New look: Ruapehu kicked off their Premier campaign with a win at home over Kaierau on Saturday. Ngamatapouri are the next to make the trip north. Photo by Merrilyn George.
Farming and beekeeping: the bane of a Tasman Tanning Premier country team's existence.
The March-April beginning of the Whanganui club season is always a difficult proposition for the squads on the borders of the region, as the late Premier withdrawal of Utiku Old Boys proves, but one-team club Settler's Honey Ngamatapouri and defending champions McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu are also feeling the pinch heading into today's second round match at Rochfort Park.
The makeup of both teams could well be very different come the winter games in June and July, when Ruapehu especially will be eyeing up making the top four, while Ngamatapouri could be a dark horse for the playoffs in their sophomore year of Premier if they can keep enough bodies around their handful of franchise players.
After being overrun 36-10 by Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist at Spriggens Park last weekend, Ngamatapouri manager Gerald Pearce said they should be able to take a stronger squad with around 20 players up to Ohakune.
The 2017 skipper Reid Belton was injured for all but a handful of games last year and has now stepped away from rugby, so Heartland Player of the Year nominee Bryn Hudson will take over the reins permanently, after he missed the Spriggens Park match.
"We were relatively pleased with what happened there. We think Marist will probably be one of the stronger teams," said Pearce.
"Samu [Kubunavanua] scored from a scrum, from inside his own half.
"The boys will get better, it's just so hard for the country teams to get going so early."
Kubunavanua found himself back in the loose forwards with Hudson being away, as Ngamatapouri naturally would prefer him back out wide to reform the dangerous midfield combination with fellow Steelform Wanganui representative Jim Seruwalu.
"We need one more out there. We just want one more strong back outside [Seruwalu], so he can take on three of them and get his pass off," said Pearce.
The team is also awaiting the return to Premier of former Fijian test player Sekonaia Kalou, currently working through the Visa process so he can arrive a little earlier than his debut in May 2017 for the Waverley Harvesting Border club.
Kalou, who played for Wanganui until injury late last year, should fit in well with Ngamatapouri, being a previous teammate of utility back Emosi Vucago.
However, Pearce said there was a bit more than old loyalties involved with the transfer.
"They offered him to us, Border did.
"It was a choice [for Border] between him and the prop [Tietie Tuimauga].
"We can't wait for him to get there."
The team is also awaiting the return of former Kaierau hooker Jarrod Wilson, currently out with a calf injury.
"We've just got to look after people really."
If any team is rearranging it's chess pieces, then it's 2017 champions Ruapehu.
With veterans Karl Parker, Kim McNaught and the Rowe's – Peter and Ian – all retired, there was a somewhat new-look forward pack which helped get Ruapehu over the line 15-5 against a solid-looking Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau last Saturday.
"You could we're in a rebuilding process. Which is a good thing, bring a few younger players in," said assistant coach Mark Green.
"The pack is not as big, but you could say it's more mobile."
Ruapehu have built up their support network as McNaught remains involved as assistant forwards coach alongside head coach Daisy Alabaster and Green, while hooker Roman Tuataha has taken the Hakaraia boys – representative player Gabriel and older brother Te Uhi – literally under his wings as they packed down with their skipper as the props.
Transferring from Marist, Mitchell Millar has made a smooth transition and gives Ruapehu the luxury of more kicking options for goals and in general play, alongside grand final drop goal hero Craig Clare.
Another to watch will be talented outside back Shaquille Waara, who could be poised for his breakout year after impressing during the 2017 representative season – playing for the Heartland Hurricanes Under 20's, Wanganui Development XV, Whanganui Maori, and the Sevens team.
"I'm hoping he is [ready], the boys said he had a pretty good game last week," said Green.
Remaining veterans Andrew Evans and George Williams offer steady hands.
However, the Utiku withdrawal has had unintended consequences as Ruapehu were initially scheduled to have a bye in this round, with many of the squad making work commitments accordingly.
"With the way the draw went, we could have a few boys out," said Green.
"You got to do what you can do, with what you got."
"It's all farming stuff, late into April."
Of the other games, it will be a cracker at Spriggens Park as Black Bull Liquor Pirates put their newly-won Grand Hotel Challenge Shield on the line against Kaierau in the always keen cross-town derby match, while former shield holders Border under returning coach Ross Williams will have to pick themselves up quickly as PGG Wrightson/Ballance Taihape come to Waverley.
Buoyed by their competitive first up outing in Taihape, Harvey Round Motors Ratana host their first match at their caretaker home of Marton Park against Marist.