Makos officially up and running [Nelson mail]
The 2013 Tasman Makos are officially up and running.
All but five of this year's 26-man Makos squad were in attendance at yesterday's team induction day which kicked off this year's representative rugby season.
Only Crusaders squad members Tom Marshall, Shane Christie and Kieron Fonotia, Brumbies halfback Mark Swanepoel and Blues prop Tim Perry were missing from the day-long induction process which involved team meetings, sponsor and media commitments and a team gym session.
According to the Tasman RU's commercial and marketing manager, Les Edwards, the induction day was an opportunity for coaches Kieran Keane and Leon MacDonald and manager Jenelle Strickland to kick-start the new season on an innovative note.
"Obviously KK, Leon and Jenelle were looking for something entirely different to get the boys up because we've got 20 returning Makos," said Edwards. "So if you do the same thing every year, it becomes harder to get them up.
"So they've come up with this idea of an induction whereby [the players] get treated rather specially.
"They get introduced to the media so that they're aware of their responsibilities, they get talked to about team protocols so they understand what's expected of them . . . just a day to make them feel they're an important part of our community."
The players experienced a mix of activities throughout the day; 46-game utility forward Joe Wheeler was charged with teaching the new boys the team chant as a significant part of developing team culture.
Even for seasoned lock Alex Ainley, who played the last of his 42 games for the Makos in 2009 against Wellington, it's been an entirely different approach to that of several years ago.
"[Back then] we just turned up, got our gear and had a bit of a pow-wow about the season. It's something new for me," he said.
However, it hasn't taken him long to slot back into the team environment.
"It's a great bunch of boys. In other years, you kind of got two or three different groups of boys, but this year it seems like one good group of boys who enjoy being round each other."
After three years playing club rugby in Japan, Ainley was excited about the season ahead.
"It's really good to be back, playing serious footy, good footy where the boys train hard and there's a lot of competition for spots. I'm feeling fit and strong and ready to go and ready to get into the season."
One of six new players yet to wear the Makos jersey, utility back Billy Guyton said he was thrilled to be part of this year's set-up.
After 29 games for North Otago in the Heartland championship in the past three seasons, he said he welcomed being part of a completely different ITM Cup environment.
"It's all new, all a bit different," Guyton said.
"Driving past people working you're thinking, ‘oh, I should be going to work' but I've got a new job now.
"It's quite a thrill. It's a good environment too, good guys, so I'm looking forward to it."
News of his initial selection came as quite a shock for the Waimea Old Boys midfielder.
"I was absolutely thrilled. I was sort of shocked as well, because you never know with coaches. You've just got to put your best foot forward.
"I suppose at the start I'll be backing up [first five-eighth] Hayden [Cripps], but I've always got to push him to make him better and push for a starting spot as well."
The squad is now preparing for pre-season matches against Canterbury in Kaikoura on Wednesday, July 31, and Otago in Nelson on Sunday, August 4.
They'll head to Picton for a four- day camp starting on Tuesday, August 6 ahead of their opening ITM Cup clash, against Southland in Invercargill on Saturday, August 17.
