Mako NPC team named to play Southland Stags

Sunday 7 August 2022, 2.05pm

Lansdowne Park, Blenheim

By Peter Jones [Marlborough App]

The Tasman Mako men’s selectors have named a relatively unproven combination to take on the Southland Stags in their Bunnings NPC opener at Lansdowne Park on Sunday.

Although there are a number of vastly-experienced players in the Mako starting line-up, including skipper Quinten Strange, hooker Andrew Makalio, loosie Sione Havili, plus midfielders Alex Nankivell and Levi Aumua, there is a fresh look to the overall mix. Just five starting players remain from XV that ran on against Waikato in last year’s premiership final.

With regulars such as props Isaac Salmon and Isi Tu’ungafasi, lock Pari Pari Parkinson, loosie Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, co-captain Mitch Hunt and midfielder Fetuli Paea absent at this stage of proceedings, the younger brigade will be forced to step up against a Stags side with lofty expectations in 2022.

All of the match day 23 have spent some time in the Mako shirt, except new recruit Noah Foster, but this will be the biggest test so far for several.

The inside back combination of NZ under-20 halfback Noah Hotham and Campbell Parata were both part of the 2021 mix but had limited game time.  Their partnership will be crucial.

Despite there being a fresh look to some areas of the Mako line-up, the loose forwards and midfield back offer plenty of big match experience. Havili joins Max Hicks, one of last year’s breakthrough players and Blues standout Anton Segner in the loose, while Nankivell and Aumua are a midfield combination with both pace and power.

The bench, also known as the Sparkies, contains seasoned players such as Quentin MacDonald and Braden Stewart, both pivotal in Central’s Tasman Trophy triumph, plus Highlanders utility Hugh Renton and prop Sam Matenga, all offering firepower in the later stages.

With players of the calibre of Solomon Alaimalo, Marty Banks, Josh Bekhuis, Scott Gregory, and Robbie Robertson to call on, Stags’ fans predict a big season for the southerners, making this fixture a potential banana skin affair for Tasman.

The Mako team to take on Southland on Sunday: 1 Ryan Coxon, 2 Andrew Makalio, 3 Luca Inch, 4 Mahonri Ngakuru, 5 Quinten Strange (captain), 6 Max Hicks, 7 Sione Havili, 8 Anton Segner; 9 Noah Hotham, 10 Campbell Parata, 11 Macca Springer, 12 Alex Nankivell, 13 Levi Aumua, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15 Taine Robinson. Sparkies: Quentin MacDonald, Matt Graham Williams, Sam Matenga, Hugh Renton, Braden Stewart, Louie Chapman, Willie Havili, Noah Foster. Kick off 2.05pm.