League: Swords need Edwards at sharpest

Shelford Edwards will undergo a baptism of fire as he replaces the injured Kyle Hool for the Northern Swords against national competition heavyweights Auckland on Sunday.

Edwards makes his first start for the Swords senior team after a good year running the plays for his Northern Wairoa Bulls club team but the step up will be huge.

Auckland will want to set the record straight after being beaten by Counties-Manukau 24-22 in a heavyweight struggle on Monday night.

Swords co-captain Jack Walker said the squad had watched the tape so knew what was in store at Kaitaia's Arnold Rae Park.

"We just have to match their physicality. Everyone will have to do their job properly if we're going to keep to our game plan, because they have class all over the field," he said.

Walker, who shares the captain's role with Tawio Davis, said the Northland team would benefit from the encounter.

"It's good to have this game early in our season, we're going to learn a lot about ourselves and I'm sure the boys will rise to the occasion," he said.

Edwards, for one, will need to play like a man possessed but like many Northland players, who have grown up playing bigger Auckland sides in representative matches, the 25-year-old knows what to expect.

The Swords began their campaign last weekend with a solid second-half effort in a 16-34 loss to Waicoa Bays Stallions.

A healthy crowd assembled at Toll Stadium saw the U17s secure their first win on the national stage, beating Waicoa Bay 28-22.

It came at a cost, with Hararei Te Whata suffering a compound fracture to his tibia and fibula.

Like their seniors, the U15s played well in the second half, showing their ability to compete on the national stage after being shell-shocked initially.

In other matches this weekend, Counties Manukau Stingrays take on the Central Vipers, Waicoa Bay Stallions play South Island Scorpions, while Wellington Orcas get the bye.

Rugby League Northland are taking the Swords on the road for their remaining home games, with all the three representative sides playing in Kaitaia on Sunday, and the two junior teams' matches against Counties Manukau at Lindvart Park, Kaikohe, on September 23.

The U15s play at 11.15am, the U17s at 12.30pm, and the Premiers at 2pm. Admission is a gold coin for U15s, and $5 for adults.