Tamatea’s first Heartland squad

Ngāti Porou East Coast wing Verdon Bartlett will hope to play out his 100th cap for the Sky Blues this season. He will begin the season with 93. NPEC have named their 52-man squad for the Heartland Championship under new coach Kahu Tamatea. Picture by Paul Rickard

Kahu Tamatea has picked a strong line-up for his first Kaupoi Heartland squad.

Ngati Porou East Coast’s new head coach has named a 52-man mix of powerful, capable forwards and skilful, nippy backs with flair.

The players’ experience extends from their epic Meads Cup triumph of 2012 to last season’s Lochore Cup championship.

Try-scoring fullback and 2012 hero Verdon Bartlett, of Tihirau Victory Club, now has 93 caps for the Sky Blues. The man who gave him the last pass to score in the final 11 years ago, right wing Whaimotu Craft-Chemis, is no less dangerous now. He proved that as a member of Tamatea’s East Coast Farm Vets YMP crew, who retained the Lee Bros Shield on Saturday.

Former Poverty Bay player development manager and West Coast rep Tamatea, capped 82 times for the Bay and nine times in Sky Blue, said: “You can’t beat the experience of Verdon and this squad really is a mixture of experience and youth.

“We’re very excited because all of these players want to learn.

“Once we’re all on the same page, good things will happen.”

The side’s 12 new caps include:

• Former Pirates captain Bernard Nepe.

• Fellow hooker and Waikato Mana rugby league hard man Taane Paki.

• Kouma Samson, co-captain and prop of 2022 Fox Memorial Auckland club rugby league finalists Glenora Bears.

• Former OBM and Poverty Bay halfback Cruz Hinaki.

• Ruatoria-born wing and fullback Renata Roberts-Te Nana, a 13-cap Northland Taniwha who since 2020 has turned out for the Washington-based Old Glory.

• Tevita Nabura, the 1.96-metre, 108-kilogram wing of Counties-Manukau and Otago Highlanders fame, who is a hard man to stop and will give the Sky Blues added firepower out wide.

• Tall winger Niao Savage, who is a handful one on one and has yet to debut for NPEC.

Savage and fellow outside backs Tawhao Stewart and BJ Sidney were members of the Uawa team who beat Tihirau Victory Club 11-8 in only the second extra-time final in 102 years of Coast rugby, that of 2021.

Players such as Paki and Samson, will bring grunt and even more physical presence to a side who benefited hugely from the presence of Moana Pasifika No.2 Joe Royal last year.

Perrin Manuel, Hone Haerewa and Sam Parkes have all led the Sky Blues with distinction and the side features many more — such as former Maori All Black forwards Nick and Mitch Crosswell — who will lead by example.

The Coast will begin their pre-season campaign against Central Hawke’s Bay at Otane on July 29, and are to meet Eastern Bay of Plenty at Te Kura Mana Maori o Whangaparaoa on August 5.

2023 NGĀTI POROU EAST COAST SQUAD:

Apirana Pewhairangi, Bernard Nepe*, BJ Sidney, Cruz Hinaki*, Fabyan Kahaki, Faifili Levave, Frank Henderson*, Frank Taiapa, Gabe Te Kani, Hakarangi Tichborne, Hamuera Moana, Hoani Te Moana, Hone Haerewa, Jack Richardson, Jaya More, Jayden Leiua-Pukia, Jody Tuhaka, Jorian Tangaere, Joseph Roberts, Joseph Royal, Josh Dearden, Kouma Samson*, Kris Palmer, Mohi Bartlett, Manahi Brooking, Manahi Tipoki, Mitchell Crosswell, Niao Savage*, Nick Crosswell, Pamona Samupo, Perrin Manuel, Renata Roberts-Te Nana*, Rico Te Kani*, Richard Green, Sam Parkes, Seddon Smith*, Semisi Akana, Taane Paki*, Tevita Nabura*, Tawhao Stewart, Te Aho Morice, Teina Potae, Te Mana Barbarich, Terangi Fraser, Te Teira Maxwell, Tipene Meihana, Tripoli Poi, Tutere Waenga, Verdon Bartlett, Weihana Delamere*, Will Bolingford, Zyon Collins*.

* denotes an uncapped player