Shield showdown key for ITM hopefuls

Taniwha selectors will have eagle eye on rising talents

Today's Bayleys Harding Shield finals will feature a new twist.

After defending champions Whangarei were knocked out of contention for the final in their South Zone round-robin loss against Northern Wairoa/Rodney, the 2015 Harding Shield will see Northern Wairoa/Rodney and Mangonui face off for the coveted log of wood.

This will add an interesting touch for fans, officials and more importantly - Northland selectors.

"It's an 101-year-old trophy," Northland Rugby Union chief executive Jeremy Parkinson says.

"It's the changing of the guard."

The Harding Shield is Northland's sub-union competition and acts as a representative grade between club and ITM Cup level, with Taniwha selectors over the years using the shield as a way to gauge how players perform when intensity levels are raised.

As a result, several players representing Northern Wairoa/Rodney and Mangonui will be looking to put their best foot forward when they step on to Dargaville's Farmlands Park today.

Northland's ITM Cup coach Richie Harris says selectors will be paying close attention to several mid-fielders.

"It's of real interest to us," Harris says. "[We're] looking at particular players to measure if they can play ITM Cup. The Harding Shield allows them to play with better players around them [and] the better players tend to have the good core basic skills and top physical shape."

Harris highlights another position of interest for selectors - the halfback slot, especially with space available for a third halfback in the final Taniwha squad this season.

With the ITM Cup season fast approaching, the outcome of today's Harding Shield showdown will have a definitive influence on the announcement of an extended Taniwha squad in the next few weeks.

Once the extended squad has been settled on, selectors will look to announce this year's final Taniwha squad mid-July.

Northern Wairoa/Rodney: Ross Wright, Matt Moulds, Graham Dewes, Shane Neville, Sean Sweetman, Pepa Koloamatangi, Conor Woodman, Heath Colthurst, Louis Ward, Dan Hawkins, Rupeni Vosayaco, Jordan Hyland, Viliami Tuakeavea, Dylan Rangi, Matty Wright, Roberto Ozryan, Mike MacDonald, Ikali Kalidredre, Connor Lawson/Kainga Pesalili, Dylan Lewis, Cameron Barbour, Nick Morrison.

Mangonui: Dane Rawiri, Trent Bradley, Bronson Murray, Murray Buttini, Deveron Phillips, Dan O'Rouke, Leon Emery, Johnny Andrews, Dane Subritzky, Trent Sherlock, Isimeli Taquea, Birdie Maron, Alan Heighway, Filipo Nakosi, Eli Morough, Jack Potter, Josh Colley, Yates Gordon, Wills Henare, Pietro Gregorio, Shane Vinac, Dylan Phillips, Tunney Thrupp.