Club rugby is back: How do the Galbraith Shield contenders shape up?
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The race for the 2023 Southland premier club rugby title begins on Saturday. Seven clubs will scrap it out for the prized Galbraith Shield. Logan Savory takes a look at how those teams shape up.
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EASTERN-NORTHERN BARBARIANS
Coaches: Bretton Taylor [head coach], Greg Saunders, Robert Blatch [assistants].
Captain: Jacob Coghlan
Key Players: Jacob Coghlan, Jahvis Wallace, Leroy Ferguson, Levi Emery, Caine Taylor, Angus Simmers, Taylor Peterson.
One to Watch: Leroy Ferguson. Ferguson is a big pickup for the Eastern-Northern Barbarians. At 21 the openside flanker captained Taieri in Dunedin’s club rugby competition last year and sat just behind James Lentjes and Sean Withy in the pecking order, in terms of No 7s in the Otago setup. He has family connections to Eastern Southland and looms as a Stags prospect later in the season.
The Outlook: The Barbarians has to be regarded genuine title contenders. The relatively young team showed improvement last season.
With that season under the belt and some handy inclusions - including openside Ferguson, hooker Liam Ferguson, also out of Taieri, Daniel Thwaites, former North Otago first five-eighth/fullback Levi Emery - the Barbarians are setup for a big season.
The word is the country team hasn’t had this much depth heading into a season since they last won the Galbraith Shield. Although Lachie McCall is unlikely to play because of injury and they have lost Riley Stewart.
They have had two preseason hit outs, a 94-0 win over Pioneer before dispatching Dunedin premier club Harbour 59-0.
What they said: “You go into every season trying to win the competition. We are in a better position than we were last year. We’ve got hopes of doing well and we’ve worked hard.” Barbarians head coach Bretton Taylor.
Tribune Predication: Beaten semifinalists..... I know I’m probably going to look back on this later and think, “what was I thinking?” The Barbarians look well-prepared, have depth, and have picked up a couple of handy recruits. Expect them to be right in the hunt come the crunch stage of the season.
MARIST
Coaches: Marty Smith & Scott Eade
Captain: Keanu Kahukura
Key Players: Shaun Stodart, James Moodie, Quinn Harrison-Jones, Ollie Lawson, Matt Donaldson, Scott Eade, Tevita Latu, Keanu Kahukura.
One to Watch: Hunter Areaiiti-Burgess. The promising young lock has joined Marist in his first year out of Southland Boys’ High School. He’s been on the Rugby Southland radar for a while and is part of the Highlanders under-20 squad. It’s hardly a surprise he has linked with Marist given his father Nathan played over 200 games at lock for the club.
The Outlook: Marist has lost a couple of very key players heading into the 2023 season in the form of Flynn Thomas and Ben Fotheringham.
Thomas had some concussion problems in 2022 and has stepped away from rugby and is heading on an OE. Lock-loose forward Ben Fotheringham has headed to Scotland to play as he too enjoys an OE. On top of that loose forward Liam Udy-Johns has headed back to Hawke’s Bay.
On the plus side loosehead prop Campbell Hosie has returned after a stint in Northland where he made the Northland B team and Stags midfielder Tevita Latu is also returning after missing last year’s club season with a shoulder injury.
Another key pick-up for Marist is No 8 Olly Lawson who was Tasman’s U19 player of the year last year. He has transferred south in the search of a spot in the Stags.
Patukino Williams has joined the club have moving from Bay of Plenty, as have Simione Katoa, Lotu Tanginoa and Malakai Sautu who have recently moved from Tonga for work and have linked up with the Marist club.
Marist has enough in the mix that could ensure they are competitive in 2023 but depth could be a key and the green-and-blacks will need to remain injury free.
They are already likely to be without Eade, Stodart, Burgess, and Latu in round one on Saturday.
What they said: “I think it’ll be a good competition. We’ll be there or thereabouts, again it will just come down to injuries.” Marist player/coach Scott Eade.
Tribune Prediction: Missing playoffs…. On its day and full-strength Marist will be in a position to knock over anyone. Although the loss of Fotheringham and Thomas and the skinny depth in certain positions could test the Miller St boys.
WOODLANDS
Coaches: Richard Jones, Dan Cavanagh, Marty McKenzie
Captain: Liam Howley
Key Players: Joe Walsh, Jonah Aoina Jason Rutledge, Paula Latu, Blair Ryall, Liam Howley, Tauasosi Tuimavave, Viliami Fine, Rory van Vugt.
One to Watch: Blair Ryall. The loose forward was drafted into the Stags midway through last year’s NPC campaign and impressed. Ryall has previously played for the Canterbury Under-20 and Crusaders Development teams and recently played for the Highlanders Bravehearts. He will get a chance to make his mark in Southland through the club season.
