Rugby League: Rare complaint sidelines Glenora player-coach

By PETER JESSUP

Glenora player-coach Duane Mann will not be taking the field against Otahuhu in their crucial Bartercard Cup rugby league game this weekend as he struggles with the same blood-flow problem that plagued Gene Ngamu.

Mann has missed the Bears' last two games as doctors tried to diagnose and determine treatment for the unusual complaint of compartments syndrome.

That is one of a number of injury and health problems for the Bears as they gear up to reverse two consecutive defeats in what promises to be an intriguing game between first and third on the competition ladder.

Mann said his squad were still smarting from the defeat at the hands of Manurewa last weekend, but dismissed talk of dissension in the ranks despite some on-field niggle.

That was the result of the pressure applied by the opposition rather than any loss of discipline, with the players expressing general frustration rather than pointing fingers at each other.

"That's what a good opposition will do to you," he said.

Mann rates Leopards halves Hare Te Rangi and Shane Edwards the best pairing in the competition, but that devalues his own pair of Aaron Tucker and Steve Buckingham.

It could well be Buckingham's well-placed kicks and vision that direct the game and determine the outcome between two sides with big, mobile forwards and plenty of try-scoring ability in the centres.

The Bears welcomed Warrior Wairangi Koopu into their side at Thursday's training after he was flicked from the contingent sent to Brisbane Souths. Mann confirmed that highly rated lock Henry Perenara was unlikely to return to the Bears again after switching allegiances to his father's Marist/Richmond side.

Mann's Leopards counterpart, Dean Clark, will play tomorrow, coming off the bench in the run home. The 32-year-old is enjoying the coaching chance, and said the professionalism of his mob was making the job easy.

He is wary of a backlash from the Bears and will be telling his 17 to cut down their big runners so they do not get on any sort of roll as the Oats aim to keep their 100 per cent away win record intact.

"Manurewa didn't do us any favours," he said. "We need to be at the top of our game. We had a hard run early in the week and have been concentrating since on setting our defensive pattern."

Warrior wing Henry Faafili will turn out for the Marlins when they travel to Ngongotaha to meet the Chiefs tomorrow. Mt Albert go to Wainuiomata, Northcote host Canterbury today at the earlier time of 1 pm to allow the Bulls to get a plane straight home and Hibiscus Coast are at home to Marist/Richmond, who have Warrior Francis Meli on the wing, but Perenara has gone to Brisbane Souths this week.

The Eastern Tornadoes should have little trouble getting over one-win Porirua at Mt Smart No 2 today.