East Coast 'locals' on trial

BACKLINE AWAY: Ngati Porou East Coast halfback Sam Parkes sends the ball on from the back of the scrum as Parekura Lalaga and Stefan Destounis look on in the Queen’s Birthday Weekend clash against Poverty Bay. Parkes has been named captain for the Coast’s 2016 Heartland Championship campaign. The Coast have a warm-up game against fellow Heartland side Thames Valley in Ruatoria tomorrow. Kick-off is 2.30pm. Picture by Paul Rickard

NGATI Porou East Coast coaches Troy Para and Wayne Ensor will use tomorrow’s home match against Thames Valley in Ruatoria to give local players the chance to push for starting spots in the Heartland Championship season-opener.

“We know what our two loan players — Todd Doolan and Parekura Lalaga — can do,” said Para, whose side kick off their campaign against LeaderBrand Poverty Bay in Gisborne on August 27.

“We want to have another look at the local players against Heartland opposition. Wayne and myself were relatively happy with the way the boys played against Poverty Bay in the Queen’s Birthday Weekend game (the Coast won 26-8).

“With the Valley this weekend and Eastern Bay of Plenty the week after, we want to make sure we give them all a good run.”

Para said that as well as Doolan (first five-eight) and Lalaga (No.8), and player of origin (prop Mahue Dewes), the Coast hoped to have one more loan player available.

“We’re just waiting to tie up some loose ends. He is a quality forward. That’s all I want to say at this stage.”

Ensor, coming off HSOB’s successful Poverty Bay premier club season, said both games could be regarded as trials.

“Beating Poverty Bay was a good way to start our season but that’s all. We can’t afford to get carried away with one result,” he said.

“The players who played that day set the benchmark. Now we have to build on it. Results are always important and we’ll be looking for a win tomorrow. But equally important for us is the performance of individuals within a team framework. Play well for the team and you play well for yourself.

“We’ve retained the bulk of the squad who played against the Bay and that’s a good platform.”

Excited by the challengeEnsor, in his first season in charge of a Heartland team, is “excited and looking forward to the challenge”.

It was “great” to have such a successful club season with HSOB — who won every trophy up for grabs — “but all I’m focused on from here on is the Coast”.

Ensor, who attended Coast training sessions throughout the year, said he couldn’t wait to take a more hands-on approach, to get to know the players better and work with them.

“I know what I want from them and I’ll stick to it until we get it right.”

While the former Bay lock will work closely with the forwards, Para, who played halfback for Wairarapa Bush from 1997 to 1999, will have more to do with the backs.

“Coast teams have always played with a lot of passion but I’ve also been impressed with the skills and attitude of this group of players,” Ensor said.

Sam Parkes has taken on the mantle of captain from Coast stalwart Charlie Harrison.

At 22, the combative halfback will be one of the youngest skippers in the Heartland Championship.

Former Gisborne Boys’ High School player Parkes has experience in successful campaigns. He won a Heartland Championships Meads Cup title with the Coast in 2012 — the only player in the current squad to have done so.

Trains hard and garners respectEnsor said Parkes, whose brother Ben (loose forward) is also in the squad, was chosen “not just because he is one of the best players but also because he trains hard, and has the respect of the players”.

Apart from Horace Lewis (47), Para and Ensor have gone for a young squad including brothers Kris and Kareti Palmer, Pera Bishop, Todd Doolan, Roha Dalton-Reedy, Tovio Fidow, Hone Haerewa, Loni Fisiihoi and George Tuala,

Kris Palmer had an outstanding club season and will be looking push his case for inclusion in the NZ Heartland team, named at the end of the championship.

The versatile Palmer is equally at home at first five-eighth, fullback or wing.

Thames Valley’s squad includes a player who needs no introduction to his Coast opposition — former Poverty Bay midfield back Moss Doran, who played for the Bay from 2012 to 2014.

Second five eighth Doran, from Wairoa, is a class act who will test the Coast defence. Doran and hooker Hayden Wisnewski will co-captain the Swamp Foxes, whose coaches — Hayden Roe and former All Black midfielder Frank Bunce — have had to rebuild the side.

Only eight of the 2015 squad are available.