Loosies chase Northland spots

Northland loose forward hopefuls Cameron Goodhue and Sam Barker are closing in on their vision of pulling on a Taniwha jersey in this season's ITM Cup.
Goodhue, the 23-year-old No8 has been one of the standout forwards in this year's  Southern Districts Club Competition, earning his chance to shine in Wednesday's pre-season match against North Harbour in Kaitaia.
Like Goodhue, Barker has returned to the North this year, hoping to play first-class rugby.
They are both chasing one of four spots available in the squad for the ITM Cup campaign, with the Harbour match something of a final trial for Northland coach Bryce Woodward.
Goodhue has passed all the tests given him to date but now must perform in next week's match before he is offered a contract for the ITM Cup campaign.
"I think I've been doing the business at club level, and Bryce has told that I have to make the step up from club level, so I need a good game against North Harbour," he said.
"It's not like club footy where you find yourself covering other positions as well - I need to concentrate on my job and doing my thing right and it should work out all right."
The Kawakawa-born forward is Northland through and through, despite captaining Otago B last year, while he completed his commerce degree at Otago University.
"It's funny, you go away to Otago for four years but you still find yourself supporting Northland when they play Otago ... so for me it's good to be finally playing for the team that I supported as I was growing up and pulling on the Taniwha jersey," he said.
Barker is a former Kerikeri High School student who went to Auckland  after leaving school to take up an apprenticeship. He played for North Shore and Harbour Bs but didn't break into the As and, along with his partner Katrina, decided to go travelling.
The 28-year-old openside flanker almost found a niche in the English professional game until the door was slammed. 
"It went really good, I started playing for Northampton development side and it was all going really well and then I got named to play in the premiership side but there was a mad rush to get registered in time but to cut a long story short - my visa got declined because I didn't have any English heritage or a sponsor," he said.
When he got back, he wanted to come home and play rugby in the north and got talking to an old mate from North Harbour days, Luke Hamilton, who encouraged him to play for the Sharks. Barker is still miffed that the big name players never have a problem with immigration but is mindful the incident has helped him to achieve one of his aims as a school kid.
"I'm enjoying playing club footy and to be a part of the Taniwha would be an added bonus - so we'll see how it goes next week," he said.
He spent time recovering from minor knee surgery at the beginning of the year and has eased himself back into the Sharks line-up - starting as a replacement but he has played two 80-minute spells in recent weeks.
"I would have liked to play a bit more club footy before coming into this environment but that's how it is, so I'm keen to give it a nudge on Wednesday," he said
There are also two more backline contracts to be decided on Wednesday with another club rugby standout, flying Sharks winger Mateo Malupo, a big chance to crack the squad and he will be looking to impress.
Hero against Harbour last season, Brook Gilmore, has had an injury hit season to date and a slight groin niggle will see him assessed again on Monday to see if he can start off the bench. Brock Mustard will get a chance to stake a claim for  centre,  with Rene Ranger likely to miss much of the campaign with the All Blacks.
Northland play North Harbour, on Wednesday at 2:35pm at Kaitaia's Arnold Rae Park.