Whanganui Chronicle

First-class talent comes out of the woodwork

Some veteran former Steelform Whanganui players have put their hands up to strengthen the McFall Fuel Whanganui Developmen­t XV ahead of the start of their campaign on August 10.

Returning coach Danny Tamehana had named a wider squad of 32 on July 19 to begin preparatio­ns for their games which start with Wairarapa Bush Developmen­t at Cooks Gardens and finish with the same team in Masterton.

Roughly eight players from that initial July naming are unavailabl­e or unaccounte­d for, but Tamehana was delighted to get a phone call from utility back Josaia Bogileka (31 first-class games) stating his break from rugby after Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist’s eliminatio­n before the Tasman Tanning Premier semifinals gave time for his shoulder injury to heal.

“He’s said, ‘it’s come right’,” Tamehana said.

“I said, ‘that usually happens when you rest it’.”

Coming with Bogileka will be clubmate Samu Kubunavanu­a (56 games) who had an aggravated knee, while 2023 Whanganui winger Apolosi Tanoa (10) also wants more rugby after his knee injury early in the club season for Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau.

With a combined 87 first-class games, including big playoff matches in the Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championsh­ip, Bogileka and Kubunavanu­a will provide the side with crucial experience.

“They want to play, they just didn’t want to over-commit to Heartland,” said Tamehana.

“I am sort of assessing if those guys come to play Devs, they’ll get picked up [for Heartland].”

Other players with first-class experience in the squad are 2023 fullback Sheldon Pakinga (five),

2022 prop Tai Pulemagafa (seven), while former 2009-12 Thames

Valley rep Brook Tremayne (11) will play if the schedule does not conflict with his police training.

Tamehana was looking at a Tuesday-Thursday training schedule but, with some players named in multiple representa­tive squads or travelling from the country, the coach will likely focus on extended Thursday sessions.

“If they can commit to one training a week, and have everyone there, it’ll benefit everyone.”

There could be several future Heartland players in the group: aggressive utility forward Isaac Jordan will get involved once he completes his duties with the Summit Electrical Whanganui Under 20s this weekend, while the likes of Atriane Marino and the Johnsons — Mason and Devon — have been earmarked as prospects.

“There’s some good players there,” said Tamehana.

“It’s a stepping stone for these young fellas.”

Premier co-MVP winner Tyrone Albert will likely run the cutter as he continues his progressio­n from being the backup to Waverley

Harvesting Border’s Heartland stars to now a top playmaker in his own right who could yet play Heartland.

“This could be his window of opportunit­y,” said Tamehana.

The wider squad is:

Louis Devine (Marist Knights), Raponi Tofa (Marist Knights), Isaac Jordan (Marist Knights), Daniel Kauika (Marist), Tyrone Albert (Border), Rusiate Lalanabara­vi (Kaierau), Sheldon Pakinga (Kaierau), Carliwyne Riddles (Marist), Tai Pulemagafa (Kaierau), Hoani Woodhead (Taihape), Atriane Marino (Marist), Regan Calder (Kaierau), CJ Stowers (Marist), Ben O’Leary (Marist), Troy Leef-Wikaira (Pirates), Mason Johnson (Kaierau), Paiki Ponga (Marist), Ratu Vudiniabol­a (Kaierau), Stu Brosnahan (Kaierau), Bonefasio Tabuanival­u (Kaierau), Brook Tremayne (Kaierau), Devon Johnson (Kaierau), Jamie Robertson (Marist), Ezekiel Anderson (Rā tana), Josaia Bogileka (Marist), Samu Kubunavanu­a (Marist), Apolosi Tanoa (Kaierau).