 Manawatu's envoys seemed the focus of more attention than anyone else's at the NPC premier division launch yesterday.
Flanker Josh Bradnock was Manawatu's player at the Air New Zealand Cup launch at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland. Assistant coach Bruce Hemara stood in for coach Dave Rennie, who was involved yesterday with training sessions for his rep team and at the International Rugby Academy at Massey University.
Bradnock found himself parrying media questions about how Manawatu expected to make the transition to the elite.
The questions were almost rhetorical. Bradnock was hardly going to say Manawatu would struggle and would regret its decision to apply to play the top league.
Manawatu Turbos:
Fraser Murray, Siaosi Anamani, Johnny Leota, Leon Lubbe, Frank Bryant, Graham Smith, Aaron Good; Bertus Mulder, Josh Bradnock, Nick Crosswell, Lisiate Fa'aoso, Hayden Triggs, Talau Hala, Rob Foreman, Aidan Nicols. Reserves: Nathan Kemp, Sam Moore, Tim Faleafaga, Paul Rodgers, David Palu, Eddie Hei Hei, Alex Waite, Daniel Alofa, Simeli Tuiteci, Francisco Bosch.
Hawke's Bay Magpies:
Donovan Nepia, Ryan Glover, Nathan Mauger, Jacob Kennedy, David Norman, Aayden Clarke, Danny Lee (captain); Wirihana Raihania, Nui Bartlett, Lua Lokotui, Will Crutchley, Bryn Evans, Tom Symes, Hikawera Elliot, Arizona Taumalolo. Reserves: Israel Dagg, Joe Wright, Matt Berquist, Antony Bradshaw, Pene Tokakece, Luke Ottley, Michael Johnson, Clint Newland, Danny Logan, Josh Maynard. NOTE:
To see the full article you need to be registered and signed into the website. |
