Dan Goodwin's comeback in limbo

Dan Goodwin's involvement with the Bay of Plenty Steamers this season remains on a knife edge, with the 30-year-old lock still no certainty to pull on the boots again despite being named yesterday in a provincial XV for a pre-season doubleheader in the next two weeks.
Goodwin wrecked his right ankle while playing club rugby for Te Puke Sports a year ago, shortly after returning from a four-year stint in Northland, and concedes his involvement with the Steamers in this year's compressed ITM Cup premiership hinges on a belated return to club footie this weekend or next.
Steamers coaches Sean Horan and Paul Feeney have pulled together a 26-strong squad exclusive of Super 15 players for pre-season games against North Harbour next Friday in Katikati and Taranaki the following week (in Inglewood), with the coaching duo urging anyone with ITM Cup aspirations to make a strong on-field push for selection.
"The squad we've named gives a number of fringe players a further opportunity to showcase their skills before the return of our Super 15 players," Horan said yesterday.
"A good example is halfbacks Josh Hall and Lewis Hancock, who have been in outstanding form in Baywide club rugby."
Goodwin, a hard-working second rower, falls into the fringe selection category but feels he's still got something to offer the Steamers if he can shrug off the lingering effects of his injury.
"I'm fairly motivated to get out there and have a game as you can imagine after a year off, and I'm signed for the union too so the selectors must be pretty keen to have a look at me.
"To be honest at this stage it's more about seeing if I can get on the park this weekend and get through some club footie."
The 1.93m former Tauranga Boys' College forward played four seasons with Northland after being loaned to the Taniwha in 2006, missing just two representative matches.
But hopes of a Steamers comeback came crashing down 12 months ago when he landed awkwardly on an opponent's foot while being hoisted down from a lineout, smashing bone and tearing ligaments. "I made a right old mess of it and knew instantly I'd done something decent because I landed and heard the crunch."
His 2010 season gone, Goodwin focused on rehabilitating but suffered another setback this year when he needed more surgery to clear out bone chips and spurs.
"I thought I would have been fit and firing for club footie by this stage but I'm not there yet and not running as freely as I'd like to be.
"It's been a bit of a bloody long time and I'm managing my training workload, only in the last few weeks getting back into the groove.
"I'm plenty motivated to get back out there."
Horan and Feeney will finalise their ITM Cup squad on June 30 following the two trial matches, with the side assembling on July 1 ahead of their final two pre-competition games against Hawke's Bay in Napier on July 5 and Manawatu in Palmerston North on July 8.
Bay of Plenty Steamers XV for pre-season games v North Harbour and Taranaki
Forwards: John Paraenga (Te Puna), Dan Perrin, Tristan Moran, Josh Hohneck, Piginala Taalapitaga, Leon Power, Jeff Thwaites (Tauranga Sports), Wade Pereira (Whakarewarewa), Dan Goodwin (Te Puke), Matt Clutterbuck (Rangataua), Leighton Price, Luke Andrews, Scott Curry, Colin Bourke (Mount Maunganui).
Backs: Josh Hall, Lewis Hancock, Chris Noakes, Phil Burleigh, Ben Smith, Toby Arnold (Tauranga Sports), Dan Waenga, Lance MacDonald, Tutere Waenga (Mount Maunganui), Jason Hona (Rangataua), Nick McCashin (Te Puke Sports), Steve Kefu.
Pre-season schedule:
Friday June 24: v North Harbour, Moore Park, Katikati (kick-off 2.30pm)
Wednesday June 29: v Taranaki, Inglewood (kick-off 2pm)
Tuesday July 5: v Hawke's Bay, McLean Park, Napier (kick-off 2pm)
Friday July 8: v Manwatu, IMG Stadium, Palmerston North (kick-off 2pm)