Levi puts hand up for role in the Taniwhas

The search for a back-up first five-eighth for Lachie Munro took another twist on Saturday with an impressive performance by Josh Levi - playing at number 10 for Marist - as they upset Hikurangi 11-8 in front of Northland coach Bryce Woodward.
With the Northland trial looming tomorrow  night to select the remaining 10 contracted players for the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup season, Levi put his hand up as someone who might be able to cover 13, 12 and 10.
Levi, who last played for the Taniwha two season's ago - in his preferred position at centre - said he had enjoyed playing at first five eighth for Marist but his punting was still below par.
"I'm still carrying a slight hamstring twinge from (playing in) Italy that hindered my kicking game on Saturday ... but I'm getting it looked at today and we'll see if I can play in that trial," the 29-year-old said.
"First five-eighth is not really my preferred position but injuries can affect a team's season so it's always good to have extra cover," Levi added.
Woodward for his part was impressed with Levi's game on Saturday.
"We certainly see Josh as a potential first five back-up, there are three first-fives taking part in the trial - Johnny Moimoi, Cass Walding and Josh - and Derek Carpenter will effectively cover for one of the teams in that position as well," he said.
Woodward said Levi's hamstring problem was a concern and had clearly affected his kicking on Saturday, particularly as the game wore on and his hamstring tightened up.
"Clearly that would have to come right because the position requires a competent kicker ... but his direction of the game and particularly the way he attacked the line and put players into space was very good," he concluded.
Tomorrow's trial will help the coach put his final touches on this year's selection process.
"Obviously club rugby until now has provided us with some guidelines to who we think we'll select and this trial will cement that process or it will throw up something out of the ordinary ...
"It's a pressure cooker for the players - they know there's a lot on the line just as there is in an Air New Zealand Cup game, so the players who can operate under that pressure are the ones most likely to be able to operate at the next level," Woodward said.
The coach has pledged to keep Northland's representative players as involved as possible in club rugby, as warm-up matches and club commitments begin to overlap. He said that generally only the starting players will be required not to play club rugby when such an overlap exists.
"That helps to maintain the integrity of club competition and also to give the players not starting with the rugby they need," he said.
He said All Black coach Graham Henry tried to treat players with kid gloves for the last world cup and it hadn't worked.
"We know there's a potential for injuries but those players have to be playing football ... to be ready to come off the bench for the 15-20-30 minute spells that we expect of them," he said.
The trial starts at 5pm at Hikurangi Sports Park tomorrow night.