This week Taranaki Rugby previews the five country teams competing in the 2020 CMK premier competition starting this weekend.

Clifton

Under a new coaching line up comprising of Kevin (Toka) Walden, Clifton has selected a large squad for this year’s campaign. However, they have great balance in the squad with experienced campaigners like Abe Haira, Hamish Lawn and Matiu Welch all featuring this season. Their backline is packed with young talent, with many of them knocking on the door of the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls squad like Josh Setu and Liam Blyde. They will be bolstered by wing Kini Naholo, if released from the Chiefs. There are also plenty of new faces in the squad. Clifton missed out on the semi-finals last season but will want to make the most of the shortened season in 2020.

Squad: Josh Iwikau, Abe Hira, Mike Kainga, Blair Shorter, Isaac Griffin, Daniel Guthrie, Reece Grey, Ray Alesana, Josh Walden, Hanley Setu, Indiha Sao Tui-Huta, Josh Setu, Daniel Rona, Denza Knapp, Liam Blyde (c), Connor Arbuckle, Aaron de Ridder, Paddy O’Corroll, Patrick Stark, Caleb Waho, Kristian Gent-Standen, Matiu Welch, Brandon Pokere, Matty James, Caleb Fowell, Harries Gemmell, Caleb Plumtree, Kini Naholo. 

Coaches: Kevin (Toka) Walden and Lane Dombroski

Manager: Darryl Leath

2019 placing: Fifth

Coastal

Coastal will want to continue to build on last year after leading the competition for most of the season. The side, who are scattered with representative players, play with a lot of heart and passion for the green jersey. They will look to rely on their seasoned campaigners like Liam Hurley, Jeremy Newell, Rick McKenna and Dylan Schuler along with promising lock Josh Lord and halfback Logan Crowley. Coastal has recruited Bayleys Taranaki Bulls Academy players Connor Mitchell and Abraham Mataitini, prop Scott Meeks from Wales, hooker Chris Simons loose forwards Rawiri Nanaseni and Cody Rothwell, first-five eighth Kobe Sinclair and winger Jono Butler.

Squad: Chris Simons, Abraham Mataitini, Liam Hurley, Scott Meeks, Chris Gawler, Connor Mitchell, Jeremy Newell, Dylan Schuler, Josh Lord, Joel Chard, Cody Rothwell, Blake Barrett, Rawiri Nanaseni, Jacob Gopperth, Daniel Crowley, Logan Crowley, Rick McKenna, Kobe Sinclair, Jono Butler, Josh Thomson, Liam Parker, Arepa Bishop, Jordan Fleming, Troy Stevenson.

Coaches: Kane Barrett and Mark Davis

Managers: Brian and Sandy Olliver

2019 placing: second

Inglewood

Inglewood coach Ngatai Walker is looking forward to another season with a group of ‘Inglewood men who have a good understanding’ of the club’s values. These values are Whanau (Family), Whanaungatanga (Belonging), Hapori (Community) and Manaaki (Respect). Inglewood wants to represent their club with pride and want to dedicate their season to John Mackie and Murray Dombroski who were two stalwarts of the club who recently passed away. They have recruited strongly over the long pre-season with Johnny Faletogoai-Malase moving over from Spotswood United and Shem and Seth Setu, who are one set of three brothers in the squad, joining from Tukapa. Backs Avon Lewis and Ben Leng return to the squad from a stint overseas.

New players: Ian Burmeister, Jonty Ngatai-Powers, Johnny Faletogoai-Malase, Shem Setu, Seth Setu, Jorge Jaef, Steven Snoxell.

Squad: Cam Shotter, Millenium Sanerivi, Crusader Faletogoai, Ian Burmeister, Jonty Ngatai-Powers, Christian Fa’avae, Jack White, Johnny Faletogoai-Malase, Shem Setu, Seth Setu, Brook Harvey-Smith, Hayden Keeling, Rhodes Featherstone, Ben West (c), Danny Nicholls, Luke Brown, Cody Hall, Kody Brown, Parris Faapulou, Jorge Jaef, Ben Leng, Avon Lewis, Michael McDonald, Isaiah Graham-Hooper, Steven Snoxell, Lachie Bunn.

Coaches: Ngatai Walker, Jason Hooper and Andrew Retallick

Manager: Ryan Evans

2019 placing: Sixth

Southern

Southern will be led by a new coaching group with Kepa Grindlay, Jason Skipper and Matt Sanford at the helm. They have a mixture of new premier players and experienced campaigners. While the club didn’t want to single anyone out, one of those experienced players in the side is Jackson Ormond, who has played 66 games for the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls. The utility back will complement the players around him who have been there for a several seasons like brother Lewis Ormond, who has been playing in Southland, Brent Aston-Landers, Cody McGrath and Jade Taylor. Southern also has a strong Division 1 side which will make a competitive environment when competing for positions.

Squad: Bent Aston-Landers, Thomas Bowers, Keani Broughton, Walter Cole, Reegan Corbett, Zane Firth, Te Kepa Grindlay, Daniel Hornby, Kieran Hussey, Sam Laing, Luke Macleod, Jordan McFarlane, Cody McGrath, Daniel McKerrow, Jackson Ormond, Matt Picard, Trent Pickering, Brad Saxton, Tom Simson, Dylan Skipworth, Tobias Stark, Aston Talaia, Juan Tantrum, Jade Taylor, Connor White, Mack White, Sean White, Joel Williamson.

Coaches: Kepa Grindlay, Jason Skipper and Matt Sanford

Manager: Sara Bourke

2019 placing: Eighth

Stratford/Eltham

Stratford/Eltham has been bolstered by four Bayleys Academy players with Rocky Olsen (Whangarei), Hemopo Cunningham (Rotorua), Niwa Barlow (NPBHS) and Scott Jury (FDMC) all representing the side this year. Those new players will link up with experienced campaigners which provides a key balance to the squad. New coach Ross Williams said the Premier and Division 1 squads have been working together with a lot of crossover on match days. Joining Williams, who coached Border, is John Whittington and Rawiri Mako will look after the Division 1 team.

Squad: Trent Rowlands, Aaron Tosland, Ethan Muir, Cameron Utton, Kyle Stewart, Tim McFarlane, Bradley Chubb, Alex Perry, Jack Jordan, Simon Bailey, Hamish Walker, Henry Merchant, Will Butler, Cody Grayling, Scott Jury, Hemopo Cunningham, Jared Dodunski, James Miller, Nick Childs, Chase Bailey, Greg Rowlands, Luke Berquist, Rocky Olsen, Lyle Crudis, Nathan Clough (c), Niwa Barlow, Jordan Lampe, Benny Katene, Jordan Marsters, David Avery, Zaheer Jefthan.

Coaches: Ross Williams and John Whittington

2019 placing: Seventh

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Article added: Wednesday 17 June 2020