LEAGUE - Juniors show style - and send a message

NORTHLAND'S SUCCESS at the recent under-15 rugby league tournament should send a clear message to NZRL that Northland must be included in the 2009 National Junior Competition.
The under-15 team went unbeaten in the tournament in Hamilton and the team's coach Jim Larkin said Northland had once again proved it had the players to succeed at national level.
The Northland team beat three provinces which will be included in this year's NJC competition.
The Northlanders demonstrated their size, speed and superb skill across the park to win the competition.
First up Northland played tournament favourites Waikato, conceding a 10-point deficit early in the game before recovering to go ahead 18-10 by halftime. Disciplined completion of sets in the second spell saw them take the game comfortably 32-16.
Northland had another slow start against Taranaki and were behind 12-0 on before they settled to take the first half 22-12. They displayed dominant defence in the second half to run out winners 48-22. A huge feature of the game was a five-try haul by prop Luke Tuimavave and set up what was Northland's final, the following day.
Northland's final opponents were Bay of Plenty. Northland went into the game with a full complement of players and were unstoppable with the 18-0 halftime score a reflection of their dominance. They extended their lead to 36-0 late in the game before the Bay scored their lone try through an intercept to complete the scoring at 36-6.
"The guys all did really well, they understood what I wanted them to do and they grew at the tournament and did everything I asked of them. Now they realise how successful they can be," Larkin said. "Some of these kids have got big futures and it's just a case of making sure they understand the game."
The title of 2008 National 15s Rugby League Champions wasn't all Northland earned at the tournament however, with eight players selected for the national under-15s team from 12 Northland triallists.
Flying wingers Rocky Beckham and Angus Murray, Northland vice captain Axel Rawiri, who was probably the most skilled player of the tournament, hard hitting Garrod Irvine and Jaylin Tupaea, superboot Troy Agar, top try scorer Luke Tuimavave and captain Errol Lee, who showed great leadership qualities were named in the tournament team. Narrowly missing out on were Cruz Gray, James Te Namu. Jordan Marriner and Louis Rogers.
Luke Tuimavave won best forward of the tournament and Northland captain Errol Lee was also named captain of the NZ 15s team and winner of the prestigious Stacey Jones Cup for outstanding playing of the tournament.
The Northland 15s team will now prepare to play Auckland on September 27 in Whangarei along with our other Northland junior representatives from 6s to 16s playing on the day.
These representative teams will be selected from three inter-district series between Whangarei, Bay of Islands and Far North.
The series will be run over three weekends starting in Kaitaia August 3, Whangarei on August 10 and finally Moerewa, on August 17.
Whangarei age-group rugby league representative trials will be held Sunday at Blue Goose (Otaika) Domain. Under-6 10am; U-8 10.30am; U-10 11am; U-12 11.45am; U-14 12 noon; U-16s 1pm.
Caption: NORTHLAND UNDER-15 SQUAD: Back row: Greg Mackie (Junior Development Officer), Angus Murray, Louis Rodgers, Luke Tuimavave, Jordan McGregor, Jaylin Tupaea, Arapeta Mua; Second row: Dane Ronayne (Trainer), James Te Namu, Jordan Marriner, Tuatahi Munday, Rocky Beckham, Jahroam Turanga, Garrod Irvine, Jim Larkin (Coach); Third row: Tania Nathan (Masseuse/Strapper), Ricki Rapana, William Yates, Axel Rawiri (Vice Captain), Errol Lee (Captain) holding Stacey Jones Outstanding Player of the Tournament Cup, Tikiahi Davis, Riki Toby, Rubyanne Reihana (Manager); Sitting: Cruz Gray, Troy Agar.