Rugby: Taniwha have depth at halfback

Sam Nock took a blow to the head in Saturday's final between Kerikeri and Ohaeawai and is being checked as a precaution. Photo / Michael Cunningham

The Taniwha came through last Friday's Northland A versus Northland B hit-out mostly unscathed, however question marks hover over the head of debutant halfback Sam Nock after he received a potential delayed concussion in the Bay of Islands premier final on Saturday.

"We're just checking that out to be on the more cautious side," Northland ITM Cup head coach Richie Harris said.

"He came out of the Kerikeri final a bit sore in the groin and with a bit of a semi-head knock which he only sort of felt post-game."

Richie Harris

With uncertainty around Nock taking part in this Friday's pre-season match against Waikato, Harris was confident the Taniwha had a solid halfback option in Kurt Davies.

The halfback stocks are looking to be some of the strongest in recent ITM Cup campaigns and Harris said that "in all honesty, Kurty will probably lead it initially".

Twelve days out from their first 2015 ITM Cup match - a Ranfurly Shield challenge versus Hawke's Bay - selectors are still umming and ahhing over who will get a run in the prop, midfield and wing departments.

In the propping stocks, Harris said: "They seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum at the moment. There's probably three real frontrunners there and three struggling on the fitness side."

More clarity is apparent in the midfield options.

Warren Dunn, Troy Gilbert, Jordan Hyland and Dave Thomas all look to be fit and adapting to the desired attacking platform and defensive clarity set by coaching staff.

"There's a lot of utility with the boys in the midfield," Harris said.

While Harris and assistant coach Dale Macleod were happy with "all four of them", only three will make the cut for the Hawke's Bay encounter.

The other issue that needs to be addressed is which players will be fit enough to play on the wings.

Wise Lawabuka has shown good form coming into the Northland squad but Jone Macilai, Filipo Nakosi and Isimeli Taqea are lingering in the mix.

"With the Fijian boys out on the wing, two of them are really fit and two are coming back from injury. Hopefully they'll get a bit more of a trot on Friday," Harris said.

The fitness of speedster Macilai, returning from injury, was "way down", according to Harris.

Despite that, the foot Macilai recently injured was "almost there, at about 90 per cent, and he got through 20 minutes on Friday night with no damage done. Whether his aerobic fitness is up for Hawke's Bay ... we'll just wait and see."