Kamo winger Shelford Murray will be a key member in his side's defence of their 2018 club rugby title. Photo / File
With round one done and the season under way, it seemed appropriate to give Northland's rugby community a rundown of the local premier club rugby competition.
Here you will find information on key team and club members as well as comments from coaches looking ahead to this season and the players they believe will stand up as leaders and those who are yet to show their true potential.
Shown here are five of the 10 teams in the competition with the remaining five set to appear tomorrow.
Kamo:
Premier coach: Cam Goodhue
2018 season result: 1st
Reserves coach: John Pickering
2018 season result: 2nd
Representative players: Josh Goodhue (Blues), Blake Hohaia, Kack Staker, Kane Jacobson, Tamati Tua.
After a successful 2018 where both the premier and reserve teams took out their respective titles, premier coach Cam Goodhue said he didn't expect how good the win would feel.
"It really exceeded my expectations so we definitely want to do that again this year, we don't talk about it as such but we know what the end game is," he said.
"We know it's going to be tough when you're the defending champions, everyone is always up when they play you because they won't want to see us win two in a row."
Despite losing three first five-eighths from last season, Goodhue said the club's depth was a unique factor along with strong friendships between players.
"It's amazing because I've never been involved in a rugby team, even when I was playing, that had this kind of camaraderie for each other."
Leading figure: Shelford Murray (Wing)
Now in his third season with the premier team, Murray's skills were lauded by coach Goodhue who said his winger was one of the best in the competition.
"What he possesses, probably better than anyone in the competition, is his lateral shift," Goodhue said.
"[Murray] can just get around people, that's what he's good at and he's got pretty good speed over short distances."
Emerging Talent: Mason Hohaia (Hooker)
Following in the footsteps of brother Blake Hohaia, Mason turned up at the club last year and had left a big impression on his coach.
"We put him in for the last four games of the season last year and he finished it off really well," Goodhue said.
"I think he only missed two lineouts in the final and for an 18-year-old, that's pretty big pressure."
Goodhue said Hohaia's composure at such a young age certainly put him in contention for a Northland debut in the coming years.
Hikurangi:
Premier coaches: Alistair Rickey, Kevin Wharfe, Rowan Lawson
2018 season result: 8th
Reserves coaches: Richard Whitehead, Andrew Curry
2018 season result: 9th
Representative players: Scott Gregory (New Zealand 7s)
Coach Alistair Rickey started in the top job this season but said injuries throughout last year plagued their season.
"We haven't got the depth like some of the other clubs and we've struggled a little bit in the lower end of the bracket just due to numbers but we are slowly building it up," he said.
Rickey hoped that his half-a-dozen players around the age of 20 would improve the team's consistency as they made a run at the top four.
Leading figure: Cambell Matthews (Hooker)
"He's a quiet achiever and his natural ability is solid," Rickey said.
"He goes about his business and he's a good team man, leading from the front by his actions."
Rickey said Matthews' experience and skills learned in Northland's development squad would filter through to other players in the club.
Emerging Talent: Gil Caan-Vana (Loose forward/Hooker)
Caan-Vana had only been at the club for a couple of years but Rickey said the young player's raw talent was obvious.
"He's just hungry to get around the park and make tackles, he's got good carrying skills, taking it into contact," Rickey said.
"The older players have been helping him out as well which is the stuff that you can't really coach when the players get around a young player and start helping them out."
Kaihu Ruawai Sharks:
Premier coaches: Donald McNamara, Tui Raeli,
2018 season result: 9th
Reserves coaches: Brendan Nathan, Max McCahon
2018 season result: 10th
Representative players: Matt Matich
For Sharks technical advisor Tui Raeli, the change in name from Western Sharks to Kaihu Ruawai Sharks was made to bolster numbers in the region and pool resources.
"We know we have the talent in the area but it's been spread out, its just a matter of bringing it together and bringing in new ways to help our own guys with their skills.
Raeli knew to achieve the team's goal of making the top five, they needed to improve the level of their game and get a better understanding of the tactical aspects of the game.
Leading figure: Carlton Te Rore (Prop)
A product of Kaihu and schooled at Rotorua Boys' High School, Te Rore's skills as a leader were clear to Raeli.
"You can see his pedigree in terms of his attitude and understanding of the game," Raeli said.
Emerging talent: Peniasi Malimali (Loose forward/Wing)
A traditional loose forward, Malimali found himself on the wing in their first round game against Hikurangi and Raeli said the Fijian flier was a potential superstar.
"He's been on the fringes of the Fijian sevens squad so he's someone to watch out for," Raeli said.
"It's just his natural ability, his speed, the skills he shows on defence and the real love he shows for the game."
Old Boys Marist:
Premier coach: Mark Seymour
2018 season result: semifinalists
Reserves coach: Greg Shipton
2018 season result: 5th
Representative players: Boyd Wiggins, Sam Caird, Aorangi Stokes
After losing in their semifinal against Kamo last season, coach Mark Seymour said the top four finish was still a good result.
"We were probably a bit inconsistent throughout the season due to a number of factors so in the end making the semis was a reasonable performance but still disappointed to lose that game," he said.
Seymour hoped the young players of last season learned from the experience and moved into the new season with a fresh perspective.
Leading figure: Aorangi Stokes (Loose forward)
With Stokes being a Northland representative, Seymour said the versatile loosie had a lot of mana within the group and commanded a lot of respect from the boys.
"He's a leader by his actions because at club level he's good at everything, ball-carrying, defence and he's got a big work-rate."
Emerging Talent: Jarod Byrnes (Loose forward) Out of school. WBHS. Prem reserves in 15 then prems for two years. Loose forward.
A product of Whangārei Boys' High School, Byrnes was a real prospect for the future, Seymour said.
"He's tall so he can cover lock but he's quick for a tall man, good lineout strength but carries the ball well and works all game."
Seymour hoped Byrnes' time at a Northland development level would lead to a great future in the game.
Hora Hora:
Premier Coach Mark Wati
2018 season result: semifinalists
Reserves Coach: Aaron Condon
2018 season result: 6th
Representative players: Jaycob Matiu
Coach Mark Wati was optimistic after last year's semifinal defeat and said the team's goal was to get past the top four stage.
"It would be our aim at the least to make the semis again and go one step further and hit the final this year."
He said an influx of young players meant the club would not have to rely so heavily on its senior players which would help the club in the long-term.
Leading figure: Jaycob Matiu (Number 8)
In captaining the side this year, Matiu would be a key figure in Hora Hora's set-up and Wati believed the Northland player would be up to it.
"For a young guy, he brings good knowledge and good go-forward ball, he relates really well with the younger guys and will get the best of the team even if they are not going well."
Emerging talent: Esile Fono (Number 8, Prop, Lock)
Fresh out of Whangārei Boys' High School, Fono would be a revelation to the club rugby competition according to Wati.
"His strength in the tackle is unbelievable, seeing him get out there and run into people who have been playing the game for a while and just knock guys over."
The Fijian winger who had the world at his feet and the potential to surpass Jonah Lomu.