Game 'tonic the players need'

KIRK HARGREAVES/The Press

UNDER SIEGE: South Island's Kyle Leka, right, is tackled by the Heartland defence at Addington in Christchurch.

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South Island rugby league coach Brent Stuart has hailed the decision to go ahead with tomorrow's national championship at Burnham as "the tonic the players need" after Canterbury's earthquake.

The New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) held a conference call yesterday and decided the South's premier grade, 17 years and 15 years clashes with the Waicoa Bay Stallions should proceed.

NZRL chief executive Jim Doyle said the games had been relocated to two outside fields opposite Burnham Military Camp because Rugby League Park had not yet had a clearance from the Christchurch City Council.

Doyle said everyone in the rugby league fraternity was looking forward to the games.

Stuart was relieved at the news, especially as South had a bye last week.

He and manager Duane Fyfe had heard there were three options for the Waicoa game with Rugby League Park unavailable.

"We heard they might take the games up to Waicoa Bay or play a catchup game [later in the season], or just give us a point each," Stuart said.

"All three of those options didn't really appeal to us. We didn't want to play away because it would take the players away from home and their families, even though it was only for the day, and after what's happened here this last week, we felt our guys would be more comfortable playing at home."

Stuart did not like the catchup game option because that would have meant a three-week gap between Albert Baskerville Trophy matches before the visit to the Northern Swords in Whangarei next week.

"Now the game's going ahead at Burnham it should be the tonic the players need to just forget about what's happened for a few hours and play football."

Stuart and co-coach Dave Perkins have made three changes to the starting team that beat Heartland 28-6 a fortnight ago. Debutant centre Manu Weepu injured a shoulder and could be out for four weeks. He will be replaced by West Coaster Phil Dumelow, an interchange bench reserve against Heartland.

Stuart said another West Coast back, James Ward, had been slated to start but he also had an injury niggle.

"Hopefully, he may be ready to go next week."

Wing Kasi Leka is unavailable with family commitments, so Papanui Tiger Tyrone Edmonds will start on the opposite flank to New Zealand Residents wing Junior Salevao.

Hooker Kyle Reuben returns to the senior representative level for the first time since 1999 after overcoming a disc problem in his back. Jared Neho, the starting hooker against Heartland, reverts to the bench.

Stuart said most of the South Island squad had made training this week and most players and their families did not suffer too much damage in the earthquake.

They were in limbo for much of the week not knowing if the game would go ahead.

"But they trained very well on Thursday night."

Waicoa Bay (an amalgam of Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Coastline) have had one win and one loss from their first two matches, but Stuart expects them to be "pretty tough".

"They've had some mixed results, but they should be reasonably strong. They made the playoffs [as Waikato] last year and they should be stronger this season with guys from Coastline and Bay of Plenty now in the mix."

The Albert Baskerville Trophy premier grade match kicks off at 2.30pm, preceded by the Nathan Cayless Cup 15s encounter at 12.30pm and the Mark Graham Cup 17s clash at 1.30pm.

All other Canterbury rugby league games have been postponed this weekend.

TEAMS

SOUTH ISLAND: 1 Jermahl Carroll, 2 Tyrone Edmonds, 3 Phil Dumelow, 4 Bruce Havea, 5 Junior Salevao, 6 Simon Mounga, 7 Josh Reuben (capt), 8 Jaye Pukepuke, 9 Kyle Reuben, 10 Alex Todd, 11 Phil Nati, 12 James Baxendale, 13 Agaese Fiso, 14 Alex Simpson, 15 Kyle Leka, 16-Shane Tamatea, 17 Jared Neho. Coach: Brent Stuart.

WAICOA BAY STALLIONS: 1 Shannon Rupapere, 2 Eroni Seitouma, 3 Faamoni Leilua, 4 Michael Johnston, 5 Josh Moore, 6 Hayden Karena, 7 John Taituha, 8 Junior Afualo, 9 Jarome Kutia, 10 Thomas Peato, 11 Sam Graham, 12 Doug Graham, 13 Simon Beale, 14 Raymond Luke, 15 Zane Milliken, 16 Taku Simon, 17 George-Peter Rata. Coach: Tahere Morunga.

Kickoff: 2.30pm at Burnham fields, opposite the military camp.

- © Fairfax NZ News