Injury list mounts as Taranaki eye home play-off

Will Johnston

Photo: LDV Photography.

Taranaki’s injury list will be a growing concern for coach Neil Barnes as his side eyes up a home quarter final in the national provincial championship.

Ahead of Saturday night’s final round robin match against North Harbour at Yarrow Stadium, the third placed Bulls will be missing 11 players. Admittedly, Vereniki Tikoisolomone and Tom Florence are being rested and Jesse Parete will be available for next week’s knock out match.

But there remain some questions over many front-line players who are being assessed on a weekly basis.  

Josh Lord (back), Hemopo Cunningham (concussion), Teihorangi Walden (concussion), Brayton Northcott-Hill (shoulder), Daniel Rona (knee), Stephen Perofeta (shoulder) and Reuben O’Neill (foot) are all being monitored with a hopeful return ahead of the play-offs.

There is encouraging signs for halfback Logan Crowley, who suffered a nasty-looking ankle injury in last week’s 18-16 win over Auckland in terrible conditions at Yarrow Stadium. He’s been given a two-to-three-week return making the injury not as bad as originally feared. 

With the injuries a concern, several players make their way back into the playing 23. 

Tom Franklin and Kaylum Boshier were both ruled out ahead of kick off last weekend with an illness but return. The additions will add some fire power in the forward pack, which operated well against Auckland despite being short at lock. 

There is a new nine and 10 combination with Adam Lennox replacing Crowley and Josh Jacomb, who slotted that 35-meter penalty kick to take the lead last week, earns a start with Jayson Potroz on the bench.

Matty McKenzie slots in at second-five eighth and breakthrough Stratford-Eltham wing Willen Ratu earns his second cap.

One-game Southland rep and Tukapa back Brad Kooman could also make his debut if required off the bench.

A win for Taranaki would secure a home quarter final. A loss would mean they’d need to rely on other results to go their way to remain in the top four.

North Harbour’s season features four wins and five losses to sit in tenth place. Last week’s loss to Wellington in the Ranfurly Shield match snapped a four-game winning streak.

Kick off is at 7:05pm.

Taranaki to play North Harbour:

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Willem Ratu, Meihana Grindlay, Matty McKenzie, Kini Naholo, Josh Jacomb, Adam Lennox, Kaylum Boshier, Michael Loft, Pita Gus Sowakula, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Tom Franklin, Michael Bent, Bradley Slater, Jared Proffit. Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Donald Brighouse, Mitch O’Neill, Fiti Sa, Millennium Sanerivi, Liam Blyde, Jayson Potroz, Brad Kooman.