Lure of Australian jobs hammers Old Boys

Times are tough at Old Boys this year, with coach Pat Stevens suggesting the poor regional job market and the axing of the Northland B team have combined to shrink the club's player base.
Last year at the beginning of the second round, Old Boys were at ease in the premier grade and were even optimistically contemplating a place in the playoffs after rising into the top half of the table. This year, they have accumulated fewer than half the points they had at the same stage and have only newcomers Otamatea between them and the bottom of the table.
Old Boys started the season competitively enough but a raft of injuries hasn't helped and they have taken some recent beatings.
The coach said a lack of depth in the backs has really hurt them, with most of last year's backline relocating to Australia.
"We lost six players over the off season, who have gone to work in Western Australia alone. They're all working in building or the mines and that's because of the whole job situation here more than anything," Stevens said.
Promising players such as Conor Matson, Cecil Poa, Anthony Poa, Jeff Matthews, Theunis Van Loggerenberg and Brendon McLeod have departed, all bound for Perth, with Tremaine Thompson studying in Auckland, meaning most of the 2010 back-line has melted away. Troy Gilbert and Gary Wakelin are the only starting backs from last year to feature in the premier side this season.
The problem isn't solely at Old Boys with other clubs in the area - Mid Northern in particular - also feeling the pinch of a player drain to Australia.
Stevens is an optimist at heart and knows there is little option but to carry on and hope a late-season renaissance will help them build toward next season.
"There's nothing much stopping the players from leaving, if you look at someone like Conor [Matson] - he would have looking to play for the Northland Development team this year but of course there's no development team, so there wasn't much to keep him here," he said.
Stevens, who was assistant coach for Northland Development last year, said he was not a fan of the union axing the team this season just to save money.
"There are a few other guys that will be looking at their options post season as well. If they're not in the frame for Northland A then Australia becomes a good option, the clubs over there make it pretty easy for them, which is to the detriment of our club rugby and Northland rugby as well," Stevens said.
On top of the defections to Australia, Sipa Moimoi has gone to Te Puke for work and Toetu'u Hausia has returned to Auckland.
Jeff Kalamani and Tevita Vai Pulu are returning from injury against Wellsford tomorrow , with loosies Dean Birchell (broken elbow) and Matt Harrison (broken nose) still a few weeks off.
It looks as though this season could be Old Boys last at their Okara Park base, with the most likely option a shift to Pohe Island.
In other matches tomorrow, Hikurangi host Western Sharks in an important battle, while Kamo look to strengthen their hold on fourth place with a win against Marist at Kamo. Third-placed Mid Northern host co-leaders Hora Hora in an intriguing match-up, while Otamatea will have their work cut out for them when they visit the other top team Mid Western at Maungakaramea.