Rugby: Harbour coaches reward veterans and club stalwarts

East Coast Bays prop Jody Allen.

There is a settled look to North Harbour's ITM Cup squad as they eye up the Championship semifinals.

Just 27 have been named - 19 of whom played last season - compared with Auckland's 31 and the 32 of Counties Manukau, but coach Steve Jackson has rewarded several players out of club rugby. Just two - Australian first-five Daniel Halangahu and centre Rene Ranger - did not play in the region in 2015.

The former was playing for Narbonne in Pro D2, the most recent club of the late Jerry Collins.

Ranger, back from Montpellier, is on the mend from surgery and is not expected to appear for Harbour until midway through the ITM Cup.

"As with any recovery, we will monitor Rene's progress on a week-by-week basis. To be honest, our biggest issue with him will be to keep him from playing before he is ready as he is really keen to get into it," said Jackson.

"Our coaching group have been keeping a close eye on our premier club competition all year. We have been really impressed with a number of players, a few who have held their hands up high all season.

"With Harbour also having 14 players exposed to Super Rugby this season, it means we have the core of a very strong squad."

Several of those 14 played just bit parts in Super Rugby, but the likes of hooker James Parsons and lock Hayden Triggs did play a lot.

An interesting newcomer in the pack is 18-year-old Massey loose forward Hapakuki Moala-Liava'a, a 2014 New Zealand Schools rep out of Massey High School. He can play all three loose positions and carries powerfully.

Only two halfbacks and two hookers were named, but the midfield has plenty of beef and Jackson would love to see wing Tevita Li replicate his New Zealand Under-20 form. Halfback Bryn Hall, the 2014 skipper, has returned from an injury-ravaged first half of the year.

Other debutants are East Coast Bays prop Jody Allen, Northcote loose forward James Doyle, Takapuna wing and 2014 Bay of Plenty rep Junior Tofa-Va'a, and Glenfield fullback Josh Rowland.

Harbour will play two pre-season games, against Waikato on July 31 in Hamilton and Auckland at Onewa Domain on August 6, a reprise of an old rivalry on a time-honoured ground, before they take on Bay of Plenty in round one on August 14.

Jackson and assistant Alex O'Dowd will keep a close eye on Saturday's club final, featuring Massey, who provide several of the rep backline, and defending champions North Shore, who provide five of the Harbour forwards.

North Harbour squad

Hookers:

James Parsons, Ray Niuia;

Props:

Sione Mafileo, Nic Mayhew, Adrian Smith, Alex Woonton, Jody Allen;

Locks:

Hayden Triggs, Gerard Tuioti-Mariner, Brandon Nansen;

Loose forwards:

Josh Blucher, James Doyle, Hapakuki Moala-Liava'a, Jordan Manihera, Chris Vui; Halfbacks: Bryn Hall, David Bason; First-fives: Matt McGahan, Daniel Halangahu;

Midfielders:

Pita Ahki, Michael Little, Rene Ranger, Matt Vaega; Outside backs: Tevita Li, Josh Rowland, Junior Tofa-Va'a, Nafi Tuitavake.