League: Taupo Phoenix quartet picked for Stallions squad

Taupo are the best local club represented in the representative side with four players including John Koko, Cody King, John Love-Henry and Mac Carson. Photo / Thinkstock

Four Taupo Phoenix players have been selected for the Waicoa Bay Stallions during their opening match of the Pirtek National Premiership.

The Waicoa Bay Stallions will get their 2014 campaign under way on Sunday against Akarana Falcons in Auckland.

It is not a bad time to get powerhouse side Akarana, who have plenty of top players still involved in the Auckland Fox Memorial club competition.

Waicoa Bay Stallions will line up with a side boasting seven players from the Bay of Plenty District Rugby League premier competition.

Taupo are the best local club represented in the representative side with four players including John Koko, Cody King, John Love-Henry and Mac Carson.

Ngongotaha's Raureti Grace, Mangakino's Johnson Peri and Pacific's Callin Tereu have also been named in the 17-man team.

Interestingly, Tereu is the only man named in the Stallions who featured in the Bay of Plenty District Rugby League premier final last weekend.

Akarana coach Steve Buckingham said he had concerns for the opening game on Sunday.

"With the bulk of our squad still involved in local footy, we have [not] really formed a squad yet," he said. "We'll be just naming a team to get us through the first game and going from there."

Waicoa Bay had a 30-all draw last weekend in a warm-up match against Central Vipers.

Nat Premiership
Sunday 2.30pm, Auckland

Falcons: 1-Mao Uta, 2-Tee Mahe, 3-Tangi Ropati, 4-Willie Peace, 5-Simon Luafalealo, 6-Simon Ieremia, 7-Levi Norton, 8-Kaleni Fraser, 9-Semisi Mau, 10-Trent Schaumkel, 11-Taylor Daniels, 12-Karl Semeti, 13-Brandon Motion, 14-Sam Cook, 15-Junior Fotu, 16-Matt Tafutu, 17-Siliga Kepoa.

Stallions: 1-Caleb Heke, 2-Isaac Robinson, 3-Mounga Molisi, 4-John Koko, 5-Ryan Gordon, 6-Johnson Peri, 7-Hayden Karena (capt), 8-Tarquin Court, 9-Raureti Grace, 10-John Love-Henry, 11-Cody King, 12-Terry Kopua, 13-Jason Whareaitu, 14-Hamiora Mihaka, 15-Callin Tereu, 16-Mosese Mafi, 17-Mac Carson.