North Harbour v Northland

[Duluth]

North Harbour

1 Tony Tafa, 2 Bryn Gordon, 3 Sione Mafile'o, 4 Tom Savage, 5 Jack Lee, 6 Tristyn Cook, 7 Jed Melvin, 8 Cam Christie, 9 Luke Campbell, 10 Cam Howell, 11 Harlyn Saunoa, 12 Ben Brownlee, 13 Tom Barham, 14 Tima Fainga'anuku, 15 Kade Banks

Reserves: 16 Penaia Cakobau, 17 James Lay, 18 Leka Tu'ungafasi, 19 Felix Kalapu, 20 Karl Ruzich, 21 Siaosi Nginingini, 22 Sofai Notoa-Tipo, 23 Hunter Rice

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Northland

1 Jordan Lay, 2 Matt Moulds, 3 Chris Apoua, 4 Allan Craig, 5 Sam Caird, 6 Rob Rush, 7 Jake Heenan, 8 Terrell Peita, 9 Josh Renton, 10 Rivez Reihana, 11 Brady Rush, 12 Reesjan Pasitoa, 13 Corey Evans, 14 Solomon Alaimalo, 15 Jordan Trainor

Reserves: 16 Jordan Hutchings, 17 Esile Fono, 18 Coree Te Whata-Colley, 19 Liam Hallam-Eames, 20 Lachlan Hooper, 21 Sam Howling, 22 Nathan Salmon, 23 Paula Balekana

[UpTheHarbs]

Good to see Banks back from injury, but Tele'a is out of the 23 altogether.

[taniwharugby]

Very odd the coach is persisting with 2 wings on the bench, much prefer them bringing in one of the young mid-field or 10/15 covers from the Dev side (which is likely Jade or Reuben Stewart)

That looks a reasonable NH side, and while we are going a bit better, than them currently, we often struggle against them.

[mohikamo]

Pasitoa can cover 10, and Alaimalo can cover 15.
He seems to really like Balekana tho. That would be where you'd slot the dev guy in.
While we're still in contention, he can sort of do what he wants, I guess.

[taniwharugby]

@mohikamo id say Evans is more likely 10 cover, Salmon has played alot of midfield at club level as well as the odd game at FB, Brady also played some at FB, but yeah, coach def has a chubby for Balekana. Just seems daft having 2 wings on the bench, less disruption if you had say Reuben Stewart who can cover mid-field and FB. Very talented, seemed destined for higher honours right from when I saw alot of him play as a kid.

Can see why guys in the HP squads get disheartened with lack of promotion from there though.

[kev]

@taniwharugby we have always had that lack of progression from development to our NPC side. It’s something they really need to work on. If there is a gap in fitness or skills how is it closed.

[taniwharugby]

Will be interesting to see how the Renton/Reihana combo goes, I thought the time Rentonnhas had so far he bought a bit more energy and speed, might bring back super rugby Reihana!