Bay still hopeful of retaining Senio

Bay of Plenty believe their hopes of retaining classy All Black halfback Kevin Senio next year are improving.

Senio has been targeted by Canterbury, who - with their Super 12 hats on - are defending champions and are looking for a topline replacement for the departed Justin Marshall.

The 25-year-old, who faces a head-to-head challenge for a Chiefs spot with the senior All Black halfback, Byron Kelleher, has been considering his options for several weeks.

For a time the chances of retaining Senio appeared gloomy. But Bay officials are encouraged by a request this week from Senio's manager, Bruce Sharrock, to resubmit their second, improved offer.

They initially tabled the offer several weeks ago.

"We are quietly confident," Bay chief executive Paul Abbot said yesterday.

"We've been up-front about everything and want to get it sorted out soon, as Kevin does."

Negotiations went on hold when Senio was called into the All Black squad during the Tri-Nations series after Kelleher suffered a hefty blow to the head in the match against South Africa at Cape Town in August. Sharrock said no decision would be reached before the weekend but is hopeful of finalising the situation early next week.

"It's been quite hard getting everyone together. There are still one or two sticking points."

If they can hold on to Senio, the Bay will be happy with their player retention for next year.

Amid speculation on players switching unions or heading overseas, the Bay are in stable shape, according to Abbot.

Flanker and captain Wayne Ormond has already signed on for next year; tighthead prop Ben Castle, who has made progress this year and has a season with the Chiefs in the Super 12 behind him, was already committed for next year and will now stay for 2007; and they are confident of promising lock Bernie Upton signing a fresh contract.

Senio would be the ideal topping to their plans for 2006.

"We are in pretty good shape," Abbot said of the union's contractual situation.

The fly in the ointment this season has been the Bay's NPC form. Having made the semifinals last year, this has been a difficult campaign. They lie ninth on seven points with one win from five games.

Coach Vern Cotter has retained the XV who should have hung on against Wellington last weekend, but lost in a late rally 38-32. Tau Filise comes on to the bench as backup prop ahead of James Afoa.

In similar vein, North Harbour have kept faith with the XV from last week's disappointing 21-13 loss to Otago in Dunedin. The only alteration on the bench is halfback Ben Meyer replacing Craig McGrath.

Harbour, sixth on the table on 12 points, must win to stay handy to the pacesetters and keep their semifinal hopes in good shape. Defeat tomorrow night will leave them relying to a degree on other teams' results over the final four rounds.

Bay Of Plenty

Rotorua, 7.35pm tomorrow

Adrian Cashmore

David Johnston

Grant McQuoid

Rena Schuster

Anthony Tahana

Murray Williams

Kevin Senio

Colin Bourke

Nili Latu

Wayne Ormond (c)

Bernie Upton

Mark Sorenson

Ben Castle

Aleki Lutui

Simms Davison

North Harbour

George Pisi

V Waqaseduadua

A Tuitavake

Rua Tipoki (c)

Zar Lawrence

Luke McAlister

J Poluleuligaga

Nick Williams

Tom Harding

Brent Wilson

Greg Rawlinson

Marty Veale

Mike Noble

Joe Ward

Tony Coughlan

BoP: John Pareanga, Taufa'ao Filise, Paul Tupai, Warren Smith, Garrick Cowley, Mike Delany, Hayden Reid.
North Harbour: Roger Dustow, Adrian Donald, Anthony Boric, Rodney Voullaire, Ben Meyer, Joel Nasmith, Andrew Mailei.