Tamou the only surprise in Northland squad

Corey Tamou's search for an NPC first division rugby team to call home this year has paid off.

Tamou, who hails from Canterbury, was confirmed as the 26th and last player contracted with Northland this year when coach Bruce Hodder finally released his squad last night.

He is the only loan player included, joining John Senio as one of two halfbacks in the team this year.

Northland secured Tamou's services only after some late negotiations.

Eager to get some game time in the NPC first division, Tamou tried his luck with Taranaki in pre-season trials.

"I got a loan contract to go to Taranaki but things did not work out there," Tamou said.

"I guess I just got a bit sick of the politics in Canterbury. The things is, if I did not make it to a team myself I wanted to be able to blame myself and not the coaches," Tamou said.

"When it all fell through at Taranaki I didn't really know what I was going to do.

"But then a few days later it all went through with Northland, so I got myself back out of the pub and started training again," he said.

Hodder said Tamou "had been highlighted to us by agents" and was one of many players who found it difficult to break through the backlog of players in Canterbury.

"Tamou has been around the Canterbury scene without quite making it. He went to Taranaki to see if he could get a crack there and missed their cut so we have given him an opportunity."

Prop Gary Whippy was also named in the squad after arriving home following a season in England.

Having shed some weight, Whippy is rated by Hodder as a player of the future.

"Gary is a very good rugby player around the paddock. He came back (from overseas) six kilograms lighter and while we both know he has some work to do as a scrummager he now becomes a fulltime rugby player and will have time to work on specifics."

Northland's opening NPC match is against Wellington in Whangarei on Saturday.

Northland squad:
Stan Wright, Tim Dow, Simon Lemalu, Bronson Murray, Gary Whippy, Kira Tahere, Brad Taylor, Isoa Domolailai, Allen Tubbs, Aaron Wright, Luke Ottley, Mesake Davu, Jake Paringatai, Brad Christensen, Corey Tamou, John Senio, David Holwell (captain), Daniel Bowden, Quin Butler, Manu Burkhardt-Macrae, Josh Levi, Jared Going, Aaron Baigent, Isoa Neivua, Matt Faleuka, Mike Rowe.

- NZPA