Rugby: Otane coach Shannan Chase fends off favourite's tag

Otane players and family members celebrate after last weekend's 46-10 win over WCUMR in the division two final. Photo/Clinton Llewellyn

Otane coach Shannan Chase refused to accept the favourite's tag in the countdown to Hawke's Bay's promotion-relegation club rugby clash today.

Tamatea's Pou Tikanga Don Hutana said Otane have the advantage of having played for the past three weeks when his troops haven't.

But former Magpie Chase believed Tamatea will have benefited from the rest period and the opportunity to have injured players recovered in time for the 2.45pm match at Flaxmere Park.

"Tamatea are a proud Maori club and it will be a tough challenge for us," Chase stressed.

Although Otane have completed an unbeaten run in the Town-Country comp, as well as all division two games, Chase pointed out it has been a tough season and he will be missing at least five key players through injury, as well as veteran utility back Kelly Graham who doesn't return from holiday in Rarotonga until tomorrow.

Among those on Chase's injured list are captain Tama Cahill, fellow lock Josh Pere, prop Gordy Falcon and experienced midfield back Joe Phillips.

Because of those unavailabilities Chase politely declined to talk up his team's chances.

"The game is an opportunity for our club to continue to grow. If that's the pathway to grow our club and community more we're happy to play in it."

Chase, who played the last of his 26 first class games for the Magpies in 2016, said he has loved every minute of his first season of coaching.

"It's been awesome to give some of the players from our community things they haven't had in the past. I've learnt a lot of things along the way and it has been good to help the young tamariki coming through in our community."

Players capable of having influential roles in an Otane upset include No 8 Ben Carpenter, experienced prop Hayden Rapana, former Magpie Jacob Kennedy at centre and promising first five-eighth Titiana Araia-Waaka ,who was the hero of Kahuranaki's upset win against Bridge Pa in last year's Hawke's Bay premier club rugby league grand final.

Hutana has watched Otane's last two games.

"I saw a well coached, well balanced team who will be playing with the same pride in their jerseys as we have in ours, gonna be a good game," Hutana said.

Tamatea will also be missing the services of four key players, utility forwards Witere Kupa and Everard Reid, former All Black hooker Hika Elliot and first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie through work, family or Magpies commitments.

Veteran utility Henare Harris will replace Reid in the No 8 jersey.

■ Tamatea: Jarome Mareikura, Roger Paewai, Colin Hokianga, Dave Neho, Jordarn Harmer, Mataeus Marsh, Ash Robinson, Henare Harris, Jimi Harris, Te Rira Rowlands, Ivan Bellamy, Tama Hutana, Mason Kean (captain), Kianu Kereru-Symes, Alex Kireka-Starnes. Substitutes: Te Maangi Hamlin, Petera Kahuariki, Sheridan Kite, Hamiora Rowlands, Buff Wainohu, Maka Harris, Jason Robinson.
■ Otane: Czebalos Smiler, Matt Hill, Jacob Kennedy, Shayden Daniels, Nivo Tualagi, Titiana Araia-Waaka, Sonny Raheke, Ben Carpenter, Ryan Pauling, Boy Waaka, Issac Huggett, Nevada Hemopo, Hayden Rapana, Darryl Pere, Cleveland Walford-Munro. Substitutes: Nick Southward, Pete Tahutu, Joshua Price, Maurere McLean, Dallas Fraser, Stephen Baker, Sironen Waaka.