Familiar names in NZ Residents 16s & 18s train-on squads

Familiar names in NZ Residents 16s & 18s train-on squads

Auckland, July 30, 2012 – A number of players making their mark in the Toyota Cup join those whose performances stood out in the NZRL’s 2011 National Competition in being named today in the NZ Residents 16s and 18s train-on squads.

Members of the two squads will be monitored during the upcoming National Competition, which kicks off on August 25, and other players who perform well during the National Competition and National Secondary Schools tournament may also be considered for selection to the 19-man travelling teams which will be confirmed in September.

All seven NZRL Zones are represented in the 16s squad with Kadince Christensen returning for Rugby League Northland and Jiordan Fidow-Kele from the Southern Zone being given another opportunity to make the team.

Four players from last year’s 16s Residents team have made the step up to the 18s squad including Tauturu Hapuku, Reubenn Rennie, Semisi Tyrell and Tuimola Lolohea, while a significant number of last year’s squad have returned.

Those returning for the 18s include Viliami Kaveinga, David Fusitua, Mason Lino, Tama Koopu, Sam Lisone, James Taylor, Kurt Robinson, Eric Newbigging and Kouma Samson. Fusitua, Samson, Taylor and Lino have all had games for the Warriors 20s in the 2012 Toyota Cup with Lino now a regular.

The full wider squads are:

NZ Residents 16s wider squad
Ahurei Winitana (Upper Central), Bunty Afoa (Auckland), Cale Karanga (Mid Central), Christian Mika (Counties Manukau), Daniel Liddicoat (Auckland), Eljen Petersen (Auckland), Haimona Hiroti (Mid Central), Jack McCormack (Wellington), Jacob Diaz (Counties Manukau), Jeniero Smallman (Mid Central), Jiordan Fidow Kele (Southern), Jo Apikatoa (Wellington), Jordan Pinnock (Southern), Kadince Christensen (Northern), Kalolo Saitaua (Auckland), Ken Tofilau (Southern), Kurt Bernard (Auckland), Losi Filipo (Wellington), Mafoaa’eata Hingano (Counties Manukau), Michael Uluakiola (Auckland), Netane Vi (Counties Manukau), Ofahiki Ogden (Counties Manukau), Peter Scanlon (Auckland), Richard Timoti (Auckland), Satch Pryor (Mid Central), Sean McGregor (Upper Central), Semisi Vea (Auckland), Sheldon Pitama (Southern), Viliami Moala (Counties Manukau), Xavier Smith (Mid Central).

Coach: Jeff Whittaker (Southern)
Ass Coach: Moehewa Armstrong (Upper Central)
Manager: Anita Smith-McKinnon (Akarana)
Trainer: Greg Davis (Mid Central)

NZ Residents 18s wider squad
Adam Tuimavave-Gerrad (Auckland), Afatasi Lio-Collins (Counties Manukau), Alamoti Finau (Auckland), Braxton Stanley (Auckland), Danny Levi (Wellington), David Fusitua (Auckland), Eric Newbigging (Counties Manukau), Ezra Togia (Wellington), James Taylor (Auckland), Jeffery Sua (Auckland), Joseph Tapine (Wellington), Jules Webley (Southern), Katamiro Atera (Counties Manukau), Kirisome Kirisome (Wellington), Kouma Samson (Auckland), Kruz Tupou (Counties Manukau), Kurt Robinson (Wellington), Mason Lino (Auckland), Ngataua Hukutai (Counties Manukau), Ray Lesoa (Wellington), Reubenn Rennie (Counties Manukau), Sam Lisone (Counties Manukau), Semisi Tyrell (Counties Manukau), Simioni Ma'amaloa (Counties Manukau), Tama Koopu (Upper Central), Tauturu Hapuku (Counties Manukau), Thoren Fidow-Kele (Southern), Tuimola Lolohea (Auckland), Viliami Kaveinga (Counties Manukau).

Coach: Ricky Henry (Akarana)
Ass Coach: Tom Ball (Southern)
Manager: Mel Rutene (Upper Central)
Trainer: Dave McDermott (Akarana)

The NZ 16s will play matches against the South East Queensland 16s on Wednesday, Oct 3, and the Queensland Academy of Sport 16s on Sunday, Oct 7. Both games will be played in Australia on the Gold Coast.

The NZ 18s will play a game against the Gold Coast Titans 18s on the Gold Coast on Sunday, Oct 7, and follow this with a game against Queensland Maori 18s at Cudgen Leagues Club in Northern NSW on Friday, Oct 12.

Earlier this month members of the 15s and 17s Merit teams (named at the end of the 2011 National Competition) joined a further 40 elite players at an intensive four-day residential National Performance camp in Rotorua which included thorough physical testing, development workshops and individual assessments. The camp finished with two trial games at which coaches and selectors were able to assess the players' abilities in a game situation.

Coach of the 16s team, Jeff Whittaker, said “The job of selecting our squads is even tougher this year than it was the last, with even more players demonstrating their potential for this higher level of competition.

“For the second year in a row some very talented players missed selection simply because of our depth. When we cut the squads to 19 it will be even tougher, but the competition for positions is good for the game long term and we wish all the players every success in the National Competition.”

With all seven NZRL Zones having players in one or both squads, Tony Kemp, NZRL General Manager High Performance says the National Competition and the camps have achieved what the NZRL hoped when they revamped the Football Calendar back in 2010.

“Many of these players have been progressing on our pathway for some time. They’ve been a part of the 2010 and 2011 National Competition, attended a number of Hearts and Performance camps and taken on board what we are trying to achieve. We can see this in their testing results and in the way they conduct themselves off the field. They’ve bought into the NZRL values and demonstrated their commitment at our most recent camp.

“This year we have stepped it up, with more focus on individual skills development specific to their on-field positions and introduced IPP’s (Individual Personal Plans). This has given us the chance to work with them on their physical fitness and development, their training programmes, nutrition and goal setting. All this builds better people and better players.”

Key Dates

For further information please visit www.nzrl.co.nz

ENDS

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