Josh Lane, taking a throw-in against Wairarapa Bush last year, is now out with a rib injury for 4-6 weeks. Photo / NZME
Josh Lane, taking a throw-in against Wairarapa Bush last year, is now out with a rib injury for 4-6 weeks. Photo / NZME
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Steelform Whanganui should have a firmer idea of their shadow Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship team after their penultimate preseason game in Napier on Saturday.
A squad of around 25 will jump on the bus that morning for the trip to Tremain Park to play regular July-August opponents Hawke's Bay Saracens, although circumstances still prevent coach Jason Hamlin from having his leading 22 players all at once.
The big blow coming out of last weekend's 80th-minute defeat to Taranaki Development is the rib injury to lock Josh Lane, who will be out for four to six weeks.
Clubmate Matt Ashworth, who played the previous weekend against the Manawatū Evergreens, will slot back into the lineout, although the Whanganui Prison officer could not train on Tuesday night after being called over to Hawke's Bay Regional Prison to assist in the recent incident.
Among the playmakers, the most experienced back in Lindsay Horrocks is still not available due to Covid affecting his family, although utility back Tyler Rogers-Holden is now recovered.
"He wasn't 100% on Tuesday night, but he's keen as," said Hamlin, who will start Rogers-Holden at fullback and then consider him as cover for halfback alongside Kahl Elers-Green, with Horrocks still out and Caleb Gray away on a family visit to Australia for another week.
More opportunity will also be given to Ezra Malo, who will be familiar with a lot of the Saracens after a season of club rugby in Hawke's Bay.
Malo did well at fullback against Taranaki, as it was clear that his level of conditioning after a longer club season against more variety of opposition has him a step above a number of teammates.
Josh Lane, taking a throw-in against Wairarapa Bush last year, is now out with a rib injury for 4-6 weeks. Photo / NZME
"They're just not used to high-intensity footy for longer periods of time."
Both midfielders Timoci Seruwalu and Josiah Bogileka were injured during the Taranaki game but fully recovered, while Kameli Kuruyabaki returns to join them after a bout of illness.
Without Horrocks, the squad's most capped player in Roman Tutauha has also been raring to go after an ear infection.
"We're getting the pieces back, but it's slow," said Hamlin.
"Same sort of thing, still people with illness, sent home from work. These things are going to happen before the season."
As well as Malo and Manawatu-based prop Adam Coll, Hamlin will consider augmenting the squad with imports if it appears that they cannot fill the gaps locally due to key absences.
"I've spoken to a few ex-Whanganui players, unfortunately they're in positions that we don't require.
"We're sttill following through on a couple of options, but it's not as easy as grabbing somebody from out the door.
"And if we did, I will have to address the team before that happens."
In any case, for the Saracens game, Hamlin will now look to give more time to the players he believes are likely starters for the Heartland campaign, in order to establish continuity.
"In all honesty, I should have brought it forward a week. Get working to what we want to do."
