Carl Axtens among Steamers newcomers

Blending youth and experience was chief in Steamers coach Sean Horan's mind when he finalised his squad yesterday for the ITM Cup.
The 27-player squad named last night features eight new players, including world champion New Zealand under-20 loose forward Carl Axtens and his teammate Sam Cane.
Fresh from his world champion win, Axtens was given a spot based on his form at the World Cup, Horan said.
"He's a good young boy who has been at the academy for a couple of years, who came from Reporoa as Sam Cane does. He's been on our radar and he's a good Bay boy. He's just come through the system ... my belief is he will learn a lot from Colin (Bourke). It's one of the reasons he's in there.
"It's just rewards for him to make the Steamers."
Horan said the squad was one of the strongest he'd selected during his time as coach for the Steamers. It was also one of the most balanced with its mix of youth and experience.
"It's probably part of the focus for us - we've got a few boys there that have been there for a while, like Lats [Tanerau Latimer], Colin [Bourke], JP [John Pareanga] and a few other boys. So for us we've looked at that first and we've looked at that experience and to include some good boys in that mid area who have been with us for a couple of years and are really starting to come to fruition."
Horan has picked five props - Greg Pleasants (formerly from Northland and New Zealand under-20), Pingi Talaapitaga, Bronson Murray (Northland), and Tristan Moran and Josh Hohneck who were in last year's squad.
"Ideally we wanted a good young prop. We've got a couple of good ones around but they might be a step behind at the moment. What Greg brings us is mobility and youth ... to make the under-20s in the front row he's obviously got some good calibre."
Horan said the props were brought into the team to replace the likes of James McGougan and Joe Savage, who had moved to Otago and Perth.
"James has moved to greener pastures in Otago and Joe has taken up a pretty good job in Perth. So that was a hole we needed to fix and one of the reasons Greg has made the side."
Horan said securing the services of a veteran such as Murray was a huge for the Bay.
"Bronson's played 96 games for Northland, New Zealand Maori All Black, he's been with the Crusaders squad, Blues squad and Highlanders squad. So he comes with Super Rugby experience."
A surprise exclusion was Chad Tuoro. Last year the nippy halfback showed some great form but this year he's out, with Horan opting for Taniela Moa and Jamie Nutbrown.
"We have the likes of Josh Hall, who is a development player and has been in our squad in the last couple of years.
"We've got Jason Spice and Lewis Hancock playing some good rugby."
With former All Blacks and Steamers first-five Mike Delany taking off overseas, Horan will use the services of Dan Waenga and Chris Noakes.
Horan was determined to improve on last year's sixth placing and believed he had the right mix to do it.
"We have a very capable side of achieving higher than we did last year ... on any given day we can beat anybody, as we've shown over the last couple of years.
"We've just got to put it together for the whole season."