RUGBY - Collins ponders option of another Super 14

Entreaties from coach David Nucifora could see Northland rugby captain Justin Collins selected for an unexpected season of Super 14 rugby with the Blues next year.
But the unforseen offer to extend his Super rugby career into its 10th season has caught the charismatic Northland rugby captain unawares after he thought his career at Eden Park had finished at the end of this year's campaign.
Battling to overcome an ankle injury just to make the pitch in an all-important Air NZ Cup clash with Waikato as it is, Collins has doubts he could handle another ruthless Super 14 campaign.
"A Super 14 campaign is bloody hard work. The travel is huge and commitment needed a big part of it.
"But the games are getting harder each year. The players are getting younger and bigger every year," Collins said.
"I am really undecided.
"When I left this year I thought that, with the depth of talent, especially loose forward talent, at the Blues that they were in good hands," he said.
"But they have lost a few players since then and quite a bit of experience, I suppose, in the process."
Since the end of the Super 14, Blues players Angus Macdonald, Greg Rawlinson, Ali Williams, Luke McAlister, Doug Holwett and Sam Tuitupou have all signed to play overseas.
The decision looms large for Collins who has now moved out of Auckland with his wife and young family and re-established himself in Whangarei.
The prospect of moving into temporary lodgings for the Super 14 season is not exactly enticing.
The 32-year-old will delay his decision until Nucifora returns from a fact-finding mission in Europe.
But Collins isn't the only player pondering his future as the Air NZ Cup campaign nears its end.
A crucial game against Waikato in Hamilton tomorrow looms, with a quarterfinal carrot on the result.
But several players are about to come off contract with the Northland Rugby Union and a handful are in the mix for possible Super 14 selection as well.
Collin's long-serving Northland teammate David Holwell has ruled himself out for another Super 14 contract, but others like Dan Bowden, Jake Paringatai and Joel McKenty will be sweating on squad announcements in November.
Even prop Bronson Murray and winger Fetu Vainikolo are being touted as candidates for the Super 14 draft.
There is another batch of players becoming free agents at the end of the Northland campaign - hooker Tim Dow, midfield back Josh Levi and lock Brad Taylor included. That has loaded some extra significance onto tomorrow's fixture, as if the game needed any more emotional weighting as it will also be the last game on home turf for Waikato's former All Blacks loose forward Marty Holah.
With contract negotiations pending, it may also be the last time many Northland players wear the provincial colours.
NORTHLAND V WAIKATO Rugby Park, Hamilton, 2.30pm Sat
Rene Ranger 15 Dwayne Sweeney
Glenn Martin 14 Sosene Anesi
Tony Koonwaiyou 13 Roimata Hansell-Pune
Dan Bowden 12 Jackson Willison
Fetu Vainikolo 11 Roy Kinikinilau
David Holwell 10 Stephen Donald
Corey Tamou 9 Josh Sutherland
Jake Paringatai 8 Liam Messam
Joel McKenty 7 Marty Holah
Justin Collins (c)6 Steven Bates
Brad Taylor 5 Josh Olsen
Dan Goodwin 4 Mark Burman
Bronson Murray 3 Aled de Malmanche
Tim Dow 2 Tom Willis (c)
Tony Coughlan 1 Craig West
Reserves.- Northland: Justin Davies, Tevita Mailau, Steve Baker, John Cocker, Rhyan Caine, Mike Davis, Josh Levi. Waikato: Vern Kamo, Josh Hohneck, Jordon Smiler, Steven Setephano, William Ripia, Jared Payne, James Kamana.