HS Top 200’s Top 5 Props 2018

These are my Pre Season Top 5 Prop selection based on what I saw last year and what I think they will start the season like this year. The order of these guys will change through out this year because there is just to many talented Prop’s this year and they are all kind of on the same platform. I also added some guys who just missed out but should be watched through out the year cause they could end up jumping all these guys. NZ Prop are always a very tough and hard working position even the No.1 NZSS Returning Prop isn’t safe in this race this year.

1. Tamati Williams (St Kentigern College)

He has a year to prepare himself to be one of the leaders of the NZSS team this year as a returning member of the squad. Tamati did have a lot to learn going from No.8 to Prop all in one year but managed to pull it off. I think watching him this year we will see a more confident player around the field and around the rucks. His command at scrum time should also show out and we should see some solid set scrums for St Kentigern coming this year.

2. Saula Mau (Auckland GS)

True to form Saula has come back a tank with evidence of a guy who has used this off season to better himself and his game. Saula is a very talented player that creates mismatches and forces the defence to look at him as a threat every time he is around that ball. His defence is great and chases for tackles and gives a lot of soul in everything he does. I would like to see him take the ball more to the line and really put pressure on the other team to make tackle after tackle on him and see if by the 50th minute they are still willing to tackle him cause he’ll break you down.

3. Patrick Thacker (Christs College)

“Bullish” player out there on the field and brings his no non-sense attitude to the field every time he laces up. I like his commitment to scrums and setting a balanced foundation from the feet upwards. His work rate is very good and just goes about his business making sure that he takes care of his role first so he doesn’t let down the team. Patrick will have a great follow up year to last year Barbarians selection and will be looking for that next step up on the National ladder.

4. Pou Sorenson (Rotorua BHS)

Much like Patrick, Pou has the same qualities as him and he also has that great work ethic around the field. Pou grew a lot as a player last year and more then I thought he would too, he began to really take the game over with his hard work and everything else really fell into place. His scrumming got better every game and he really became one of the best I saw last year and this year will have to add even more to his game as a team leader and put forward that example to the boys. I think with a real strong year in the Super 8 and a strong Chiefs camp Pou could jump the rest of these guys.

5. Jack Rose (St Andrews College)

I got to see Jack Rose play in person at the Top 4 and even though the games didn’t go the way they thought it would, his game was still intact and he was still putting in that work. Jack brings the best out of the others around him when he really puts his best forward. His scrums get going, rucks get tighter, runners more organized and the flow is just a lot better for him and the team. I think this is a good year for Jack to really jump out there and show the selectors that he should get that “Black Jersey”

Crusader Faletagoai (Sacred Heart College)
Zyon Holo Prop (St Peters College)
Tevita Kofeloa Prop (Manurewa HS)
Jet Li Vahaakolo Prop (Tangoroa College)
Keelan Holten-McMullen (Hamilton BHS)
Corrigan Millar (New Plymouth BHS)
Sione Faka’Iloatonga (One Tree Hill College)