Bryce Heem happy to be returning north

It's hard to say who was unhappier - Bryce Heem or the Taniwha fans - when the speedy winger was yanked out of the Northland set-up and returned, unwillingly to Auckland last season.
Heem has again been recruited for the Taniwha's ITM Cup campaign but this year hopes to finish the season with the province.
"I prefer it up north to be honest, I get more game time but it's also a better environment to be in, all the guys are pretty relaxed up there," he said.
Heem was recruited after impressing for the Barbarians against the New Zealand Maori. He featured strongly for the Taniwha in the first five rounds of the competition but was a victim of his own success - recalled to cover injury concerns at Auckland.
"I played three games then they had enough of me I think, and I didn't get anymore game time," he laughed.
He must have done something right though and was selected by Gordon Tietjens for the New Zealand Sevens team and has been a regular for the champion team in this year.
"It's been an awesome experience for me, all the travel - not to mention the training," he said.
The upshot is that he's fitter than he's ever been. Hehopes to finalise the loan agreement quickly and head north to join the training camp which starts on Wednesday in Mangawhai.
Heem is one of three players confirmed to be joining the Taniwha by coach Adriaan Ferris yesterday.
Former Taniwha lock Marty Veale returns from overseas to strengthen the locking stocks. Veale last played for the Taniwha in 2008 having represented North Harbour and Canterbury. He spent the past two seasons playing for London Wasps.
The other position to be filled was the back-up half-back - an especially important position given that Rhyan Caine is still recovering from a cartilage operation but should start the season.
Another Auckland loan player, Wayne Ngaluafe, has been signed. He is a former New Zealand U19 halfback, who has recently returned to New Zealand after doing missionary work overseas and has joined the Blues development side.
"The Blues have given him huge raps and as part of our ongoing relationship with the franchise we've been able to recruit him for the ITM Cup," Ferris said.
The side are counting down to their first warm-up game against North Harbour next weekend in Wellford.
Dan Prior continues to be sidelined with a back spasm but the coach is hopeful he will be back training with the squad ahead of the Auckland game. Mark Burman's injured toe is not as bad as originally thought and he is aiming to be fit for the second match in the warm-up series - against Auckland the following week.