The Outlook: Woodlands have lost some handy players during the offseason with Keiran Lee in Spain and Charles Alaimalo in Australia. Lock Caleb Aperahama has returned to Christchurch, while Matt James has switched clubs linking with Pirates-Old Boys.
Chris Barrett has also joined Midlands while Matt Whaanga is in Wellington at the moment as part of the Hurricanes setup.
It’s not expected Marty McKenzie will play a huge part in terms of playing as he transitions into the coaching ranks.
But what everyone in the Southland rugby community will know is Woodlands don’t sit on their hands and they have worked hard to fill the gaps and put out a team that will push for a fourth straight title.
Woodlands has picked up Blair Ryall and Viliami Fine, who will probably be the most destructive ball-runner in the competition. He shifted south from Dunedin to play for the Stags in 2022 and was one of Southland’s best in the NPC.
Former Otago prop Jonah Aoina has also joined Woodlands with the prospect of playing for the Stags this season. Aoina played four tests for Samoa in 2021.
Considering Woodlands already has Stags props Paula Latu and Joe Walsh in the mix they’ve got an embarrassment of riches in that department.
Woodlands has also picked up a good crop of young players including openside Josh Evans from Southland Boys’ who was selected in the NZ Māori secondary schools team last year. Lock Riley Smith is another newcomer, as is outside back Sione Baker who has made the shift south from Wellington and is part of the Rugby Southland Academy programme.
What they said: “It’s good to have some younger guys coming through. We have picked up guys from Boys’ High before but they now range from 45 [years-old] to 19.” Woodlands coach Richard Jones.
Tribune Prediction: Galbraith Shield champions…. Woodlands at full strength is a scary prospect, particularly with its propping resources and its wealth of attacking threats out wide. Woodlands will again be there come the pointy end of the season probably tussling with Pirates-Old Boys or the Barbarians in the final.
PIRATES-OLD BOYS
Coaches: Michael McKenzie, Ben McHugh, Dayna Cunningham
Co-captains: Isaac Te Tamaki & Jacob Harrex
Key Players: Talemaitoga Tuapati, Craig Smith, Matt James, Dustin Coveney, Ben Keenan, Matt James, Josh Murrell, Kaea Nikora-Balloch, Jaye Thompson, Isaac Te Tamaki, Materua Tupou, Kepu Suli.
One to Watch: Kaea Nikora-Balloch. It is take two in 2023 for the young first five-eighth. Last season was to be his first season of premier club rugby after finishing up at Southland Boys’ High School. However, a nasty shoulder injury ruled him out for the season. What made the blow even crueller was Nikora-Balloch had just been named in the Highlanders under-20 squad before being struck down by injury.
The Outlook: Pirates-Old Boys has been a competition heavyweight during the past couple of years but has come up just short of a Galbraith Shield title come playoff time. Given they have retained pretty much the entire squad it would suggest it again is one of the favourites heading into 2023 season.
The one big loss for 2023 is lock Ben Morris who is still recovering from the serious knee injury he picked up minutes before the Stags’ season opener against Tasman in last year’s NPC competition.
Pirates-Old Boys’ loose forward stocks were already a strength and that has been bolstered further with Stags openside Matt James making the shift from Woodlands during the offseason.
First five-eighth Greg Dyer is currently in Spain playing and it is unsure at this stage what part of the club season he might be back. Although there is hope he will be available at the crunch stage. It will allow Kaea Nikora-Balloch time to make the No jersey his own. Nikora-Balloch will have plenty of experience outside him through the likes of Isaac Te Tamaki and Jaye Thompson, and a handy halfback in Josh Murrell inside.
What they said: “We’ve retained 90% of our squad so we are bloody lucky to be fair. We’ll probably be light until the second round when some reinforcements come back in from overseas or back from injury.” Pirates-Old Boys coach Ben McHugh.
Tribune Prediction: Beaten finalists…. Sorry Pirates-Old Boys fans, I know coming up just short again is not something you really want to ponder. Given the Surrey Park boys have retained the bulk they will be right in the hunt come finals time.
STAR
Coaches: Craig Pullar, Mark Tinnock, Brayden Mitchell
Captain: Jordan Stewart
Key Players: Nico Manaena, Kaya Symon, Josh Bekhuis, Lachie Springford, Grayson Knapp, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Jordan Stewart, Ben Pope, Micah Johnston-Brown, Fale Iosefo, Hughan Sharp, Cole Spinks.
One to Watch: Hughan Sharp. The winger was Star’s best-attacking threat last season and has shown he has the raw materials to be a very good player. There will be plenty of interest in how his third season at the premier club level plays out.
The Outlook: Like a lot of clubs, if Star can put its full-strength team out on the paddock they can be a force in 2023, but there’s that ‘if’ attached. Injuries and availability will be key.
Stags captain Josh Bekhuis has returned to the Waverley Park-based club but his availability will depend on what role he may play with the Highlanders. Another Stag forward Grayson Knapp is also back with Star but he’s not expected to feature until May because of injury.
