Coast squad chock-full of quality

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

These Sky Blues have a solid look about them.

The Ngati Porou East Coast Kaupoi wider squad — chock-full of quality and experience — will have as head coach, for the fourth year in a row, Lochore Cup-winning former All Black Hosea Gear.

The Coast’s 25-20 triumph over the Mid-Canterbury Hammers on October 23 last year was the Sky Blues’ fourth national title and, though 10 of the 39-strong squad named for the clash with the Poverty Bay Weka this weekend are uncapped, these players have gritty nous in spades.

Every club in the union is represented and five club captains are in the 39 — Mohi Bartlett (Uawa), Kris Palmer (Hikurangi), Will Bolingford (Waiapu), Manahi Brooking (Hicks Bay) and Jack Richardson (Ruatoria City).

The outstanding Hone Haerewa, another former NPEC skipper Perrin Manuel, 2022 Heartland representative Hakarangi Tichborne, current Moana Pasifika reserve rake Joe Royal and former Maori All Blacks Mitchell and Nick Crosswell are also in the mix.

The Meads Cup hero of 2012, Verdon Bartlett, has made 93 Heartland appearances for the only tribally affiliated team in New Zealand and could — if he plays every Heartland game to September 23 and the King Country Rams at Whakarua Park — join Hikurangi halfback Charlie Harrison (113) and the late great strongman Morgan Waitoa (115) as the union’s third centurion.

Coast teams traditionally pride themselves on their forward play, and the likes of Manuel, Tichborne, Royal, Semisi Akana, Jody Tuhaka and Tripoli Poi are all excellent scrummagers.

The Coast have genuine lineout options with the likes of Haerewa, both Crosswells, Richardson, Richie Green and the towering Gabe Te Kani.

The back-row forwards are muscular and aggressive, with such as Will Bolingford and Hoani Te Moana to call on.

With last season’s champion captain and Kirkpatrick medal-winner Sam Parkes unavailable, Waiapu’s Hamuera Moana-Baker is one of a few who could make a claim to the halfback berth.

The talents further out — the likes of Terangi Fraser, Josh Dearden, Palmer, Te Aho Morice, Fabyan Kahaki and Mohi Bartlett — make for a juicy read. While the great strength within this wider squad lies in their forward pack, their backs also have flair.

Gear and his staff proved during the past three years — difficulties caused by Covid-19 notwithstanding — that they can bring players together.

The players have tremendous respect for their head coach’s knowledge. Individual programmes and feedback sent, seen and more importantly acted upon, have made all the difference to the Sky Blues’ focus and discipline.

Since June 2, 1923, and Poverty Bay’s 19-18 away win, the Bay have won 47 of 57 matches played on the official observance of the sovereign’s birthday; the Coast have won seven matches, with three draws.

NPEC hosted the last four games held on Queen’s Birthday Weekend — the Bay won the PJ Sayers Cup 46-12 at Ruatoria last year.

But the Coast won the Anaru “Skip” Paenga Memorial Shield match 12-10 at Rugby Park, Gisborne, in Round 4 of the 2022 Heartland Championship.

npec squad

Hakarangi Tichborne, Jody Tuhaka, Semisi Akana, Tripoli Poi, Mahahi Brooking, Jayden Leiua-Pokia, Joseph Royal, Bernard Nepe, Rico Te Kani, Frank Taiapa, Tawhao Stewart, Hamuera Moana, Manahi Tipoki, Te Mana Barbarich, Seddon Smith, Niao Savage, Paddy Blackman Jr, Hone Haerewa, Mitchell Crosswell, Te Teira Maxwell, Nick Crosswell, Pamona Samupo, Te Rangi Fraser, Fabyan Kahaki, Jack Richardson, Mohi Bartlett, Verdon Bartlett, Josh Deardon, Taane Paki, Apirana Pewhairangi, Te Aho Morice, Kris Palmer, Jaya More, Gabe Te Kani, Will Bolingford, Tipene Meihana, Richard Green, Hoani Te Moana, Tutere Waenga.