Whanganui club rugby: Marist Knights ready for playoffs after strong season

Marist Knights head into the senior quarterfinals with an 8-1 record this season. Photo / Kate Belsham, Ivy Digital

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Despite another excellent Tasman Tanning Senior regular season winning record with victories by massive scorelines, the Forest 360 Marist Knights are well aware that, come playoffs, past form goes out the window.

In their sophomore season of 2024, the Knights seemed invincible heading into the Top 8 with a perfect 11-0 campaign.

However, both quarter-final and semifinal opponents Rātana Brotherhood and Kelso Hunterville gave them a fright at Spriggens Park and, in their first trip to Cooks Gardens, the Knights could not crack a rugged Utiku Old Boys, who won the title 12-10.

With an 8-1 record and preparing to meet Hunterville again in Saturday’s quarter-finals, coach Sean Ferguson did not see any reason to change tactics this year – it’s more about being conditioned for big games.

“The boys are just a bit wiser and more mature, and hopefully they’re more prepared for finals footy, for the pressure and making the right choices at the right times – I think they’ve learned a lot.

“We’ve picked up a few new Fijian boys from our forestry, which has been good, but otherwise it’s essentially the same group.

“The Matariki weekend [break] was brilliant, I think a lot of teams would have welcomed that; even though the season was shorter, it was still tough.”

A forward pack with veteran prop Raponi Tofa up front contains talented loose forwards Isaac Jordan and Lucas Reardon, along with lock Louis Devine.

In the backs, first-five Chris Ferguson looks to free up opportunities for outsides Kuliasi Ligaitamana and Epeli Delasau, while fullback Joey Devine has been a prolific points scorer.

Quarter-final draw

June 28, 1pm kickoffs unless noted (times subject to change):

Counties vs Utiku Old Boys, Macnab Domain; Marist Knights vs Hunterville, Spriggens Park; Marist Celtic vs Pirates, City College; Ruapehu vs Border, Rochfort Park.