Migration leaves Eels squirming

The foundations remain intact but the championship-winning Otumoetai Eels are in rebuilding mode on the eve of the revamped Upper Central zone premier competition.
The Eels, winners of the combined Bay of Plenty-Coastline premiership last year, have lost eight of the line-up that triumphed in the grand final against Ngongotaha. They take on Hamilton's College Old Boys in the opening round of the 15-team Waicoa Bays premier competition tomorrow at Bethlehem's Petihautawaho Reserve, with their Mitchell Park home ground still being used for cricket.
Brad Fallon, Hamuera Brooky and Ash Turner all moved to Perth in the off-season - although Brooky is reportedly on his way home - Arepa Ohia has national touch commitments, barnstorming prop Brendon Anderson has moved to Tauranga Whalers, Scott Anderson and James Nicholson have retired, skipper and player of the year Wiremu Kurupo now lives in Melbourne and hooker Doug Graham is recovering from concussion. All of which has left coach Brett Rodger with a huge workload in the off-season to get his team ready.
"It's been a bigger challenge than past years and it's a rebuilding year, although we need to come to terms with that quickly," he said. "We won't be playing our best footie at the start of the season, but if we can stay here or thereabouts hopefully we can have a crack towards the end."
After taking on Old Boys, the Eels face Waikato champions the Hamilton City Sharks, also in Bethlehem, in round two.
Rodger said the biggest hole was the experience the departed players had taken with them.
"Wiremu, B-Man [Anderson], Jock [Nicholson], Scotty and Brad had played a lot of games, which means we're relying a lot on guys coming up from reserve grade."
Aussie Josh Weedon, a former UK-based professional with Doncaster and Featherston, was a ready-made halves replacement, impressing Rodger with his decision-making and composure. Former Junior Warrior Beau King had turned up to a couple of trainings but hadn't been sighted since. The Eels had also attracted half-a-dozen players from rugby keen to give league a crack.
"From a coaching perspective, it's been a start-from-scratch process, but they're all keen to learn and will only get better," Rodger said. "A couple of times in the tackle they've gone to present the ball back for phase play, but generally only do it once because they cop such a bagging!"
New Tauranga Whalers coach Paul Pou, a former New Zealand Maori player, said changing players' attitudes to training had been a challenge in the off-season.
"There's been a readjustment of attitudes and the commitment so far has been great, with the squad coming a long way," Pou said. "We could have stayed where we were and continued to cop hidings, but they've trained the house down, with new systems in attack and defence, without impacting on the natural flair certain players have."
Like the Eels, Whaler have benefited from an influx of rugby players - and Pou likes what he sees. Prop Carl Sullivan (Greerton), Danny Tonga (Waikato club rugby), Anaru Taute (Rangataua), Damian Cuddling and Hamish Newland have added depth.
"We have secured the services of Brendon Anderson from Otumoetai Eels, Leroy Marumaru has returned to his original club from the Eels, as have Rick Quinlan and Ainsley Skudder," Pou said.
"Having Brendon [Waicoa Bays rep] is huge and just having his presence on the field is a big lift for the boys.
"Restoring the credibility of the team is paramount, so I'm not putting too much pressure on the boys, although they've been training since November and are all amped and ready."
Marcus Reynolds, general manager of the Upper Central zone, brokered a return to a full region-wide competition involving 15 clubs from Coastline, Bay of Plenty and Waikato.
"I guess the big question from this area is how the Otumoetai Eels follow up their magical run in 2010, because they're bound to be asked plenty of questions from Waikato powerhouses Taniwharau and Hamilton City Tigers."
To be part of the premier competition, clubs have been forced to increase their depth and field reserve grade and age-group teams below the top tier.