Early Top 5 Locks 2020

This is another position that is stacked with such talented Young Year 13’s that are young enough to return to school this year and STILL be U18. Wesley College and Otago BHS would benefit the most if all 4 Locks returned back to school but I’m almost 100% sure they are not returning.Taylor Dale (Otago BHS)  who made the NZ Maori U18 team can come back and his Locking partner Levi Turoa. Junior Lemalu who 6’7 and Winston Folau from Wesley College could also return and Daniel Dixon (Nelson College) could also come back which would be great for Nelson College because the 150th Celebration of Rugby this year. The ones that are coming back will also be some solid players and ripe for selection for the NZSS and Barbarians.

Top 5 Locks

1. Allan Craig (Saint Kentigern College)

Such a good player in last years NZSS team and showed how much value he adds to the team. He knows his position well, reads the game as a whole also what pertains to his position. Great in the scrums being able to back up and squeeze tight on the Props keeping them steady, and he also is quick in the air. I think his ground game in terms of being able to play physical in the rucks is a massive bonus for any team he is apart of and I think it will show again this year. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up as Captain this year for St Kentigern College.

2. Jamie Hannah (Christchurch Boys’ High School)

Best thing about Jamie is that he killed it at 7’s as well as 15’s, and not just for Christchurch BHS but also for the NZ Condors team. He climbed the stairs to get some of those high kicks off the top and he made them all looks easy, and then was scoring tries. I think that Jamie, and I have said this before about him, is that he could really put in that work over the Summer and come back big and built looking like last years NZSS Captain Zach Gallagher. Jamie will be dominate no matter what happens this year because he is just that talented and with Jamie and Fabian Holland both back I think they could be the No.2 Locking partnership behind the boys from St Kents.

3. Lopeti Faifua (St Kentigern College)  

Just as I mentioned St Kents Locks Lopeti Faifua comes up next as the No.3 Lock in the country. I have been told by trusted people that he is back this year and really looking to make NZSS in 2020. This goal of his if it is true is not a far stretch from reality because he is really that good of a talent. There was a mix up with info and Selectors were not sure if he was available and so he wasn’t considered but I thought he could have made it or made the NZ Barbarians. He is so physical and so strong when he is in action that the game changes with everything he does. Lopeti is great running the ball, making tackles, playing the support runner, solid in the scrums and trustworthy to get up in the air.

4. Curtis Palmer (Tauranga Boys College)

I enjoyed Curtis when he was playing at Lock, and when he got put into Prop I knew right away he wasn’t going to do good. Curtis is very athletic for a big husky kid, when you look at him you dont get that impression but then he plays and it just blows you away. I think that his running game and impact hitting into the defesive line really makes guys aware that he is not going to be slowing down throughout the game. He also is great getting his feet behind the tackled player and getting himself over the ball, and seen him do it a few times as well. He had strong games at the Kia Tu Camp at St Paul’s Collegiate, was also good against Westlake BHS and also Hamilton BHS. He strikes me as a very hard working guy and I think that we will see a very fit and in shape player come pre season rugby.

5. Harrison Morton (John McGlashan College)  

I have seen Harrison play a few times on film when he was at his old school Gore HS, and then a few times when he got to John McGlashan College. I was very interested in his physical traits, first his height and his body type, cause hes a thick kid. Now I saw him make some very strong runs as a Year 11 breaking tackles of Year 13 players and almost running the field and then, I also saw him get to work around the rucks as a Young kid. Last year for John McGlashan stepped it up again as a Year 12. Then I got to see him in Timaru play for the Highlanders U18 and I was sold. I think that he is going to be one to watch out for and maybe could make the biggest jump in Rankings when the year starts. I really want to watch more of his games this year.

Had To Mention

Jabez Peniata (Porirua College)
Dominic Ropeti (Scots College)
Fabian Holland (Christchurch Boys’ High School)

Year 12 Prospects 

Tahlor Cahill (Shirley Boys High School)

Senita Lauaki (Kelston Boys High School)