By CHRIS RATTUE
Captain Steve Jackson has quit Southland to join rival NPC first division side North Harbour.
The 30-year-old lock, who played for New Zealand Maori in 2002, should add a significant presence to the Harbour pack after becoming a pivotal figure in a Southland side who have battled the odds
to gain first division credibility.
Jackson, of West Auckland origins, said he was as committed as ever to furthering his NPC career, and would continue to chase the Super 12 selection which frustratingly eluded him.
Jackson, a fringe Auckland player in the mid 1990s, spotted North Harbour's advertisement for a development officer over Christmas.
"I was just looking through the jobs section and saw it and circled it. I hadn't really thought about a move before then," said Jackson, who worked as a development officer in Southland.
"I had a brilliant time in Southland, met some wonderful people, and the highlights certainly outweighed the lowlights. But I'm over the moon to be coming back home."
Harbour chief executive Doug Rollerson said Jackson would give the NPC side, under returning coach Allan Pollock, their first middle-of-the-lineout specialist since the days of Ian Jones.
Jackson will work fulltime as a development officer in clubs and schools, as well as taking up the liaison role between the union and NPC side.
"Steve's always been a pain in the arse for us when we've played Southland, so it will be good to have him on our side," Rollerson said.
Jackson, who attended Waitakere College, was a New Zealand secondary schools and age grade representative. He has played 70-odd games for Southland since 1998.
Rollerson said securing Jackson would bolster their stocks at a time when former test lock Troy Flavell was deciding whether to head to Japan.
