NPC side named for trip north to Tasman

Promising youngsters George Bell, Dominic Gardiner and Corey Kellow have all been rewarded with their first starts in 2022 as Canterbury shuffle the deck for Friday’s nights Bunnings Warehouse NPC clash against Tasman in Blenheim.

“They’ve all been really exciting over the start of our campaign, I can’t wait to see them rip in,” said forwards coach Craig Dunlea.  

Finlay Brewis also returns to the number one jumper after a couple of weeks out, partnering Bell and Oli Jager in the front row.  

Sam Darry, Gardiner and number 8 Cullen Grace will be Bells targets at lineout time, with skipper Billy Harmon rounding out the forward pack.  

“Tasman pose a different threat,” Dunlea added when comparing the Mako and last week’s match against Taranaki in New Plymouth. “But it’s for our guys to try and take control of the game, rather than let it come to them.”  

Head Coach Marty Bourke said despite last week's Failings, our side wouldn’t shy away from the attacking, free flowing style of rugby we know we can play. “There was a number of things that didn’t go our way, but we were more disappointed that we did not deliver on what we have worked hard on through the week and we let our supporters down, we want to play consistent rugby and continue to express our identity every week.”  

With that in mind Bourke has named a largely unchanged backline, with the sole change welcoming back Fijian flyer Manasa Mataele to the right wing.  “Manasa is the type of guy you want on the park. He's dynamic, exciting and creates something out of nothing, so he slots straight in.”  

Ngane and Isaiah Punivai are set to feature in red and black for the first time this year, with older brother Ngane recovering from long covid, that’s largely kept him out of rugby since March.  

"It’s been a long road to recovery and it was difficult in the sense that it’s all very new” said Punivai, “It’s been great getting a couple of games under my belt with the B’s and I can’t wait to pull on that NPC jersey again.” 

Strong form during pre-season and with the Canterbury B’s has seen Liam Allen also promoted to the NPC side along with Ben Funnell, who’s been called into the cover hooker, with Brodie McAlister and Shilo Klien both out with injury. It’ll be Funnell’s first appearance in red and black since winning the 2017 grand final against Tasman.