Ngongotaha Chief's player Tai Kapua, pictured with ball playing against Rotorua rivals Pikiao Warriors last season. Photo/File
Ngongotaha Chief's player Tai Kapua, pictured with ball playing against Rotorua rivals Pikiao Warriors last season. Photo/File
Rotorua's Pikiao Warriors and Ngongotaha Chiefs are set to kick-off their campaigns in a revamped league competition.
No more is the Waicoa Bay Premiership - replaced instead by the Bay of Plenty District Rugby League (BOPDRL) and Coastline combined district competition.
The league starts tomorrow and 15 teams will battle it out in the first of three grading rounds before the competition splits into two - the Premier grade (six teams) and Premier 2 (nine teams).
"This big change will definitely make this an overall better competition," Bay of Plenty District Rugby League chairman Bill Liddel said. "It will hopefully raise the standard and give league a profile boost not just here in Rotorua but in the whole region."
The 15 teams have been split into four sections with the four teams in section one automatically making the Premier grade by fielding two sides this season.
Pikiao Warriors Premier side are joined in section one by Pacific Sharks Premier, Taupo Phoenix Premier and Otumoetai Eels Premier.
Pikiao's first team face a difficult first match - taking on last year's Waicoa Bay club rugby runners-up Pacific Sharks at Memorial Park, Tokoroa.
But Pikiao head coach Jason Parata said his side were not daunted by their challenging first test after a tough preseason, including last weekend's 11-4 nines tournament final loss against tomorrow's opponent.
"Pacific are a top team but I think it's good," Parata said. "It's a good thing because we'll know exactly where we're at and whether we are competing at the right level. We've worked very hard over the last six weeks and things are starting to come together.
"We gave Pacific a good run for their money recently and it was actually our worst performance in that competition. Now focus is about Saturday - we will be putting everything into practice and working out the right combinations."
Pikiao head coach Jason Parata. Photo/File
Parata, in his first season in charge of the club, said it was too early to set a league target but added the club had the right ethos to do well this season.
"I'm pleased with the vibe and atmosphere right now at the club," Parata said. This is an amazing club to be a part of because there's such a tight brotherhood amongst the players. I want all players here to strive to be the best they can be and I aim to put this side back on the map."
Meanwhile, Ngongotaha Chiefs are joined in section three by Putauaki Stags, Mangakino Hawks and Taneatua Warriors. The Rotorua team take on the Stags at Puketawhero Park at 1pm.
Paul Nahu, one of Ngongotaha Chiefs' coaches this season, said his side needed to "hit the ground running" if they were to make the top grade.
"Of course we are aiming for the Premiership but we'll need three good results on the bounce," he said. "We've had a reasonable preseason so it's good that we can finally get into it and hopefully hit the ground running.
"I'm confident we have the quality to hit the mark in the grading rounds and we want to have those tough Rotorua derby matches to continue with Ngongotaha because it's always one to circle in the diary."
BOPDRL and Coastline combined district competition Saturday
Section 1: Pikiao Warriors Premier, Pacific Sharks Premier, Taupo Phoenix Premier and Otumoetai Eels Premier.
