michelle Montague back into their match day squad.
It’s Alley’s first start for the season having arrived back after winning the World Cup with the Black Ferns and Maxwell has named her at first-five.
‘‘Being her first game back for a little while, she’s still ironing out a few kinks, so I’m just looking for a solid performance from Chelsea really,’’ Maxwell said.
‘‘She brings experience to the backline, she’ll bring some good chat and help our younger players around her, just to calm them down a bit.’’
Manawatu fullback Selica Winiata was the obvious threat for the under-pressure Waikato.
‘‘With Selica playing at the back, our kicking game plan is simple, to not kick to her,’’ Max- well said.
‘‘Losing to Wellington has put more pressure on us and we certainly don’t want to drop a div- ision, so this one is important for us, not just to get those points, but so the girls can experience what winning feels like again.’’