KEY POINTS:
Glory years: None.
2006 finish: 10th (W3 D1 L5).
Best result: Beat Southland 19-12 in the repechage phase.
Worst result: Thrashed 56-15 by Tasman in Blenheim.
Dearly departed: Manu Burkhardt-McRae, Warren Dunn, Vula Maimuri, John Senio.
Holidaying in France: None.
New kids on the block: Steven Baker, Justin Collins, Mike Davis, Tony Koonwaiyou, Leo Taliu, Fetu'u Vainikolo.
Old stagers: 90-game veteran Justin Collins has returned from a spell with Auckland, while David Holwell (75 appearances) is also winding down his days in the sunny north. But both are spring chickens compared to midfield back Hayden Taylor, who begins the season with 120 matches under his headgear.
Coaches count: Mark Anscombe is back for another crack. Last year his biggest achievement was actually being taken notice of when he moaned at Auckland for not releasing players on loan.
Shooting star: Keep a good eye out for winger Rene Ranger, who blasted on to the scene as a 19-year-old last season. With his brothers Park, Forest and Ring all having missed selection, he is sadly the lone Ranger in the side. Boom boom.
Quirks of the draw: Will make the longest two trips of the tournament, travelling to Invercargill and Dunedin. Will also host three upper North Island derbies, against Auckland, North Harbour and Counties-Manukau. Home: North Harbour, Tasman, Taranaki, Auckland, Counties-Manukau. Away: Otago, Bay of Plenty, Southland, Hawkes Bay, Waikato. Not playing: Wellington, Canterbury, Manawatu.
Scouting report
Lost to Tasman (22-25) and Counties-Manukau (17-28) but beat Manawatu (34-22) to at least have a taste of victory pre-season. With Ranger and former Auckland winger Tony Koonwaiyou on the flanks, their best bet looks to be to chuck the ball around with gay abandon and pray it comes off. Rumours of Norm Berryman's impending return have, alas, proved false for the sixth year running. Shame.
Prospects
A bit grim. Last year no Northland player managed to get over the tryline twice in one match. While that may allow 17 blokes the chance to bore their friends and families for years to come with tales of the day they topped the Taniwha try count, it does tend to suggest the side are a bit short of strikepower. Sprightly young first-five Holwell topped the season count with three. Oh dear. Northlanders doubtless see the return of Collins as an event on a par with the second coming of Jesus, which is handy as a serious miracle is needed to turn this lot into contenders.
Prediction: 12th. A favourable draw should keep them off the bottom.
