Despite ruling himself out in June, Timoci Seruwalu changed his mind and has asked to be included in the Whanganui squad. Photo / NZME
Despite ruling himself out in June, Timoci Seruwalu changed his mind and has asked to be included in the Whanganui squad. Photo / NZME
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With a tough Bunnings Heartland Championship campaign ahead, the prospect of conditioning-related injuries and Covid still lurking around, Steelform Whanganui will run as deep as possible on their playing roster.
New head coach Jason Hamlin has a squad of 28 players – 15 forwards and 13 backs - and with 23 being named for each Heartland game come August 20, it is likely most of the extended group will stay on the scene.
There are also three apprentice players – two forwards and one back.
However, only about 25 in total will be available for the first hit out this weekend against the Manawatū Evergreens at Johnston Park.
Several players originally named in the squad on Sunday after the Tasman Tanning Premier final – Isaac Roth, Cody Hemi, Jack van Bussel, Brad O'Leary and Angus Middleton - are now unavailable.
Forwards O'Leary and van Bussel are off overseas, while another player from the June squad, prop Marc Ouellet, has returned home to Canada.
Talented back Rangi Kui had been out with a neck injury, and while Middleton was considering a representative comeback after three years of club rugby, an accumulation of injuries during 2022 saw him withdraw.
"The body's not 100 per cent, he can't commit to a full season, and didn't want to be half-hearted," Hamlin said.
Therefore, added to the group was veteran prop Renato Tikiosolomone after strong form in the latter part of the club campaign, plus there's a call-up for fellow front rower Tai Pulemagafa, while young lock Mason Johnson will be an apprentice player.
Jason Hamlin has named his first Steelform Whanganui squad as head coach. Photo / Bevan Conley
A big positive is the return of experienced midfielder and former NZ Heartland XV representative Timoci Seruwalu, who had initially declared himself unavailable for Whanganui in June.
"Towards the end of the club season he reached out and said he was keen to play, so a bit of a no-brainer [to include]," said Hamlin.
Against the Evergreens, Whanganui will be light on backs as halfback Lindsay Horrocks is isolating due to a family Covid case, while utility Tyler Rogers-Holden has tested positive.
Without those two, it will fall to Premier MVP Caleb Gray and returning 2019 player Kahl Elers-Green to cover the No 9 spot.
"I've spoken to Caleb and Kahl, they understand that three into two doesn't go, but I've been straight with them – they'll get the first couple of cracks at it," said Hamlin.
In addition, midfielder Ethan Robinson, who has the utility value to cover first-five, midfield and fullback, along with the goal kicking, still needs a couple of weeks to recover from his injured shoulder in the premier semifinal.
Injury and Covid remain the coach's main concerns heading into this long preseason with four games against the Development XVs of the neighbouring NPC unions.
"This will be crucial for us, I told the team on Tuesday night, the sprint that club [season] was probably hasn't prepared us for the intensity of Heartland.
"We've got a few things to tick off, but we've got a month to do it.
"[Covid's] just a sign of the times and we're going to have to deal with it."
For away games with overnight stays, Whanganui will try to room players who have recovered from Covid together, and those who have not had it will do the same, while also trying to split up players who have adjacent positions in the lineup.
"We're going to have to be vigilant about what we're going to have to do with protocols."
The game with the Evergreens will be the standard 40-minute halves – both sides are likely to give their full extended lineups a run.
As always, when Manawatū lineups are named, the fun game to play is "spot the ex-pat".
At lock is former Whanganui Collegiate 1st XV player Hunter Morrison, while in the backline is ex-Cullinane and Whanganui Sevens rep Kody Edwards, former Cullinane and Whanganui High 1st XV player Adam Boult, last year's Whanganui Collegiate 1st XV midfielder Waqa Nalaga, and 2020 Whanganui representative Logan Henry – all who played local junior rep.
"On paper, it looks like a pretty strong Evergreen side," said Hamlin, without irony.
The kickoff will be 2.30pm.
The Whanganui squad is:
Forwards: Gabriel Hakaraia (Taihape), Keightley Watson (Marist), Renato Tikiosolomone (Border), Slade Hay-Horton (Taihape), Tai Pulemagafa (Kaiuera), Roman Tutauha (Taihape), Jack Yarrall (Marist), Josh Lane (Kaierau), Peter-Travis Hay-Horton (Taihape), Ben Whale (Taihape), Jamie Hughes (Taihape), Semi Vodosese (Border), Samu Kubunavanua (Ngamatapouri), Lennox Shanks (Taihape), Regan Collier (Taihape).
