The pain of being cut will hit five members of the Hawke's Bay Unicorns under-20 rugby league team tonight.
Bay coach Henry Heke will reduce his training squad of 26 to a team of 21 which will take on the Warriors under-20s at Napier's Park Island this Saturday. SportToday doesn't expect talented centre Leafi Tupuola to be among the five cut.
Tupuola produced a man-of-the-match effort with two tries in the Bay's 46-20 win against the Taranaki under-20s in Dannevirke on Saturday. It was the Bay's only win in three buildup matches.
"It was good to have a win but I wasn't overly happy ... we could have put more points on the scoreboard," said Heke.
His troops led 20-12 at halftime.
"Our defence wasn't as secure as it should be and poor ball security meant we didn't complete as many sets as I would have liked in the first half."
With EITSA's Tupuola, Dannevirke's centre-winger Cameron Ratima impressed in the Bay backline. Waipukurau lock Cole Eru made 22 tackles when he took the field as a second-half replacement.
Prop Rene Magee, who had a stint as a member of the Penrith under-20s training squad last year, was a powerful figure for Taranaki. Magee will play for the Bay against the Warriors.
Heke said the two Wellingtonians he had lined up to play for the Bay had opted to play for their Wellington side against the Warriors this month.
Meanwhile, Hawke's Bay club delegates are keen to see a Hawke's Bay premier men's club winter competition as well as a spring competition this year. The winter comp will start in April.
RUGBY LEAGUE: Dreaded cut awaits players
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