League: Manawatu Mustangs go Shark hunting

Emitai Logadraudrau moves from the wing back to fullback for the Manawatu Mustangs in their game today.

Manawatu Mustangs coach Haze Reweti has made a handful of changes to his squad for today's second NZRL National Championship game with the Taranaki Sharks in Oakura.

Whanganui Boxon winger Leonard Matapuku and Linton Cobras second-rower Vesi Luatua make the squad after missing the 28-26 loss to the Wellington Orcas in Palmerston North.

Boxon's Steven Aue, Gordon Karaitiana and Jordan Davis all come off the bench into the starting lineup, with Tautahi Rawiri, Shade Heta and Linton's Logan Afoa dropping back.

Boxon's Emitai Logadraudrau moves from the wing to fullback, where he played his club campaign, while captain Woody Martin moves back from the second row to lock.

Linton's Hosea Taripo and Boxon's Richie Graham are not in this weekend's team.

The Taranaki team has also been announced and interestingly includes Isaiah Graham-Hooper on the wing.

The speedy Graham-Hooper also plays rugby union locally for the Border club, and represented the Wanganui Under 20's in 2016 and the Whanganui Maori in 2016-17.

Kickoff in Oakura is 2pm.

The teams are

Manawatu
1. Emitai Logadraudrau (Boxon); 2. Leonard Matapuku (Boxon); 3. Nikolao Ioane (Linton); 4. Jordan Davis (Boxon); 5. Joshua Metekingi (Boxon); 6. Shadow Wirori (Linton); 7. Bernard Matthews (Boxon); 8. Gordon Karaitiana (Boxon); 9. Steven Aue (Boxon); 10. Pita Marshall (Linton); 11. Vesi Luatua (Linton); 12. Coby Devery (Linton); 13. Woody Martin (c) (Boxon).
Reserves: 14. Jason Franklin (Linton); 15. Tautahi Rawiri (Boxon); 16. Tuhi Reweti (Boxon); 17. Shade Heta (Boxon); 18. Logan Afoa (Linton).

Taranaki
1. Tjontae Morunga; 2. Ricco Falaniko; 3. Charles Walters; 4. Jared Baker; 5. Isaiah Graham-Hooper; 6. Anton Gall; 7. Emerson Gray; 8. Jarrad Kumeroa; 9. Phil Taylor (c); 10. Darryl Takerei; 11. Tieimi Ransfield; 12. Nathan Maharey; 13. Sam Bennett.
Reserves: 14. Greegan Thompson; 15. Jonathan Fidow; 16. Shanin Tuuta-Hughes; 17. Reagan Coutts; 18. Kurt Kahui.