Harbour hopefuls feel like playing the Blues

Rua Tipoki

Solemn assurances have been given to North Harbour that their NPC form will be rewarded with a fair number of places in the Blues squad.

Then again, solemn assurances were given to Harbour last year and they still lost Nick Evans, Rico Gear and Craig Newby. They all opted to move because they feared they wouldn't win places at the Blues, despite the fact all three were All Blacks in 2004.

The exodus revealed how marginalised some players at Harbour felt. Whatever was being said publicly about there being no conspiracy against Harbour's players, not everyone was buying it.

If Harbour and Auckland are going to patch up their differences, new coach David Nucifora has to select a 28-man squad that doesn't leave Harbour's players with an exacerbated sense of distrust. As Harbour coach Allan Pollock says: "The challenge for David is to pick a team that will bring the most success for the Blues franchise. All I can do is keep telling the players that the further they go in the competition, the better their chances of making the Super 14."

But some Harbour players can't shake the nagging suspicion the 50:50 calls have maybe favoured Auckland in the past.

On current form, can Rua Tipoki and Anthony Tuitavake justifiably be left out? They are the form pairing in the NPC. If the Blues had a game next week, it would be a big call to leave those two out in favour of the Auckland duo of Sam Tuitupou and Ben Atiga.

However, Nucifora can select only 12 backs and he needs cover across the backline.

Tasesa Lavea, Luke McAlister, Isa Nacewa, Doug Howlett, Joe Rocokoko, Brent Ward, Steve Devine and David Gibson are rated certainties. That leaves Atiga, Tuitupou, Tipoki, Tuitavake, Anthony Koonwaiyou and Isaia Toe'ava competing for four places.

Atiga can cover fullback and Koonwaiyou will probably get the nod, because Nucifora will want three recognised wings.

Tuitavake has supposedly already been told he's going to be in the 24 and Toe'ava, given he's still only 19, may be put into the draft.

That brings it down to a straight choice between Tuitupou and Tipoki.

It's going to be a very tight call. By means of reassurance, Blues chief executive David White says: "David Nucifora has no baggage or history. He will select the best players within the franchise. It's as simple as that."

There will be other tight calls for Harbour players. Tony Woodcock, Greg Rawlinson and Luke McAlister are the definite inclusions.

No 8 Nick Williams is reasonably safe as is Tuitavake. Then there is the giant Mike Noble and the in-form Tony Coughlan. The Blues need four props and they have only three - Tony Woodcock, John Afoa and Saimone Taumoepeau. Noble is fit and has improved out of sight. Coughlan has been about as good as anyone in the competition.

If Nucifora goes to the draft the feeling in Harbour is there will have to be a compelling reason.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY