Boe and Counties shake hands on NPC coaching role next season

By PETER JESSUP

John Boe and Counties Manukau have a handshake deal that he is the man to carry the Pukekohe-based side back to the NPC first division.

Boe is away with Samoa, with a test to come against Italy tomorrow, and must gain a release from his contractual requirements with the New Zealand Rugby Union before his appointment can be signed off.

But the union management is apparently happy he was best applicant from those who answered their job advertisement.

The second choice was Mike Turner, an 11-season Ponsonby player, with three as coach at the Ponies before four with the Auckland second XV and the past season at Thames Valley, who finished sixth in the second division.

Turner confirmed yesterday that he went for the top job.

He was asked by the Counties Manukau management if he would be happy to be No 2 with Boe, a former Waikato coach and this year's assistant with Peter Sloane's Highlanders, and agreed.

The Counties Manukau coaching position became vacant when Andrew Talaimanu stepped down after their relegation from the first division.

Despite never having met Boe, Turner regards the opportunity to work with the man perennially passed over for the NZRFU's bigger jobs in Super 12 and higher, as a big one.

"He has great experience with the NPC, Ranfurly Shield and internationally, and I see it as a good chance to work on my development as a coach," Turner said.

The two have opened talks on a squad, but are awaiting final decisions on availability or transfer from some senior players before determining how wide they need to cast their net in search of a competitive squad.

Under particular focus are those with Super 12 contracts, Danny Lee and Kristian Ormsby, and veterans Hare Makiri and John Akurangi.

Turner said they would check on who was in the development pool before going into the market ahead of the transfer cut-off date next Friday.

Former Counties midfield back-turned-board member Peter Goldsmith is conducting negotiations on behalf of the union.

He was unavailable last night.

However, others close to the action speculated that Turner would get the top job if Boe cannot do the required deal with the NZRFU.