Bay signings straight into Chiefs mode

Two new Bay of Plenty signings will pull on the Chiefs colours before they even get the fit of a Steamers jersey after being named last night in the franchise development squad for their five-match Pacific Island and domestic series.
Aucklander Jarek Goebel, a backline utility fresh back from Sydney after giving rugby league a shot, and Hawke's Bay locking discard Leighton Price are among eight Bay of Plenty players in the Chiefs side.
The others are prop Josh Hohneck, flanker Sam Cane, first-five Dan Waenga, midfielders Phil Burleigh and Brett Mather and fullback Lance MacDonald.
Chiefs resource coach Kevin Schuler and Counties-Manukau coach Milton Haig, both former Steamers coaches, will head the development side, with assistance from Waikato's Chris Gibbes and Steamers head coach Sean Horan.
Horan said today that Goebel had been signed with an eye to bolstering the midfield stocks after the transfer of little-used Cory Aporo to North Harbour and Grant McQuoid's retirement.
Price had come in after the provincial retirements of Aidan Kuka and John Moore.
"Jarek's a guy who was on our radar a couple of years ago as a young guy coming through," Horan said.
"He was in the Blues wider training group in 2008 before heading to Sydney for a crack at league."
Horan said contact was made again at the recent Mt Maunganui sevens tournament, where Goebel was a standout in the beaten Auckland University team.
"We got talking, there was an opportunity there to come down and play for us and it's all worked out quite nicely."
Goebel had the ability to play in the midfield, wing or fullback but was intent on nailing down a spot in the centres.
Price, a former New Zealand under-20 representative, had been contracted to Hawke's Bay for the past two years before being released at the end of last season.
Schuler said the playing 22 for the five games against Fiji A, Tonga A, Samoa A and the Blues and Hurricanes development teams could be bolstered by players from the Chiefs Super 15 squad.
"The Chiefs development programme is an excellent opportunity for players just below the Chiefs level to get some good rugby early in the season, particularly playing first-class games," he said.
Matches are being played around the Chiefs region, including Pukekohe, Mt Maunganui, Matamata and Taupo.
Chiefs development squad:
Forwards: Josh Hohneck, Leighton Price, Sam Cane (Bay of Plenty), Sefo Setefano, Dominiko Waqaniburotu, Latu Talakai, Matt Van Leven, Steven Setephano, Chris Middleton (Waikato), Uini Atonio, Simon Lemalu, Grent Henson, Jamie Chipman, Taiasina Tuifua, Mark Selwyn, Viliami Fihaki (Counties-Manukau).
Backs: Brett Mathew, Daniel Waenga, Phil Burleigh, Jarek Goebel, Lance MacDonald (Bay of Plenty), Malcolm Barnes, Trent Renata, Chauncy Edwardson, Glen Robertson (Waikato), Samisoni Fisilau, Rey Lee-lo, Ahsee Tuala, James Semple (Counties-Manukau).
Players not considered due to injury or unavailability: James McGougan, Tristan Moran, Jason Hona, Toby Arnold (Bay of Plenty), Ronald Raaymakers, Augustine Pulu, Baden Kerr (Counties-Manukau), Tim Mikkelson, Alex Bradley, Frank Halai, Declan O'Donnell (Waikato).
Chiefs development's five-match programme: Fri March 4 v Tonga A (Pukekohe), Wednesday March 9 v Fiji A (Blake Park, 5pm), Monday March 14 v Samoa A (Pukekohe), Friday March 25 v Blues development (Matamata), Wednesday April 20 v Hurricanes development (Taupo).