A new allegiance with Canterbury has ensured Northland will front next year's Air NZ Cup with at least two of their star performers, but it might yet be a new-look Taniwha team that will wear the Cambridge blue next season.
Prop Bronson Murray has followed fullback Jared Payne and transferred to
Canterbury on a similar rebound contract that has ensured he plays for Northland for the next two years. It means Northland has signed two banner players with Northland rugby officials confident they can secure at least three more of their stars by the end of the month.
But by then Northland may have a new coach, Mark Anscombe's position at the helm already advertised with applications due to close in just 12 days and a decision due shortly after that.
Super 14 squad announcements will follow and in quick succession Air NZ Cup contracts for 2009 and beyond will be finalised.
Murray has long been regarded as a must-get contract for Northland rugby with his links to the far north and popularity as a no-nonsense front row powerhouse evident all season.
Whangarei lawyer Andrew Golightly, who is co-ordinating player negotiations, said while Murray's Canterbury contract will in all likelihood block his selection to the Blues Super 14 squad, the chance to keep him in Northland colours was too good to pass up.
Without this contract set-up Northland would have most certainly lost Bronson, Golightly said.
He added at this point the most critical appointment is the coach. The job is advertised and he hoped to have a coach appointed by the end of the month.
Anscombe confirmed yesterday that he was set to apply for a head coaching position elsewhere, most likely for the now vacant Auckland union.
He may also re-apply for the Northland job. In the meantime player negotiations had paused since the weekend as players enjoyed an end-of-season celebration after completing the Air NZ Cup campaign with a win over Auckland.
The result means Northland finishes the season in ninth position, the best result from a Northland team in a decade.
