Former New Zealand Heartland XV lock Nick Cranston recovered from injury and then after just a couple of games for Ruapehu, disappeared again, with coach Chris Winter bluntly stating, "neck injury, and that's all I'm going to say about it".
Last year's NZ Heartland Under-19 player Kameli Kuruyabaki went from player of the day for Kaierau in their opening game win over Ruapehu, to key spots in the Town team and Wanganui XV that beat Wairarapa-Bush in June, to just not featuring in the Under-20, Development, or Senior Wanganui team.
The 89-game veteran Denning Tyrell earned a recall only to withdraw this week due to work and family commitments, while his Pirates clubmate, prop Tololi Moala, whom coach Phillip Morris was pushing to make representative honours, has decided it's time to head back to Samoa.
The secondary team, Wanganui Development, also seemed very light for the practice game in Ohakune from those who were selected the previous week.
It's true it doesn't exactly pay to be a Heartland championship footballer. In fact, it may cost you a lot of money in annual leave and missed work opportunities if your standard hours include weekends or midweek evenings.
But given Caskey has already had to plan his campaign with up to 5-6 potential star players shaking their heads for this season, it's hard to see any grumblings about lack of opportunity holding merit.
Williams still Rocks
You can't fault the commitment of one of rugby's great cult favourites.
Fresh from a night out in Tokyo with Carl Hayman and the other New Zealand veterans turning out for the World XV this weekend against Japan, big lock Ali Williams called his old mates at the Rock FM radio station's morning show, as he was listening via streaming to their annual Rock 1000 countdown.
"New Zealander listeners, you are the most beautiful people in the world," big Ali slurred, live on air. "It's 7am here, and we've had little sleep, but I tell you what, we're always ready to lock into the Rock."
In stitches, his former radio colleagues had to ask how many beers he'd had partaken at that point.
"Probably trucking about 35 at the moment," came the response after a considerable pause. "Life is good. I tell you what, go the mighty All Blacks, mate. Don't worry about the Warriors, go the All Blacks. They're going to crush it, this weekend. I can feel it."
Williams closed the call by telling Rock jock Bryce Casey they needed to do another sprint challenge.
At 3am. Down Ponsonby Rd. In the nude.
There really is only one Ali Williams.
RIP, Hot Rod
In what is becoming a very depressing habit, I will take time to farewell yet another of my favourites from the world of professional wrestling.
If you knew the name of Hulk Hogan in the 1980s, then you also knew his greatest rival, the dastardly "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.
Piper, aka Roderick George Toombs, died in his sleep of a heart attack on July 31, aged 61.
Hot Rod as he was known, became a household name in the US during the "wrestling boom" of the mid-1980s as a main event performer with the then-World Wrestling Federation.
Before that, he had already had a distinguished career as a hero and villain in various territories around the country - notably Pacific Northwest Wrestling in Portland and Mid Atlantic wrestling in Charlotte.
From the 1990s through the 2000s, Piper would star for both WWE and World Championship Wrestling as his rapid-fire wit and explosive temper made him one of the industries most beloved characters.
