“This week has been about having a good look at ourselves,” Wekas head coach Miah Nikora said.
“It’s about making sure the players know their roles within our systems . . . nailing those and making sure we have the right attitude and right mindset come tomorrow.”
Tomorrow will be the first time the Wekas have had a Round 1 home game since 2018 — a 27-22 win over Wairarapa Bush — and Nikora sees that as important.
“It’s truly big for us to have a home game first up . . . being familiar (with their surroundings), the boys tend to get up an extra bit more when we’re at home.”
Home advantage seems to have played a part in recent clashes between the sides.
The Wekas travelled to Westport last year and Buller won impressively, 48-20, avenging their 76-14 decimation by Poverty Bay in Gisborne in 2021.
There was no Heartland Championship in 2020 due to Covid-19 .
The teams had a close contest in Westport in 2019 — Buller the victors 36-26 .
In the 25 times the unions have met, Poverty Bay have won 13 times to Buller’s 12.
However, of note is that Buller have won eight of their last 10 meetings.
“It has been topsy-turvy over the last few years with Buller,” said Nikora, whose side finished 10th on the 2022 Heartland table on which the sides placed sixth to 10th were separated by just four points.
“We’re looking to turn the tide on what happened down there last year when they were really good and gave us a lesson.”
Hooker Shayde Skudder, in his seventh season for the Bay, and first-five Kelvin Smith (ninth) will co-captain the side.
The Wekas 23-man squad for tomorrow’s game was confirmed last night (after The Herald went to print).
Buller go into the game on the back of a
37-29 win over Marlborough and a 39-22 loss to Nelson in a Seddon Shield challenge match.
Tomorrow’s fixture will be officiated by internationally experienced Japanese referee Katsuki Furuse, who was an assistant referee at the All Black XV’s two games against Japan and was voted the Japan League One’s best ref by teams last season.
In the curtain-raiser (12.30pm) to the Heartland game, Turanga Tane take on King Country Development.
Turanga Tane had a win — 28-5 over Horowhenua Kapiti — and two narrow losses at Te Tini-a-Maui Maori tournament in Hastings last weekend.
They beat King Country 32-28 in Te Kuiti last year.
Turanga Wahine travel to Wairoa tomorrow to play Hawke’s Bay Development at Lambton Square.
Poverty Bay squad to play Buller (1-15): Nehe Papuni, Shayde Skudder (cc), Jarryd Broughton, Morgan Reedy, Dan Law, Seth Lundon, Keanu Taumata, Stuart Leach, Ra Broughton, Kelvin Smith (cc), Te Peehi Fairlie, Jacob Leaf, Ted Walters, Bosca Tikicidre, Ricardo Patricio. Res: Ngahiwi Manuel, Campbell Chrisp, James Higgins, Kupu Lloyd, Jess Kapene, Kayleb Te Whare, Mitchell Purvis, Moses Christie.
Poverty Bay Heartland schedule
Aug 12 — v Buller, in Gisborne
Aug 19 — v Thames Valley, Te Aroha
Aug 26 — v Wairarapa Bush, Masterton
Sept 2 — v Mid Canterbury, Gisborne
Sept 9 — v Ngati Porou East Coast, Ruatoria
Sept 16 — v North Otago, Gisborne
Sept 23 — v Horowhenua Kapiti, Levin
Sept 30 — v South Canterbury, Gisborne
Meads Cup and Lochore Cup semifinals,
Oct 7; finals, Oc t 14
