RUGBY - Magpies want to fly in Cage of Rage

SHANE HURNDELL
HAWKE'S Bay Magpies rugby captain Danny Lee wants to see McLean Park become known as the "Cage of Rage".
"We made McLean Park a fortress last year when we lost just one of our Air New Zealand Cup games there ... now it's time to take it one step further," Lee told SportToday after the Kelt Capital Magpies 2008 season launch at the Hastings RSA yesterday.
"Davis (former Magpies midfielder and Havelock North captain Davis Norman) gave me the idea last year.
"At the time, I thought it was a bit of a joke but now I can see it taking off ... let's create a siege mentality for visiting teams when they come here like they do at other grounds around the country."
The former All Black said the support for the Magpies was awesome last year and it was crucial the side earned a similar level of support again this season.
"We'll adopt a similar approach to last year ... it's about winning not about just being competitive," Lee told the 250 people at the launch.
"Winning becomes a habit and I can tell you the expectations of this squad are a lot higher among ourselves than they are among you people."
Lee mentioned how a prediction from NZ Herald rugby writer Steve Deane became fuel for the Magpies fire last season and he can't wait to see Deane's prediction for this season.
In his Air New Zealand Cup preview last year, Deane said if the Magpies finished higher than 11th he would resign from his job, shave all his hair off and move to Nepal. Lee said he saw a bit of Deane when playing for the Blues in the Super 14 and Deane hadn't shaved his hair off.
New prop Tom Simpson, one of Napier Technical's five Cantabrians in the side, told how the Magpies were becoming attractive for players such as himself who had spent four seasons trying to break into a Super 14 franchise-based side.
"I was impressed with the way they knocked over Wellington and Waikato last year. Since I've been here, I've been impressed with how hard working and focused the players are," said Simpson.
"Making the squad is the first step. Now I would like to contribute on and off the field and help the Magpies go one step further than last year."
Simpson's Tech club and Lee's Havelock North club have contributed the most Magpies with five each. Taradale have four, Clive, Napier Old Boys Marist and Hastings Rugby and Sports have three each and Central and Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports one each.
Another three players will be added to the squad during the next fortnight.
Long-serving Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union chairman Richard Hunt said many sponsors might be surprised to see him and some of the other members still on the board.
"I can tell you we will still be here until we are a Super 14 base and until we've got the Ranfurly Shield," Hunt said.
If the fans adopt the "Cage of Rage" approach, those times Hunt mentioned may be just around the corner.