Northland's best players overlooked by Super 15s

NO PLACE: It's perplexing why the Blues couldn't find room for stand-out Northland flanker Dan Pryor in their 2014 squad.PHOTO/RON BURGIN

While no Northlanders were able to get into the main Super 15 squads, two have made it into wider training groups.

Taniwha lock Tom Murday and hooker Robbie Abel have been selected into the Blues and Western Force wider training squads for next year's competition.

Murday and Abel were confirmed in their respective squads on Wednesday when Super 15 teams were announced.

Northland ITM Cup assistant coach George Konia said while it was just reward for the Taniwha duo, he thought a few more were unlucky.

"I though Matt Moulds, Tane [Takulua] and DP [Dan Pryor] were unlucky not to get involved because they had good seasons," Konia said.

"The great thing about Tom Murday being picked up is it does show there are pathways for our players into the Blues, [but] as a team and a union we need to put on good performances [on the field].

"In hindsight, based on our team performance, there weren't many players who went on to higher honours but if we can hold on to these players that'll be a natural progression for them."

Konia added that on-field results probably had not helped draw attention to the positive within the Northland side, but going forward it meant there were 15 new Taniwhas inducted this year who would hopefully stick with the province to make it better.

"We had a young and inexperienced team this year, we believe as coaches, and as a province, we need more Northlanders playing for Northland.

"We didn't have a great season with regard to results but we grew in a number of areas; on and off the field."

With regard to loose forwards in the Blues, Konia said that it was disappointing to see players from outside of the franchise being selected ahead of the likes of Pryor.

"[Pryor] was clearly one of our best performers this year. It is disappointing the franchise has looked outside our borders."

However, on the whole, Konia said the Blues looked to be a well-balanced squad going into next year's Super Rugby competition.

"I think they've got a better balance of experienced and inexperienced players with the likes of Woodcock and Nonu coming back in," he said.

"It looks like a well-balanced team. There's a lot of flair obviously, which the Blues have always had, so it's looking like an exciting team for next year."

While Konia and co were currently completing post-season reviews, he looked forward to attending a few training sessions with the Blues next year as part of the franchise's open door policy when it came to up-skilling coaches within the region.

Blues squad: Tom McCartney, Keven Mealamu, James Parsons, Charlie Faumuina, Sam Prattley, Angus Ta'avao, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Tony Woodcock, Tom Donnelly, Liaki Moli, Culum Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Kane Barrett, Luke Braid, Jerome Kaino, Steven Luatua, Brendon O'Connor, Peter Saili, Jamison Gibson-Park, Bryn Hall, Piri Weepu, Baden Kerr, Chris Noakes, Pita Ahki, Ma'a Nonu, Francis Saili, Jackson Willison, Frank Halai, Benji Marshall, George Moala, Charles Piutau, Lolagi Visinia. Wider training group: Joe Edwards, Simon Hickey, Tevita Li, Tom Murday, Albert Nikoro.