Powerful Mako squad named for NPC

A potent mix of international stars, Super Rugby players and club competitors make up an enlarged Tasman Mako men’s squad named yesterday to contest the 2023 Bunnings Warehouse NPC competition.

In this World Cup year, the Tasman selectors have had to work around impending international commitments for several of their contracted players, while putting together a group of players capable to competing week-after-week in the National Provincial Championship which begins for them on Friday, August 4, against Otago in Nelson.

A feature of the team is the naming of three Moli brothers - Atu, Monu and Sam - in the mix, although Sam is likely to be part of the Tongan World Cup squad heading for France.

Prop Tyrel Lomax, new loose forward Miracle Faiilagi and Shannon Frizell will also be involved in World Cup duties while Ethan Blackadder has been named but could also make the plane for France.

Seta Baker, after a strong season for Kahurangi, is one of the players to come into the pack from clubland, along with Stoke’s Matt Graham-Williams, Moutere’s Monu Moli and Central’s evergreen Quentin MacDonald.

Behind the scrum the squad is likely to be without halfback Finlay Christie, William Havili (Tonga), Leicester Fainga’anuku and Will Jordan.

However, the return of former standout Tom Marshall adds experience to a strong back division, boasting form Super Rugby midfielders Alex Nankivell and Levi Aumua. Mitch Hunt, co-captain alongside Quinten Strange, will again guide the side from the first five position, while exciting NZ under-20 stars Noah Hotham, halfback, and winger Macca Springer just add to an exciting mix.

Nelson halfback Graham Urquhart, Waitohi midfielder Tim O’Malley and Stoke’s Taine Robinson have come in from the club scene, while former skipper David Havili is named although he, like Blackadder, may still make the cut for France.

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The first chance to see the squad in action comes at Blenheim’s Lansdowne Park tomorrow when they take on Manawatu in a pre-season match, kick off 4.30pm.

The 2023 Tasman Mako squad:

Props: Ryan Coxon, Matt Graham-Williams, Luca Inch, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Matenga, Atu Moli, Kershawl Sykes-Martin. Hookers: Feleti Kaiti’u, Quentin MacDonald, Monu Moli, Sam Moli. Locks: Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Pari Pari Parkinson, Antonio Shalfoon, Quinten Strange (co-captain). Loose forwards: Seta Baker, Ethan Blackadder, Miracle Faiilagi, Shannon Frizell, Max Hicks, Hugh Renton, Anton Segner. Inside backs: Louie Chapman, Finlay Christie, William Havili, Noah Hotham, Mitch Hunt (co-captain), Tim O’Malley, Graham Urquhart. Midfield: Levi Aumua, David Havili, Alex Nankivell, Taine Robinson. Outside backs: Tomasi Alosio, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Will Gaulter, Will Jordan, Tom Marshall, Macca Springer, Timoci Tavatavanawai.

Development players: Stewart Cruden, Tim Sail, Colm Hogan, Jack Gray, Timi Sauira, Nic Sauira, Joel Lauvale, Brodie Robinson, Cooper Roberts, Matt Lowe, Dylan Irvine.

Unavailable due to injury: Fletcher Anderson, Netani Baleisomosomo, Viliami Napa’a, Campbell Parata, Sevu Reece, Braden Stewart.

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