Tracking down both first-five eighths competing to replace David Holwell in the Northland team later this year proved to be easier than expected yesterday - they were in the same car heading home from Northland practice.
The two newly Northland contracted players, Ash Moeke and Jack McPhee, will face off tomorrow
as Hora Hora take on Mid Western at the Maungakaramea Domain but neither player was willing to take the contest too seriously at the time.
"Jack McPhee's talking up a storm over here," Moeke joked. "But it'll be a good game I think. Hora Hora did really well last week and had a good win, but we're hoping that if we have a good training tonight we might be able to get the win on Saturday."
Moeke said Mid Western would have to work on halting the go-forward of the strong Hora Hora pack if they wanted to win the match and said an easy win over Otamatea last weekend might not have been ideal preparation for the match.
McPhee's skills as a utility player made him an attractive prospect for new Northland coach Adrian Ferris but his ability as a strategist may well have been overlooked. "Ash is saying the Hora Hora forward pack just aren't up to it," he deadpans. "And you can put that in the paper tomorrow."
McPhee's vision and accurate passing in his debut against Mid Northern last weekend gave his side an extra edge and he more than held his own against Holwell, although modestly disagreeing with that idea.
"He showed me a thing or two, and he got me pretty good in one tackle," McPhee chuckled.
The former Harbour fullback is keen on getting closer to the action at first five-eighths.
"I like to play first-five, especially at club level, because I enjoy playing there more. You don't see much of the ball at fullback sometimes, but I'll play where I'm needed for Northland as long as I get to play," he said.
Mid Western and Hora Hora are the only unbeaten teams in the Southern Districts Premier competition, so there is plenty riding on the match.
The other games see Marist at home to Wellsford and Old Boys hosting the Western Sharks. Mid Northern take on Hikurangi at Hukerenui, while Otamatea take their first away trip this season to Kamo.