Greg Pleasants-Tate has retired from professional rugby but is likely to feature through the club season for Star. With Star well served in the hooking department, in terms of Kaya Symon and Jayden Henderson, Pleasants-Tate is likely to pop up in the loose forwards.
The backline stocks have been bolstered with the return of Micaiah Johnston-Brown from injury, while outside back Cole Spinks has made the move down from Canterbury with the hope to push his rugby case in Southland.
What they said: “If we get everyone there together on the same day we’ll be competitive against everyone. Like most teams, if we have some injuries and unavailability we’ll have to work hard to compete.” Star coach Craig Pullar.
Tribune Prediction: Beaten semifinalists…. As already mentioned at full strength Star could give the competition a good shake but the key will be if and when it can get that line up on the park. Its showdown at home against a strong Barbarians outfit on Saturday will provide a marker as to where Star is at.
MIDLANDS
Coaches: Brendan Dennis (head coach), Dale Wairau, Regan Wilson (assistants).
Captain: Joe Robins
Key Players: Chris Barrett, Ollie Wood, Lachie Wood, George Hazlett, Rowan Guise, Henry Earland, Levi Wairau, Logan Nicholson, Jack Keen.
One to Watch: Henry Earland. Earland has plenty of skill about him, but the outside back has missed the past couple of club seasons because of injury. Fingers crossed we might see him back to his best in 2023.
The Outlook: Midlands has pulled together a premier playing group of 31 players and there’s some enthusiasm in the camp heading into the 2022 season.
They have picked up prop Chris Barrett from Woodlands which will add some more experience to the pack. Halfback Levi Wairau has also made the shift from the Barbarians.
On the flip side, both Ben McKercher and Campbell Wood has retired. Ezekiel Maheno has also headed north to Northland where he is working and playing.
Joe Robins, who has impressed in recent seasons playing for the Stags, will be a key figure for Midlands.
What they said: “I want us to be competitive and establish ourselves in the premier competition and that comes with winning games.” Midlands coach Brendan Dennis.
Tribune Prediction: Missing playoffs…. I said it last season and I’ll say again now, the Midlands players need to be commended for its willingness to have a shot at playing in the premier ranks. The easy option would have been to remain playing at the Division One level. They are probably three or four players away from a competitive but if they can at the very least push teams in 2023 it’ll set them up well for the future.
BLUES
Coaches: Filimoni Tagicakibau, Simon Frisby, Mark Crosbie
Co-Captains: Jay Renton & Micheal Peterson
Key Players: Michael Peterson, Albert Qoro, Jay Naqianvalu, Billy Andrew, Tupou Kaufononga, Jay Renton, Michael Manson, Brad Kooman.
One to Watch: Michael Manson highlighted his speed in his debut season with the Stags in 2022. If Blues can get the speedy winger some ball in space during the club season, he could make some opposition defenders very nervous.
The Outlook: Blues made big strides last season by building a very handy young team. The problem is retaining that group of players is easier said than done. Probably the biggest blow is the loss of Stags No 8 Arese Poliko who has headed north to Taranaki to be with family.
Hayden Michaels will also miss the start of the season given he is in Dunedin with the Highlanders. He is playing his club rugby for Kaikorai before he returns to Invercargill.
Hooker Jacob Payne was also set for a big club season after some time with the Highlanders, but Payne could miss close to 10 weeks after a picking an injury in a preseason game against Green Island. Blues also lost prop Ben Soper to injury which means they are heading into the season opener with just two props and have concerns what could happen if there are more injuries in that department.
Blues has picked up outside back Elliot Warrender who has returned home to Southland after playing his club rugby for Kaikorai in Dunedin.
It’s far from all doom and gloom though. The south Invercargill club has still got its fair share of talent with halfback Jay Renton looking to back up his strong 2022 campaign with the Stags. Brad Kooman should again add plenty at fullback for Blues, while Kelepi Holi always proves a handful in the midfield.
What they said: “It’s been a very disruptive preseason… we are really struggling player-wise, props especially. We are not too bad in the backs. We are going to give it a good nudge with what we’ve got.” Blues coach Filimoni Tagicakibau.
The Prediction: Missing playoffs…. Blues should have points in them through the likes of Manson and Kooman but they could well be a bit light in key areas to be consistent throughout the season, most notably in the propping department.
ROUND ONE GAMES - SATURDAY MARCH 18
(Home teams first - 3pm kick-offs)
Star v Eastern-Northern Barbarians
Blues v Woodlands
Marist v Pirates-Old Boys
Midlands - Bye
SUNDAY WRAP
Keep an eye out for the Tribune’s Spotlight on Sport: Sunday Special which will cover off round one of Southland’s premier club rugby competition. To get it sent direct to your email inbox subscribe below.