Coast down but not out

ON THE CHARGE: Ngati Porou East Coast lock Rex Pollock takes on Poverty Bay's Jody Tuhaka in the opening game of the Heartland Championshipo at Whakarua Park. The Coast are back in Ruatoria on Saturday when they host Horowhenua Kapiti. Picture by Liam Clayton

NGATI Porou East Coast will give Richard Apanui up until the last minute before making a decision on who plays first five-eighth against Horowhenua Kapiti in Ruatoria tomorrow. “Richard pulled up with a groin strain last week but he’s so determined to play, we’ll give him as much time as he needs,” assistant coach Tojo Maaka said. “If he says no, we’ll know it’s bad. There’s no way he would miss a game unless it was for the good of the team.”

If Apanui fails to recover, former Poverty Bay fullback Kelvin Smith will wear the No.10 jersey. “Kelvin has been training with us and looked comfortable at first five,” Maaka said.

“Sam Parkes will start at halfback with Charlie (Harrison) on the bench. We’ve also brought in Mahue Dewes at tighthead prop and Riki Waitoa in the reserves, but apart from that we’ve got basically the same team as last week.

“The battle for the halfback spot is a good one. Charlie brings experience — over a hundred games for the Coast —and he demands a lot from his forwards. Parkesy is a livewire. The good thing about them both is they never give up.”

Despite the Coast being winless after three games, Maaka said there was no lack of belief or passion in the side. “We might be at the bottom of the table but every game is another chance to get away from it,” said Maaka, who is in his first season as assistant coach. “I’d rather be playing; at least you’re on the pitch and can do something about the game. At times it’s frustrating being on the sidelines watching and not being a part of the action.”

The Coast have been hit by injuries to key players from the start of the championship but Maaka, like coach Willie Waitoa, refuses to look for excuses.

“You just have to get on with it, work with the players who are available and back them,” Maaka said. “But one of the things we do have to do is cut out the 50-50 passes . . . they’re killing us. In all three games, we’ve been on attack in good positions but instead of being patient, we’ve thrown out 50-50 passes that have been intercepted and led to tries at the other end of the field. We also need to be more patient, especially when we’re inside the opposition’s 22, retain possession and build pressure.”

Maaka said the team were looking forward to being back on Whakarua Park after two away games.

“We get good vocal support from the supporters and the boys are keen to give them something to shout about,” he said. “We know Horowhenua Kapiti will be coming here confident after beating Poverty Bay last week, but if we can start the way we did against the Bay in the first game and take our opportunities, anything’s possible.”

Although yet to win in the Sky Blues colours, lock Rex Pollock (North Harbour) has been a standout performer.

“Rex has been great value for us and last week we had Courtney Mita making his debut. Courtney is a teammate of Richard at Te Puna and after the game the boys all said he was good to play with. Donny Mill (openside flanker) and Lennon Carrington (skipper and No.8) were also playing consistently good rugby.”

Wingers Pamona Samupo and Kris Palmer have been putting in the hard yards on defence.