Rugby: Recycled Toopi into mix for Steamers

Former Warrior Clinton Toopi has made the Bay of Plenty Air NZ Cup squad. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

Clinton Toopi always knew he had a couple of good years left in him - he just wasn't sure where they would be.

After hearing his name announced in the Bay of Plenty Steamers squad last night Toopi knows that for 2009 at least, he'll be in the Bay playing rugby.

"It was all hinging on tonight. If I didn't make the Bay I still felt I had a few years left in league. If things didn't come through I was definitely going to go back to league," the former New Zealand Warriors and Kiwi rugby league international told The Daily Post.

I had some offers to go back to the NRL but I really wanted to have a go at union so I'm glad I did.

Toopi, 29, was one of 11 new faces in the 30-man Bay of Plenty Steamers rugby squad announced last night in Rotorua, following the final trial match.

Toopi has been playing club and sub union football in Whakatane and was in the WASPS XV which soundly beat the Bay of Plenty XV 54-12 at Rotorua Boys' High School yesterday. He scored two of their nine tries, eight of which were converted.

Steamers head coach Greg Smith and assistant Steve Miln have named what they consider a form squad they believe is capable of playing two or three styles of rugby.

There are some new faces - hopefully what it's done is strengthen our squad, Smith said. There are some guys who have been Steamers before who have missed out, so what we've had to make sure is that the guys we're replacing them with are actually better.

Miln said Toopi's selection would bring big game and major campaign experience while also adding speed and competitiveness among the prospective wingers.

Chiefs prop Joe Savage will be the interim captain while Tanerau Latimer is on All Blacks duty.

Smith said the final trial had allowed some players to put their hands up for selection with Rotoiti openside flanker Zach Hohneck showing out for the WASPS, as did fullback Nick McCashin.

The Steamers squad is rounded with Savage and his Chiefs frontrow mate James McGougan obvious frontrow starters with hookers John Pareanga and Marcel Cummings-Toone.

Smith has gone outside the region in securing former Waikato players Ted Tauroa and Andre Ellison, who join Rotoiti's Josh Hohneck as back up frontrowers.

The former Fijian international, who is in his first year with the Bay, made no bones about the need to do so.

"I perceived that there was a real lack of depth in that area in this province when I came here. While there are two good props in James and Joe, there was a lack of depth under that and for us to do compete at Air Newland Cup, we needed strength in that area," Smith said.

The new faces in the loose forwards are Hohneck and Whakarewarewa's Matt Vant Leven while former Waikato representative Josh Olsen, who has been playing for Rotoiti since returning from university, joins the locking ranks.

New to the backs are halfback Junior Poluleuligaga, midfielder Phil Burleigh, five eight/fullback Nick McCashin and wingers Ben Smith and Toopi.

Poluleuligaga is currently involved with the Western Samoan Pacific Cup campaign and is expected to help the rising Josh Hall make his way at this level.

Burleigh and McCashin both played in last year's successful Canterbury B side while Smith, a former Otago and Southland representative, has settled at the Mount after a stint overseas.

Notable exclusions from last year's squad include utility forward Aidan Kuka, five eight Kelly Haimona, hooker Dean Elmiger and halfback Ruki Tipuna.

The 2009 squad's first official pre-competition game will be on July 10 against Taranaki in New Plymouth. They will also play Counties Manukau and Hawkes Bay before their competition opener against Northland in Rotorua on July 31.

Bay of Plenty Steamers 2009 Air NZ Cup squad

Forwards: James McGougan (Tauranga Sports), Joe Savage (Whakarewarewa) , Josh Hohneck (Rotoiti), Ted Tauroa (Mount), John Pareanga (Te Puna), Marcel Cummings-Toone (Tauranga Sports), Culum Retallick (Tauranga Sports), John Moore (Ngongotaha), Josh Olsen (Rotoiti), Josh Katene (Te Teko), Colin Bourke (Mount), Luke Braid (Tauranga Sports), Matt Vant Leven (Whakarewarewa), Solomon King (Te Puke Sports), Tanerau Latimer (Rangiuru), Zach Hohneck (Rotoiti), Andre Ellison (loan Waikato).

Backs: Junior Poluleuligaga (Te Puna), Josh Hall (Tauranga Sports), Mike Delany (Mount), Nick McCashin (te Puke Sports), Cory Aporo (Mount), Nigel Hunt (Te Puke Sports), Phil Burleigh (Tauranga Sports), Zar Lawrence (Mount), Lance MacDonald (Mount), Jason Hona (Rangataua), Clinton Toopi (Whakatane Marist), Wayne Hughson (Whakarewarewa), Ben Smith (Mount).

- ROTORUA DAILY POST