League: Coach instills code of honour

Respect, integrity, leadership and honour are values rugby league coach Moehewa Armstrong lives by.

It's no coincidence it is also a pledge used by New Zealand Rugby League for the New Zealand resident 16s team, of which Armstrong has just been appointed assistant coach.

The former Pikiao premier coach who is currently in charge of the Waicoa Bay Stallions under-17 side, said he was excited with the new appointment.

"I was bloody excited and humbled, because there were some really strong candidates. There were four who applied. The two that missed out; one is the coach for Auckland and the other is the development coach for the Warriors. The other coach who got the [under-18 New Zealand squad], he coaches a big club down in Christchurch."

A farrier by trade, Armstrong said the under-16 squad were brought together for a training camp in Rotorua recently and he was impressed by the skill levels shown by the 30-strong squad.

"The trials that we had here was phenomenal the 16s and the 18s were professional. These boys know what is expected of them and the level they need to be at.

"It was a high skill rate. Their attitude was huge, they never gave up. Over that camp it was instilled into them and they lived by the pledge - respect, integrity, leadership and honour," Armstrong said.

"That's what is drummed into all the New Zealand teams and these guys lived by it."

The squad of 30 will soon be narrowed down to 19 and currently Rotorua has one youngster in the squad, Ahurei Winitana. Winitana plays centre for Pikao's 17s team.

Armstrong said Winitana was a talented youngster who had the skills to go all the way to the top.

"We've done a personal performance plan on each of them and it comes back with three priorities they have to work on. For Ahurei he has [areas] he has to work on ... but we are working on those and he has a lot of talent."

The squad will do a two match tour of Australia in October. They will take on a South East Queensland 16s on October 3 and the Queensland Academy of Sport on October 7.

Armstrong said it was a goal of the team to improve on last year's result against Queensland.

"I think winning is on the agenda. They drew with Queensland last year. That was on our home ground, so we want to go over there and really do well," Armstrong said.

"Not just for our team and our boys, because obviously a lot of opportunities will open up for them. But certainly in New Zealand Rugby League we've got to be going over there to produce results."

New Zealand resident 16s schedule:

NZ 16s v South East Queensland 16s, Gold Coast, October 3;

NZ 16s v Queensland Academy of Sport, Gold Coast October 7.

New Zealand 16s wider squad

Ahurei Winitana (Upper Central), Bunty Afoa (Auckland), Cale Karanga (Mid Central), Christian Mika (Counties Manukau), Daniel Liddicoat (Auckland), Eljen Petersen (Auckland), Haimona Hiroti (Mid Central), Jack McCormack (Wellington), Jacob Diaz (Counties Manukau), Jeniero Smallman (Mid Central), Jiordan Fidow Kele (Southern), Jo Apikatoa (Wellington), Jordan Pinnock (Southern), Kadince Christensen (Northern), Kalolo Saitaua (Auckland), Ken Tofilau (Southern), Kurt Bernard (Auckland), Losi Filipo (Wellington), Mafoaa'eata Hingano (Counties Manukau), Michael Uluakiola (Auckland), Netane Vi Counties (Manukau), Ofahiki Ogden (Counties Manukau), Peter Scanlon (Auckland), Richard Timoti (Auckland), Satch Pryor (Mid Central), Sean McGregor (Upper Central), Semisi Vea (Auckland), Sheldon Pitama (Southern), Viliami Moala (Counties Manukau), Xavier Smith (Mid Central)