Aussie sharpshooter doubtful for Northland

By WYNNE GRAY

Northland do not know if goalkicking sharpshooter Julian Huxley will be available for Saturday's promotion-relegation scrap with Nelson Bays.

As Northland went through some conditioning and planning work yesterday, Huxley was in Queensland on the first day of a Super 12 training camp with the Reds.

"Julian was always going back home for this camp and I guess it was a case of us not wanting to think we would be in this game or would need him for a semifinal or final either," chief executive Tim Hamilton said.

"We are talking with Queensland and hope we can come to some agreement."

Huxley came to Northland after missing the bulk of the Super 12 because of injury. The first five-eighths showed his value with an 83 per cent goalkicking strike rate and his backline direction.

If Huxley does not return for Saturday's game in Nelson, coach Bruce Hodder said he had several other choices.

But he will not have halfback John Senio, who fractured an eye socket in the last pool match with Canterbury.

However, former Northland halfback Steven Moore, who last played for the union in 1998, has been drafted into the squad after returning recently from playing in Europe.

"The guys have freshened, but we know that Nelson have won their last three games at home where they have support from a parochial crowd," Hodder said.

"We are going into enemy territory and we know Nelson will tough it out because that is what they have been doing in their last few games.

"However, it is imperative with the NPC revamp and other reviews that we win this game."

Hodder would not be drawn on any gap he saw between first and second division rugby.

Northland and Nelson had battled hard in their respective divisions all year, so it was a match of unknown fortune.

Crucial game

PROMOTION/RELEGATION

Northland v Nelson Bays, Trafalgar Park, Nelson, 2.35pm Saturday

NPC fixtures, results and standings
Division One | Division Two |