Rugby: Cooksley pays NPC price for poor form at club level

By CHRIS RATTUE

Former All Black Mark Cooksley has been dropped from Waikato's NPC campaign.

The giant 29-year-old lock has been told by coach Kiwi Searancke he will not be part of the squad which is confirmed next week.

And Counties-Manukau, where Cooksley played in the early 1990s, have also turned down his services.

Waikato will go into the NPC season, which starts on August 11, with discarded All Blacks Royce Willis and Chresten Davis as their leading locks, with the 29-year-old Tony Petero as their back-up.

Searancke said Cooksley had paid the price for poor club form all year, although he had picked up his game in recent weeks.

"He could still suit the modern game but he needs to be a lot more athletic and involved."

Cooksley has played 67 games for Waikato since switching unions in 1994 and has also played 33 Super 12 games for the Chiefs and Hurricanes, plus 21 games, including nine tests, for the All Blacks.

The writing appeared on the wall for Cooksley when he was left out of Waikato's three early Ranfurly Shield defences, the latest of which saw them crush Wanganui 86-3 in Tokoroa on Saturday.

It was Waikato's 18th defence of the shield since winning it from Auckland at the end of the 1997 season.

Meanwhile, halfback Danny Lee will lead Counties-Manukau in the NPC, taking over the captaincy from Glen Marsh. Coach Andrew Talaimanu has left out midfield back Gus Leger, preferring 1998 New Zealand secondary schools back Peter Epati, who is coming back from knee surgery. And 32-game lock Gavin Giles, who is considering retirement, is also missing.

The squad includes prop Hona Kingi, who played six games for North Harbour last season, plus George Stowers and Kristian Ormsby, who were in this year's New Zealand Colts side.

The major omission is former Steelers back Tony Marsh, who has signed a new contract with French club Montferrand.

And in Northland, coach Bryce Woodward says Brumbies back Mitch Hardy has apparently broken off communication with the union and is unlikely to figure in the NPC for them.

Northland expect to have Fijian wing Fero Lasagavibau, who last played for them in 1998, back and they have Sydney club wing Matthew Miller. Woodward has included former Auckland utility forward Brandon Jackson, who has returned from Japan, and Highlanders Super 12 loose forward Samiu Vahafolau on loan from Auckland.

Forwards Graham Hilton-Jones, Allen Tubbs and back Mark Subritzky were unavailable.

Counties-Manukau: Backs: David Wood, Joeli Vidiri, Salesi Moimoi, Tamaha McDonald, Phil Lewis, Danny Lee (c), George Leaupepe, Blair Feeney, Peter Epati, Loki Crichton. Forwards: Koula Tukino, Mark Todd, George Stowers, Dave Stewart, Kristian Ormsby, Alan McLean, Glen Marsh, Hare Makiri, Ramon Lyndsay, Hona Kingi, Dion Kingi, Grant Henson, John Akurangi.

Northland: Backs: Joggie Viljoen, Sam Pinder, Tony Monaghan, Jared Going, Robbie Johnson, Brad Miller, Jason Hita, Jason Shoemark, Norm Berryman, Fero Lasagavibau, Matthew Miller, Hayden Taylor, Clint Going, Roly Verran. Forwards: Mike Storey, Wayne Rogers, Tim Knight, Joe Veitayaki, Jason Hammond, Joe Ross, Bobby Larkin, Glenn Taylor (c), Geoff Crawford, Brandon Jackson, Vula Maimuri, Brett Waaka, Justin Collins, Mathew Webber, Samiu Vahafolau.