Kelleher misses out on semifinal

By CHRIS RATTUE

Test halfback Byron Kelleher has been ruled out of Saturday's NPC semifinal against Waikato.

Otago coach Wayne Graham made an early decision on Kelleher yesterday after a fitness test at Carisbrook.

Graham said Otago had made a mistake in the lead-up to the game against Auckland, naming Kelleher and then having to withdraw him at the 11th hour.

Kelleher has missed Otago's past two matches.

His omission from the Otago semifinal squad guarantees a start for Danny Lee, the former Chiefs halfback, who held tentative talks about joining Waikato this year after Counties Manukau were relegated.

"Byron is not quite 100 per cent," Graham said. "We're lucky we have a player of Danny's experience for a big game like this.

"We've adopted a policy all season that we only play players when they're 100 per cent."

North Harbour's Steve Walsh will control the match in Hamilton, while Waikato's Paul Honiss will control the semifinal in Christchurch.

Leading referee Paddy O'Brien, who tore a calf muscle during Auckland's win over Wellington, faces a race against time if he is to accept what almost certainly will be the appointment for the final.

* Glen Jackson has re-signed with Bay of Plenty for two more seasons.

The Steamers must survive the promotion-relegation game against Hawkes Bay or Counties Manukau in nine days to remain in the first division.

* * *

Russell Jones will be reconfirmed as North Harbour coach for next season.

Chief executive Doug Rollerson said the union had been extremely disappointed with this year's NPC performance, but although Jones had to undergo a mandatory review tomorrow, his job was safe.

"Finishing seventh is unacceptable and there were games we lost - especially against Wellington and Taranaki - that were just there for the taking without doing anything spectacular," Rollerson said.

"Our minimum aim every year is to make the top five - and we want to win the NPC.

"But Russell has a two-year deal, and in my experience giving a guy less than two years is absolutely ridiculous."