League: Stags make strong start to the season

Joe Rau. Photo/Michael Cunningham

Some people would describe "blowing the cobwebs out" as simply having a hit out, but for Hikurangi Stags player-coach Joe Rau, he picked up a double and converted five tries.

Rau's side, who are the defending champions of the Rugby League Northland Multikai Cooker Premiership, managed to overpower the Moerewa Tigers 42-16 in what was the season opener on Saturday.

Having scored 18 of his side's total, it's no wonder Rau found the game at Hikurangi enjoyable.

"It was good, blew out a few cobwebs I suppose," the experienced leaguey said.

"We've got a relatively new squad so we have been training well, in terms of new boys coming together, we just wanted to try a few new things out and enjoy our time with each other."

Both sides agreed they were in a rebuilding phase prior to the season-opening match, with Rau saying his side will attack this season differently to others.

"I definitely think we'll keep growing together, it's a new challenge for us and we know it. We'll be taking it very differently to previous seasons, that's for sure."

Rau said young prop Ramon Moses was a standout in his view, running and tackling hard all day. He also mentioned fellow try scorer Tyson Wihongi and Joachim Edmonds for their efforts.

He added that Wihongi and Edmonds in particular would be expected to step up this season after previously being the young players in the side, something Rau believed was achievable.

The Tigers showed positive signs throughout the match, led by player-coach Tawio Davis playing at an unaccustomed role. Normally a prop, he looked like a natural at centre.

"We will have a couple of boys return this week which will free up to go back to prop - I can't wait," Davis said. "We are going through a bit of a re-building phase - but we have some good talent coming through. It was good to see youngsters Phardray Brown, and Jahdon Palmer play a leading role in the game."

Brown and Palmer backed up from the earlier NorthTec Adam Blair XIII match against the Warriors Development side.

The Hikurangi and Moerewa match was the only one for the weekend, with the remaining teams kicking off next Saturday.