Wairoa coach in rallying call to team

Wairoa coach Mike Karekare knows the task in front of his team is going to be "a very tough assignment indeed" when his outfit takes the field against the undefeated Hastings West side.

But he's not letting the task appear impossible for his young players who are keen to leave the tournament today with a win.

"For some of the boys, they will be going away to different colleges next year so I'm going to play on that and tell them it is the last time they'll be playing with their friends," Karekare said.

"We have got nothing to lose, all we can do is our best and that's all we have been asking for this week, for them to play 100 per cent, regardless if we win or lose."

Wairoa has so far gone through the tournament winless but has gained respect from opponents who acknowledge the team's never-give-up attitude.

"We have come here with just 20 players for a 22-player tournament. We have struggled to get the numbers and it's just a fact that people are moving away from rural areas."

He had converted some loose forwards into backs to make up a shortfall in numbers.

"Our game play for the tournament was to hope that it rains hard so we can just play in the forwards. Some of our boys could play in the under 50-grade tournament which starts next week but they've wanted to play Ross Shield because of the prestige of the competition."

On Thursday, Wairoa played Central Hawke's Bay for the Tino Amato Memorial Shield, losing that battle 20-nil.

"The boys didn't quite get there for that important game but, overall, I'm pleased with the way they have performed this week," Karekare said.

"Our halfback, Max Rore, has been a stand-out for us all week, our captain, Hunter Harding, has committed himself to every game and, in the backs, we've got Josh Bokser who has covered the whole field and tackled anything that moved."

It was Karekare's third season coaching Wairoa's Ross Shield team and he hoped most of his squad would return next year.