Last chance for Heartland spots

SATURDAY’S Meads Cup and Lochore Cup playoffs are the last chances for Ngati Porou East Coast and Poverty Bay players to press their claims for a place in the Heartland Championship squad to be picked after the semis.
“When you take out loan players and province of origin players some of the remaining players pick themselves,” said Poverty Bay and Heartland coach Grainger Heikell.
“Traditionally the bulk of the squad come from the Meads Cup semifinalists but that doesn’t mean players from the other teams can’t make the Heartland squad. In the years I’ve been involved with the Heartland squad it has been a fair representation from the Heartland Championship. There’s definitely room for a player to put his hand up this weekend.
“Obviously playing for one of the top teams is an advantage and makes it easier for a player to stand out, but if players in the lower teams are doing their core roles we have a close look at them.”
Heikell, assistant coach Barry Matthews (North Otago) and former All Black Earl Kirton name the team on Sunday.
“We have also had others looking at games over the season and we’ll have a good talk about the squad before announcing it.”
Although his main focus had been on coaching the Bay, who face Buller in a Lochore Cup semifinal in Westport on Saturday, Heikell said watching video tapes of the Bay’s game also gave him a good look at opposition players.
“Other Heartland games are on TV during the week so that’s gives me an opportunity to view other players.”
Poverty Bay had Karl Gemmell-Clark (No. 8), Sione Ngatu (flanker), Ngarimu Simpkins (hooker, now East Coast player-coach) and Kahu Tamatea (fullback) named in last year’s Heartland squad while prop Colin Hovell was called up for one game.
Tamatea is not eligible this year after transferring to Wellington and becoming a province-of-origin player for the Bay.
Although the Bay failed to make the Meads Cup for the first time since Heikell took charge two years ago, halfback Daniel Harris must be in with a shout.
Harris, in his second season at this level, has been the Bay’s most consistent player. Despite being the smallest player in the side a feature of his game is his superb tackling technique and bravery and commitment on defence.
Hooker Lloyd Gabriel is another who can be pleased with his season although he could miss out to Simpkins who has been the cornerstone of the Coast front row.
Coast lock Ricky Waitoa has also put his hand up for Heartland selection with impressive performances. Waitoa has been a key player as the Coast finished third and booked a spot in the Meads Cup playoffs for the first time since the Heartland Championship started in 2005.
The Heartland team play New Zealand Marist at Pukekohe on October 15.
■ Bay players not eligible for Heartland Championship selection: Kahu Tamatea, John Stewart, Kelvin Smith.
Coast players not eligible: Sikeli Vorenasu, Clayton Kiwara, Rua Tipoki.