The “Deep South” to me a place that is very underrated in terms of talent, scouts dont want to really find players down there cause its to far. The players down South they only need a little bit of work to really catch up to the Otago BHS and the Southland BHS players for the most part but no one really wants to get in there and provide for them the extra training. So when it comes down to finding the best players, we really only hear about Otago BHS and Southland BHS for the most part. I got to admit that it really is hard to get info from that Region and so this is what I have got, and honestly this took me ages, thank you Highlanders Region.
I think this front row is pretty standard with Jacob Payne in at Hooker one of the best of them going around this year. Jacob is Mongrel and Heart all in one and would be a great asset to have on any team. As one of the best players in the Highlanders Region I think that he will be one to watch for this year. Niko is the type that is the ultimate back dude in any situation on the field, you can always count that he will be there and be around the play at hand. Both Niko and Tevita Pole are solid at scrum time and they can really hold their own when things get tough. Tevita can be at times a very destructive runner and I dont mean in a way that he’s going to break the line 4 times and go 40 meters. I say it in the way that he has good balance and can carry tacklers and move them out the way to gain even more meters and he can be hard to stop. Kenneth, Sam and Seketi all on the bench pretty much hold that standard and get right into the work at hand. Kenneth is a hard working player that gets into the work and moves bodies doing all the ugly stuff people dont like to do. You need that explosive runner and moving forward player and Seketi is that guy off the bench and whens its late in the game and players are getting tired he’ll come on and pick the game up with some massive hit ups. Sam Engelbrecht is much like Kenneth in the way that they come in and clean up all the loose ends and do that stuff people dont like to do. Sam has been working hard in the off season and so Im keen to see what muscle hes packed on.
Taylor Dale is an up and coming Star and I think he could have a break out year this year as a Young Year 12 but I have him on the bench for now. Taylor will most likely end up a No.8 or Blind Side but I have him at Lock. I went with 2 players that have already had some years on the 1st XV field and they offer a lot of hard work and grind. I went with Tom Dempster and Izaak Parata as the starting Locks. Both players not overly tall but get the work done and take care of their roles within the team. Izaak a hard hitting Lock I think will be that guy that makes those defencive plays that cause turnovers and keep the game won. Tom I see as a leader within the pack but also making more noise with his actions more then words. I think they make good line out options on defence and can get out in front of most and push the Hookers some pressure because they can get their hands to the ball. The loose forwards in this team would really dominate around the park with a mix of hard working hitters and guys who can hit the ball up at pace and with power. Now I have Paddy Henwood still in this team even though I got word that he was out for the season, Paddy I think would have gone close to a Barbarians selection this year as maybe a Blind Side Flanker and thought he should been apart of this selection. Paddy is a hard nosed dude that is country strong with some real working attributes in him. He would take care of the defencive side of things and will take down the best runners around the park. Joseph is much the same as Paddy and having two guys like that on the field at one time is really something to take note of because they could really be crucial a defence. Joseph also has a petty good run game as well and I think could make a good No.8 at the same time. Jacob Harrex a young player who I think needs to be at a bigger school because I think he can really take the next step up when he leaves school. Jacob is a big solid kid who will grind it out get into the hard work and really the opposition work. Leroy Ferguson might be one to make a massive jump this year and prove to be one of the best No.8’s in the country. Yes Leroy is a League player and from what I have seen on film is a very solid guy that makes major effects on the game and also puts up some good stats which is always good to have a player like him.
A 9/10 pairing of Tevita and James was I think an obvious one because they have worked well together over last year and you can see how they are tracking for this year too. James very aggressive, accurate, has a good game plan and defends. Tevita very good with the ball in hand, runs very good lines and is quick out the gate and is a solid kid and hard to tackle. Nathan Hastie and Ryan Taylor both up and coming players and guys I think will make great replacements for these two and also be able to hold up a team coming off the bench and finishing off a game strong. Nathan plays with speed and quickness which will come i handy in the last 15 mins of games and he can gun it as well. Giovanni Leituala is getting more eyes following him around the footy grounds and that is because he can really “Ball Out” and control a game with the ball in hand and on defence. Here is one thing that I think may surprise a lot of people because they are not familiar with him but I think he could make the Barbarians this year if he has the year I think he could. Talented kid with the ball, can play make and create, can kick and is a massive hitter on the field too and he was Year 11 last year laying dudes out. Joseph Siale has gone back to Waitaki BHS and I think its a good move, he’ll be able to get back to the colours he feels comfortable in and play his original game. He’ll be able to go out there and crash bash his way into players and get some play making going on the outside too.
The Back 3 made up of Elliot Warrender from Southland BHS, Max Brown and Isaak Te Hiwi both from Otago BHS and Brydon Skinner from Waitaki BHS on the bench. These guys are not the biggest that you will find around but they have good attacking talent and know how to link up and find the open gaps and holes in a forward moving defence. Elliot all though a Center for most of the part I think would make a very good winger and will go great one on one. Max is and up and coming Star that should have a great stepping stone year for himself and Isaak just makes play after play. Brydon a level headed guy and may not give you the highlight package that a lot of the top fullbacks have but he will steady a team and make all the right decisions that will get the team the “W”.
1. Tevita Pole (Otago BHS) Y12
2. Jacob Payne (Southland BHS)
3. Niko Manaena (Southland BHS)
4. Izaak Parata (Kings HS)
5. Tom Dempster (John McGlashan College)
6. Joseph Williams (Otago BHS)(C)
7. Paddy Henwood (Waitaki BHS)
8. Leroy Ferguson (John McGlashan College) Y12
9. James Arscott (Otago BHS) (VC)
10. Tevita Asi (Otago BHS)
11. Elliot Warrender (Southland BHS)
12. Giovanni Leituala (Kings HS) Y12
13. Joseph Siale (Waitaki BHS)
14. Max Brown (Otago BHS) Y12
15. Isaak Te Hiwi (Otago BHS)
16. Kenneth Singleton (Southland BHS)
17. Sam Engelbrecht (John McGlashan College)
18. Seketi Tevao (Waitaki BHS)
19. Taylor Dale (Otago BHS) Y12
20. Jacob Harrex (St Peters College, Gore)
21. Nathan Hastie (Kings HS) Y12
22. Ryan Taylor (Southland BHS)
23. Brydon Skinner (Waitaki BHS)
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