League: Blair team mix thrills coach

Nathan Godsall (left), from Tikipunga High School, is one of 26 players to make this year's Adam Blair XIII to play the Warriors Development team. Photo / John Stone

More than 50 college hopefuls travelled to Bay of Islands College on Sunday, to trial for the NorthTec Adam Blair XIII.

On a day when the heavens threatened to open up, some heavenly rugby league was played and considering some of those in the trial had never played alongside each other, the quality football on offer gave coach Jim Larkin some difficult choices to make.

Larkin said he was incredibly happy with the final squad.

"We are definitely seeing an improvement in the quality of rugby league being played at college level," he said.

"I have picked a squad that will work to the intensity equal to what the Warriors will play to. We lack a little bit of size up front, but what we lack there will be made up with speed and a big workrate."

Two key players remain from the 2014 squad, including Whangarei Boys' High centre Caleb Aekins and Okaihau halfback Stevie Ray Haenga-Albert.

The match against the Warriors Development has become an annual highlight on the Rugby League Northland calendar, and this year will be the third time it has been played.

The game will be part of a Rugby League Northland extravaganza of league with two premiership games on the same day at Lindvart Park in Kaikohe.

For the hopeful college players it is an opportunity to gauge their skills against future Warriors.

Last year the Blair XIII team was competitive, losing 42-28 only after the Warriors scored two late tries.

-2015 Adam Blair XIII:

Jarrod Hona, Thomas Anderson, Kane Pomare, James Witahira, Kingston Croft-Haenga, Stevie-Ray Haenga-Albert, Xavier Johnson, Joseph Ngere, Tamati Leach, Jayde Moana-Pou, Kaleili Tanginoa, Kalani Waa, Dalton Armstrong, Marlon Harris, Jackson Sparksman-Brott, Brody Tamarua, Ranapiri Tau, Cale Te Paa, Nathan Godsall, Nabil Loto'Ahea, Tahi Subritzky, Caleb Aekins, Bernard Cowan, Jayd Kapa, Nathan Newton, Joel Tugaga.