The Northland Roller Mills team became the talk of the tournament after young Jodeci Campbell was selected in the 2012 tournament team.
Campbell became the first girl to be named in the end-of-tournament selection after Northland finished fourth in this year's competition on Saturday in Auckland. Disappointment in Northland's tight 27-22 defeat by Auckland West in the play-off evaporated when Campbell became one of five Northland players named in the highly esteemed team that has produced several All Blacks in the past.
Campbell was one of the stars for Northland as they beat King Country and Thames Valley comfortably before beating Bay of Plenty 21-0 to reach the semifinals. They were then defeated by eventual champions Waikato 39-0 in their final pool match before a 3-22 semifinal defeat by Auckland East.
The 2012 NRM tournament team is: Kereopa McDonald, Joe Dinsdale, Peni Lasaqa, Levi Hartley (BOP), Jake Russ, Mitchell Robertson, Kaea Hongara, Vynce Bolli, Tairoa Crean, Kelly Paekau-Rush (Waikato), Jodeci Campbell, Benjamin Monahan, Flynn Kelly, Simon Parker, Rivez Reihana (Northland), Samuel Jenkin, Lemeki Namoa (Auckland East), Jackson Borchert (Auckland West), Maihi Hamilton-Chase (King Country), Keegan Harris (Thames Valley), Callum Bean (Counties), Brady Rush (North Harbour).
