Nathan Godsall (left), from Tikipunga High School, is one of 26 players to make this year's Adam Blair XIII to play the Warriors Development team. Photo / John Stone
Nathan Godsall (left), from Tikipunga High School, is one of 26 players to make this year's Adam Blair XIII to play the Warriors Development team. Photo / John Stone
More than 50 college hopefuls travelled to Bay of Islands College on Sunday, to trial for the NorthTec Adam Blair XIII.
On a day when the heavens threatened to open up, some heavenly rugby league was played and considering some of those in the trial had never played alongside eachother, the quality football on offer gave coach Jim Larkin some difficult choices to make.
Larkin said he was incredibly happy with the final squad.
"We are definitely seeing an improvement in the quality of rugby league being played at college level," he said.
"I have picked a squad that will work to the intensity equal to what the Warriors will play to. We lack a little bit of size up front, but what we lack there will be made up with speed and a big workrate."
Two key players remain from the 2014 squad, including Whangarei Boys' High centre Caleb Aekins and Okaihau halfback Stevie Ray Haenga-Albert.
The match against the Warriors Development has become an annual highlight on the Rugby League Northland calendar, and this year will be the third time it has been played.
The game will be part of a Rugby League Northland extravaganza of league with two premiership games on the same day at Lindvart Park in Kaikohe.