Good on ya for bringing some of our boys back home

WELL done Derren Witcombe and George Konia.

Well done for bringing Northland back to Northland.

Every year it is the same, people want an all-local team and expect it to stand up against the bigger unions and win. Well, sadly, it is not that easy.

Plucking someone out of Northland club rugby and throwing them up against Super Rugby players, or guys who train full-time, does not quite work to plan for everyone. Some players might be sweet, but a lot will take time to adjust and develop.

It's the same for Super Rugby, no one expects a first year player to set the world alight; it is more about getting a grounding before looking to press on to bigger and better performances.

But, for the nay-sayers out there, what do you classify as a local player?

We've got players in the squad who have moved to the region who may not have been born here but are now part of the club rugby scene. I think players who have committed to the region count as local lads. Even if they are gaining something from it, so are we.

We are not just at ITM Cup level but also at club level, after all the more competition, or the higher, out there the better as it makes our young guys have to stand up if they want to play premier rugby. Just because you have been with a club for awhile does not mean you should get automatic selection in the top team.

Either way, to Witcombe and co who have brought ex-Northland players back to the region, good on ya.

It is good to see players like Robbie Abel and Matt Moulds, along with others, come back to the region where they cut their teeth.

Even though Bronson Murray and Jake Paringatai left the region, they have come back to help build depth in the squad.

And, with Murray sitting on 96 caps he looks set to bring up his 100th for the Taniwha, it looks to be a big year for each of them as they bring up significant milestones, Paringatai is on 48 caps.

I'd say the Taniwha squad for this year looks like most other ITM Cup squads, mostly filled with locals but a few outsiders thrown in there to bring a bit of spice.

So, well done Derren and George. Bring on the season - win, lose or draw, let's get behind the boys in blue this year.

After all, most of them are our boys.