LEAGUE - New look comp set for season kickoff

Leading up to a season where Whangarei and Districts rugby league has undergone major changes, president Sonny Hohepa is surprised he still has a full head of hair.
Round one of the local competition kicks off tomorrow in what has already been an interesting year for the sport both locally and nationally, Hohepa says.
After 25 years of refereeing, Hohepa accepted the 2009 presidency and already has overseen the restructure of both the Northland regional game, as well as the local competition.
Eight sides will contest the Whangarei and Districts competition, with clubs voting against the Ngawha Saints' proposal to be re-admitted earlier this year.
The Saints' decision not to take part in last season's playoffs drew widespread condemnation from administrators and players, Hohepa said.
"The clubs felt visiting sides' supporters were missing out and also the Saints had the home ground advantage all the time," he said.
In place of the Ngawha Saints is the newly formed Kensington City Knights club, who would even up the numbers again, Hohepa said.
Kensington Knights, one of Whangarei's oldest established league clubs, went into recession during the'80s, and re-emerged as the Kamo Knights.
Following the Kamo Knights' eventual demise, the club has amalgamated with the City Rugby Club to form the new Kensington City Knights Club.
"It is a community-based initiative as people were becoming aware Otangerei was having problems with their youth," Hohepa said. "As a result, the sports club amalgamated in a venture which involves the whole community of Otangerei, to prevent the feeling of them and us there."
Last year's premiers Takahiwai join Hikurangi, Portland, Moerewa, Kaikohe, Bay Slayers and Dargaville to complete the eight-team line up.
While registrations are not due until after round one, there is a feeling across the board player numbers will be very strong this year. Hohepa said there was a renewed interest in the game, perhaps generated by recent Warriors' success.
A restructure of the governance of Northland league is also hoped to bring with it better days for the sport.
Following a proposal put forward after Sport and Recreation New Zealand reviewed the game in Northland, Whangarei and Districts joined up with the Rodney and Hibiscus Coast associations to form the Northern Zone.
The board will have six directors, with the three associations nominating two representatives who will be elected in the next few weeks. "We will be given assistance with coaching, development and funding under the Northern Zone structure."
Until the board is elected and set up, Hohepa said it was unclear stage what national competitions Northland youth and senior sides would compete in this year.
The local season is about to get under way - with senior sides in action this weekend, and schoolboy league following suit on May 3 at Otangerei, Dargaville and Bay of Islands.