My Selection Maori Team

The NZSS/Barbarians squads have been named over this past week or so and good player have missed out and good players left behind because you cant take everyone, but I think with all the talent we have here in NZ we could create more higher Rep teams Program. I have always felt that when the NZSS go away to Australia every other year and the Barbarians play other selected sides I dont think they are selected the right way in terms of everyone being included onto the “selection sheet” of players. So as I do all the time, I make up my own Rep teams or give my own opinion on players that were left behind and dont know why they werent selected either. So Im going to share my selections with you of the players not picked up by the Maori Team and also my thoughts on the Samoan and Tongan players we have here.

The Rugby Unions for Samoa and Tonga have not capitalized on the players they have here in NZ and that are coming out of High School. Samoa and Tongan in my mind should be setting up camps and running camp for the players to be brought into their own systems for the next 2 years in their U20’s Program. We all know that Samoan and Tongan players get picked up by NZSS and then onto U20 but what about those that just miss the cut. For me I would pick them up right NOW and say “we are holding a camp for selected Tongan or Samoan what ever Union your apart of and we want to invite you to come” then bring them through our system over the next few years after High School then onto the Pro stage. Now I dont know any kid who has not been picked up in the NZSS and Barbarians who would deny that opportunity. Look at the Samoan U20’s over the past 3 years and how many of them are from NZ, I would say 80% of them were, so for me I would jump into those opportunities as a Rugby Union and get the kids started early in your Rugby System and Program. The Samoan and Tongan Rugby Unions need to work out how they can do that and to keep boys looking at that “Red” or “Blue” Jersey and not the “Black” one through out their Teens and 20’s.

Just so that you know I have thought about this a lot and have done some home work as well, this is how I would organize and fund it. In South Africa, Grey College have brought in French Club Montpellier as a source of income and opportunity for players and it is going to pay off, boys have coaching clinics and another place to look to if South African rugby doesnt pick them up. If you are Samoan or Tongan you know our players are all based overseas and we select mostly from those players. I personally would find 3 Clubs one from each UK, EURO or Asia based to fund the Camps here in NZ for U16,U18 and U20 and they can be the “Feeder Clubs” by which our players to go into their U20 sides but still sign with the Samoan and Tongan Unions to play in our U20’s. Those Clubs will get an up close and personal relationship with our Nations as well with the players coming through if they see them every camp, every year. We know as Samoan’s and Tongans that counting on Island based players wont get us anywhere cause the talent level is to low and there is no money in it for them, the money is not really even in NZ but Europe, Asia and UK, so why not Network with them, right ?

The Reason I say 3 Clubs from different Regions is to spread out players so that that one area doesnt get to many players of the same skill set that they flood that comp and then the next wave become the “norm” and not a weapon, as we see here in NZ all the time. The money side would be great for both Unions and that could lead into Samoa or Tongan U18 and U20 Tours for our Nations if handled right and by business minded people. Our Nations always have money problems within the Unions and as a Proud Samoan that supports “The Manu” after the “AB’s” we know as “Manu” supporters where our Money Problems “LIE” and that’s for another platform to vent on.

These are the selections I have made and I think that my Tongan and Samoan teams would give the Barbarian team a good run and if the 2 Maori teams came together it would be a lot stronger with way more depth BUT this is my Maori selection team anyway.

My Maori Team Run Down

I have to say there were a lot of players left out there on the none selected squad for the Maori’s Team. So went through and picked all the best Maori boys I knew (and hopefully they are Maori haha) but then selected them in my team. So just like that Samoan team I picked there were so many Maori players that made U18 Regional sides that werent picked up for the Maori team. Pou Sorensen is going to be one of the best Props in the country next year and was one tough guy through out the year for Raukura. Tyrone Thompson a hard working player that plays bothe offence and defence real well would go great in this team. Tyler Moeau from Feilding HS was a real head scratching one for me but him along with Taituha and Corban I think is a very Class trio. I think the forward pack as a whole would be “Labeled” as a work horse kind of pack with all the Grind it out players they have in the starting and on the bench.

Tamatoa Te Paea should have been seen by now but they still havent picked up how talent this guy is, team him up with Caleb Leef from Rangitoto College and you have direction and leadership right there in you 9 and 10. Lukas and Valynce both Year 12’s and hard running players that can really crash ball in the midfield. My Back 3 is all about speed and I think these 3 would score long range tries and everything with Tyrique another guy I have put out there and he still isn’t looked at, Matthew one of the highest try scorers in the UC Comp and Jamahl who can play anywhere in the back line. Even when you look into the bench there are so many good players left out there Baylee Katipa, Bailey Gordon and Keaton Neels all players I think should be in that conversation anyway.

Maori Team (My Selections, Not Original)

1. Pou Sorenson (Rotorua BHS)
2. Tyrone Thompson (Napier BHS)
3. Kyle Te Tai (Nelson College)
4. Kaipo Brown (Rotorua BHS
5. Mahonri Ngakuru (St Kentigern College)
6. Tyler Moeau (Feilding High School)(C)
7. Taituha Woller (Te Wharekurao Mauao
8. Corban Harding (Christchurch BHS)
9. Tamatoa Te Paea (One Tree Hill College)(VC)
10. Caleb Leef (Rangitoto College)
11. Jamahl Hapi (New Plymouth BHS
12. Lukas Halls (Kings College)
13. Valynce Crosby- Te Whare (StPaul’s Collegiate
14. Matthew Stevenson (Garin College)
15. Tyrique Renata (Mt Roskill GS)
16. Shayne Paeato (Rotorua BHS
17. Peter Seeling (Tauranga BC)
18. Chandler Hayward- Kingi (New Plymouth BHS
19. Sam Pou (St Johns College)
20. Taniora Raniera (Otago BHS)
21. Keaton Neels (St Johns College)
22. Bailey Gordon (Western Heights HS)
23. Baylee Katipa (Westlake BHS)