Devine's swansong on cards

By WYNNE GRAY

Halfback Steve Devine will farewell Auckland rugby after the NPC final unless there is a late rejig of the Blues selection for next season's Super 12.

Inquiries from the Herald yesterday met widespread denials of any drama or knowledge about Devine's Super 12 fate.

But it is understood that Blues coach Peter Sloane settled on North Harbour's Mark Robinson and transferring Auckland halfback David Gibson for his squad next season.

That group of 28 will be announced on Tuesday in Auckland as the other four franchise sides are revealed at functions in their regions.

After Auckland's strong NPC results and the less effective form of partners North Harbour and Northland, it seems the blue and whites will contribute at least 16 players to the squad.

With Robinson keeping one halfback place, Sloane was forced to choose between Gibson, who transferred to Auckland this season, and Devine.

Devine is a 25-year-old who moved to Auckland in 1998 after being snubbed in his native Australia. He played his 50th game for Auckland in the stunning semifinal victory against Canterbury last week.

He has been a consistent performer this season and is third in the team ratings compiled by the coaching staff.

When Byron Kelleher was concussed on the All Black tour late last year, Devine was considered as a replacement but he had undergone ankle surgery and Jason Spice made the trip.

This season Devine was joined at Auckland by Gibson, a former NZ Colt who had been shut out of the Otago scene by Kelleher and Danny Lee.

It is understood that Sloane nominated Gibson as his other halfback to join Robinson when the Super 12 coaches tabled their squads with the NZRFU last week.

That decision may force Devine to return to Australia to seek a Super 12 start, as the other New Zealand franchises can fill their halfback quotas.

There is still uncertainty about Deacon Manu but, after the New Zealand Rugby Union ruling that his transfer to Auckland was valid, the prop will be announced as a Blues player.

Appointing a captain is another problem.

There are contenders such as Kees Meeuws, Troy Flavell or Xavier Rush, but there are doubts about whether prop is a good position for a captain, and whether Flavell and Rush are cast-iron selections for each game.

It may be that the Blues will use a co-captain system, which has become fashionable with some rugby sides in this country.

The Blues have announced that their opening home games will be held at North Harbour Stadium against the Crusaders and in Whangarei against the Reds. The shifts are because Eden Park is having an overhaul.

* Former All Black lock Andy Haden has been appointed as an independent member of the Blues board.

* Southland referee Paddy O'Brien has recovered from injury and will control the first division final.

O'Brien, considered by many to be New Zealand's best official, missed the semifinals last weekend after tearing a calf muscle in the final round-robin match between Auckland and Wellington.

He has not controlled an NPC final since Otago won the championship in 1998.

His touch judges will be North Harbour's Steve Walsh, who controlled the Waikato-Otago semifinal, and Hawkes Bay's Kelvin Deaker.

Paul Honiss will be in charge of the first and second division promotion-relegation match between Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay at Rotorua on Saturday.

Sunday afternoon's third division final between North Otago and Horowhenua-Kapiti will be refereed by Gary Wise, of Hawkes Bay.