A disturbing trend in Mangonui rugby

Rodney Northern Wairoa 41 Mangonui 14 (ht 19-7): Rodney Northern Wairoa proved far too strong for the Mangonui sub union reps in Harding Shield rugby at Kaikohe on Saturday. Still, Mangonui coach Adrian 'AJ' Jones described the overall effort as "a big improvement from the last game," referring to the 69-12 loss to Whangarei in April.

"We didn't really play to our game plan until late in the second half when we got the ball in hand. You can see the Mangonui boys don't do a lot of gym work for upper body strength. Got it ripped out a lot."

Mangonui standouts included centre Matt Tuategaloa (Kaitaia) - classy and confident as ever on Saturday but also guilty of running away from his support more often than not now - who was being seriously looked at by Northland selectors, halfbacks Nick Jurlina (Eastern) and Jordan Karena (Kaitaia), No.7 Lance Brockbank (Eastern). Also, NRU forward coach Derren Whitcombe was apparently particularly impressed with Ngati Kuri captain, Joe Oneroa.

Jones also noted Rodney Northern Wairoa side had all its Wellsford and Western Sharks stars; contrary to opinions expressed in the Age column, Mat Talks, last Thursday which claimed these very players would refuse to front.

Staying localUnlike his counterparts in the Bay of Islands, AJ Jones refused to select Mangonui ex-pats playing outside the domestic competition.

"All you are doing, you are going to take opportunities from someone else ... I want to promote the guys playing up here. It's about starting from scratch. If I can get two or so players in Northland's second XV, then I have achieved something." Jones said, remembering last year when a number of Whangarei-based players suspiciously became suddenly unavailable whenever the air of another seemingly impending defeat loomed.

The lacklustre almost 'couldn't care less' attitude by players towards playing Harding Shield was again the most notable aspect of Mangonui's campaign this year. Jones - who played for the Mangonui team which held the shield for three years in a row in the 90s, and coached Kaitaia to the 2010 Mangonui senior championship - said this disturbing trend of apathy was part of the reason he resisted naming the Mangonui team in last Thursday's Age (a source of much discontent made worse when the Bay sub union named its squad for Saturday's challenge).

In response, Jones said he didn't know until Thursday at training who he'd actually be able to rely on. On certain players conspicuous by their absence and who made themselves unavailable through 'other commitments' - e.g. alternative priorities - rather than injury, Jones was pragmatic: "That's their choice." Well, it was a superb weekend weather-wise; who wouldn't have rather been at the beach?

The remaining gameLooking at the remaining Harding Shield game against the Bay of Islands, Jones agreed Mangonui has little to lose but everything to win by beating the shield holders. "Guys still want it. Try and get it as a home game."

Obviously impressed with the Bay's performance on Saturday: "A good team," Jones said with reserve, noting the Whangarei side at Kaikohe was far different to the one which thrashed Mangonui in the first Harding Shield clash at Hikurangi on Easter Monday.

However, having the fixture set for a Saturday later this month means both sub unions' club rugby will go on hold which could prejudice any chances of this match taking place.