North Harbour vs Northland

[JK]

Harbour team for first game tomorrow

North Harbour: 1.Nic Mayhew, 2.James Parsons (captain), 3.Sione Mafileo, 4.Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 5.Ben Nee-Nee, 6.Glenn Preston, 7.Dillon Hunt, 8.Murphy Taramai, 9.Bryn Hall, 10.Bryn Gatland, 11.Tevita Li, 12.Harrison Groundwater, 13.James Dargaville, 14.Matt Duffie, 15.Shaun Stevenson.

Substitutes: 16.Loteru Tolai, 17.Mike Tamoaieta, 18.Chris Eves, 19.Jacob Pierce, 20.Sione Teu, 21.Gjaltema Lewis, 22.Loketi Manu, 23.Mark Telea.

[taniwharugby]

@jk very strong side bar your mid-field really...if that team cant put 50 past Northland at home!!

[taniwharugby]

Northland Team:

1 Ross Wright (Wellsford)
2 Matt Moulds (Otamatea)
3 Jack Straker - Debut (Kamo)
4 Tom Robinson (Kerikeri)
5 Josh Goodhue (Kamo)
6 Murray Douglas (Awanui)
7 Kara Pryor (Hora Hora)
8 Jaycob Matiu (Hora Hora)
9 Sam Nock (Kerikeri)
10 Jack Debreczeni - Debut (Eastern)
11 Rene Ranger (Wellsford)
12 Blake Hohaia (Kamo)
13 Tamati Tua (Kamo)
14 Jordan Hyland (Wellsford)
15 Matty Wright (Wellsford)
Replacements

16 Jordan Olsen (Mid Northern)
17 Isileli Tu'ungafasi - Debut (Mid Northern)
18 Ropate Rinakama (Waipu)
19 Kane Jacobson - Debut (Kamo)
20 Matt Matich (Western Sharks)
21 Jono Kitto - Debut (Hikurangi)
22 Myles Throughgood - Debut (Kamo)
23 Scott Gregory - Debut (Hikurangi)

[Tim]

Good forward pack. Sione Teu played eight and six for Otago, so should be covering positions off the bench. 17 though 18 should be good value, but no idea about the 20 yo Tolai. How'd he go for Northcote?

Midfield is the big question mark. Groundwater was good last year, but Matt Vaega was a big loss. Anyone know what Dargaville is like at centre?

Am interested in how Hapakuki Moala-Liava'a (2016 NZ U20) dges this year. Has the size, but probably needs to increase his skill level and work rate to play 8 at super rugby level.

[Duluth]

@taniwharugby said in North Harbour vs Northland:

@jk very strong side bar your mid-field really

Interesting combo for NH. Dargaville is normally a winger for the Brumbies and Groundwater seems to be rated by the Blues

[Tim]

@duluth said in North Harbour vs Northland:

Groundwater seems to be rated by the Blues

What's the basis of this, starts for the dev team?

He's out of the Canterbury academy system, IIRC.

[Duluth]

@tim Who is covering 10?

[Tim]

@duluth Now that is a head-scratcher!

Groundwater? He plays 15 for his club.

[Duluth]

@tim said in North Harbour vs Northland:

What's the basis of this, starts for the dev team?

He was another player tagged in that photo of Olmstead's new housemates

[Tim]

@duluth Aha! Damn, that bit of detective work is paying off.

[African Monkey]

@tim Luteru Tolai was a back rower at school so obviously they've transformed him into a front rower now. He had a decent skillset but probably lacked the height to play as a 6/8 so it will be interesting to see how he goes at hooker.

[Tim]

@african-monkey I see he was in the Blues U20 team this year, and Harbour U19 last year.

[Bovidae]

What's Gjaltema like as a halfback? I'm sure Harrison Levien was hoping to make the NH squad when he moved north.

[Tim]

Any live scoring? Nothing on NZ Herald or Stuff. Mitre 10 Cup official site doesn't work.

[Machpants]

God TMO foul play called assistant ref already FFS

[Machpants]

And he was wrong

[Machpants]

Jeez two missed kicks for touch by garland in the minutes, second one went dead!

[JK]

Pretty low quality start so far

[JK]

Rene is here to play! Great try to some ginger lock

[Dice]

Ranger looking like a fast Weepu.