Rugby: Hiding forces Steelers rethink

By Chris Rattue

Counties Manukau coach Mac McCallion will pump some new blood into his tight five against Otago this week - but it is the long-term questions about the union which really need answering.

The Steelers 22-82 loss to Canterbury in the fourth round of the NPC was a shock scoreline to many, although some observers around Steelers country reckon it was a result just waiting to happen.

McCallion has elevated young Waiuku lock Ramon Lindsay in place of former Southlander Andrew Campbell. Lindsay is likely to partner veteran club mate Jim Coe against Otago at Pukekohe Stadium on Saturday.

Lindsay, a 21-year-old who was in the Chiefs Colts, is rated as "very aggressive" by McCallion who hopes he can add some bite to the troublesome tight five.

And big prop Jeremy Tomuli, who has been a fringe Steeler, returns in place of Sione Sione.

Given that Canterbury were not at their peak, with key test players missing, the 60-point drubbing was a major disaster for a team which has consistently challenged for semifinal places and the title.

The Steelers, in fact, have a large core of players who are fulltime one way or another, either through Super 12 contracts, working for Counties Manukau, or through studying.

But they are not all on highly lucrative deals, and the part-timers are clustered in the tight five where most of the playing problems are. And below the veneer of quality players, Counties Manukau apparently do not have the depth to cope against the big guns.

McCallion pointed out that the Steelers had tried to fix their tight five troubles.

They sought Brumbies prop Rod Moore, who instead set his sights on Waikato, their attempt to sign fellow Brumbie Ben Darwin was knocked back by the Australian Rugby Union, and injury prevented Springbok Robbie Kempson from joining.

Veteran prop Lee Lidgard has been sidelined by a serious back injury which could end his career, and former Blues hooker Andrew Roose has been forced into retirement by a neck injury suffered at club training.

But McCallion said that there were forces beyond Counties Manukau's control which contributed to their problems, such as the disadvantages of not being a Super 12 franchise base and continually losing quality players like Jonah Lomu and Api Naevo to test demands.

But Saturday's on-field disaster came just days after chief executive Gary Wilton suddenly resigned, and south Auckland is hardly a population or financial backwater. There are obviously problems within.

McCallion said the union had to become more professional, and attract more dollars which in turn would help them sign key players and keep their own talented youngsters.

"Money is the big problem and personally I thought we were better off when we were still in the Blues franchise," said McCallion.

"We got more money from that relationship and there were also advantages in getting some players from Auckland. Waikato don't have the same depth as Auckland, or Otago or Canterbury for that matter.

"But that is history now and we've got to deal with what we've got. We seem to have trouble even keeping our own best players. Three from Wesley College alone left last year."

The issue of the advantages Super 12-base unions have looms large in the NPC - a look at the current standings alone shows Auckland, Canterbury, Waikato, Otago and Wellington clearing away after four rounds.

Provinces like Canterbury and Otago have cleverly used Super 12 contracts to bolster their provincial sides, luring players like Carl Hoeft, Kees Meeuws and Greg Somerville south.

And insiders say the base provinces can also "hide" some administration costs, even though they are in a profit sharing relationship with other unions.

However, looming over all the NPC sides is the chance that the Super 12 will one day be expanded. Just what effect that has remains to be seen, but some believe it could turn the NPC into a basically amateur competition again, which might level the playing field.

Of more immediate concern for McCallion is Saturday's encounter against champions Otago, who have clung to a top four spot despite some wobbly performances so far this year.

"I've been absolutely devastated by Saturday's result and so have the players," said McCallion.

"I've got to get them back up and keep them positive. That's my job."