{"id":16501,"date":"2022-08-17T23:45:37","date_gmt":"2022-08-17T11:45:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/?p=16501"},"modified":"2022-08-18T00:27:08","modified_gmt":"2022-08-17T12:27:08","slug":"ride-the-lightning-steelform-whanganui-heads-for-the-coast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2022\/08\/17\/ride-the-lightning-steelform-whanganui-heads-for-the-coast\/","title":{"rendered":"Ride the lightning: Steelform Whanganui heads for the Coast"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><em>If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm.<\/em><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>Frank Lane<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">By Jared Smith<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Steelform Whanganui are preparing for a heavy dose of wild South Island weather and a rugged West Coast team charging right in behind it, as their Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship season kicks off on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The squad travels to Greymouth via Hokitika on Friday morning, subject to any changes in plan due to the regional state of emergency being declared in response to heavy rain and possible flooding threatening the Coast, which Niwa was predicting could get a month\u2019s worth of rain in a week.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Should all go ahead as scheduled, Whanganui will have a light session at Greymouth\u2019s John Sturgeon Park that afternoon, followed by heading to the ground on Saturday morning for a final run-through ahead of 2.35pm kickoff.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Coach Jason Hamlin is expecting very heavy conditions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cWe were practicing towards a tidy game, not being expansive. Sometimes you have to curb some of the instincts of the players.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cGiving quality possession to our game drivers \u2013 No9 and No10, to get us where we want to go.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cWe\u2019ve got an idea of what we want to do things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Whanganui got a lot of practice in forward carry-and-control against the Wellington Centurions last weekend, due to the visitor\u2019s line speed being so quick it was hard for the backline to create openings.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, from that side, prop Ranato Tikoisolomone, fullback Tyler Rogers-Holden and winger Alekesio Vakarorogo are unavailable for this trip \u2013 the latter having spent two days in hospital and under doctor\u2019s orders of no physical activity.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In better news, crucial openside flanker Jamie Hughes has been given the all-clear after coming off with a suspected concussion in scoring Whanganui\u2019s opening try against the Centurions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cJamie\u2019s come through, Samu [Kubunavanua]\u2019s back, Regan [Colliers]\u2019s through his isolation period,\u201d said Hamlin.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Kubunavanua missed preseason due to family commitments in Fiji \u2013 Hamlin taking an extra forward south as NPC squads now travel with 23 players to then pick a match-day 22.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The added body could prove crucial \u2013 in 2018, Whanganui skipper Campbell Hart was ruled out of the Greymouth game with a knee infection after the plane flight, leaving his team to go with only 21 as it was too late to fly in a replacement.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Dane Whale took over the captaincy for that match, and will lead the team into this campaign.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Hamlin also wanted an extra forward due to No8 Semi Vodosese and prop Gabriel Hakaraia being left quite sore with muscle tightness after the pounding they took from the Centurions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cWe\u2019re nursing them through, giving the other guys opportunities at training time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The coach is expecting similar physicality from a West Coast team that created history in their preseason.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For the first time since 1980, the Coasters defeated both Nelson Bays (28-26) and Marlborough (16-7) in the same year to lift the prestigious Seddon Shield, which has been contested for decades since both those sub-union teams were individual NPC unions, before the amalgamation into Tasman.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The only active New Zealand union not to win an NPC title, having lost three Lochore Cup finals, West Coast are captained by second-five Elliot Smith and have plenty of players with big-match Heartland experience like hooker Troy Tauwhare, fellow 2019 Lochore final veterans Daniel Foord and Sean McClure, and former South Canterbury centre Shayne Anderson.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12282\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12282\" style=\"width: 840px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-12282\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wanganuirugby.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Troy-Tauwhare-1024x683.jpg?resize=640%2C427&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12282\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">GREYMOUTH, NEW ZEALAND &#8211; SEPTEMBER 01: Captain Troy Tauwhare of West Coast talks to his teammates during the round two Heartland Championship match between West Coast and Wanganui on September 1, 2018 in Greymouth, New Zealand.<br \/>(Photo by Martin Hunter\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThey\u2019re obviously utilised the option and utilised players of origin,\u201d said Hamlin.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cThey\u2019ve always had a really solid forward pack \u2013 pretty uncompromising.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">It won\u2019t be an easy day for the kickers, but Hamlin is putting faith in fullback Ezra Malo, who like Whale and reserve Ethan Robinson, has received tips from the tee from Peter O\u2019Shaughnessy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cWe know how valuable those extras are \u2013 convert the fives into sevens \u2013 it\u2019s such a bonus.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Again, subject to weather, the team will have a short aftermatch with the hosts before heading back to Hokitika to fly home on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The Steelform Whanganui team is<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li>Tai Pulemagafa; 2. Roman Tutauha; 3. Gabriel Hakaraia; 4. Matt Ashworth; 5. Peter-Travis Hay-Horton; 6. Ben Whale; 7. Jamie Hughes; 8. Semi Vodosese; 9; Lindsay Horrocks; 10. Dane Whale (c); 11. Peceli Malanicagi; 12. Timoci Seruwalu; 13. Kameli Kuruyabki; 14. Josaia Bogileka\/Tiari Mumby; 15. Ezra Malo.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Reserves \u2013 16. Keightley Watson; 17. Slade Hay-Horton; 18. Jack Yarrall; 19. Samu Kubunavanua; 20. Regan Collier; 21. Kahl Elers-Green; 22. Ethan Robinson; 23. Josaia Bogileka\/Tiari Mumby.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>The West Coast team is<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jesse MacRae; 2. Troy Tauwhare; 3. Daniel Foord; 4. Cameron Rutherford; 5. Arnie Gibbens; 6. Trent Lawn; 7. Josh Tomlinson; 8. Nathan Evans; 9. Jaime Garland; 10. Ben Wyness; 11. Joseph Scott; 12. Elliot Smith (c); 13. Shayne Anderson; 14. Logan Ross; 15. Sean McClure.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Reserves \u2013 16. Dan Davis; 17. Thomas Dwyer; 18. Tayne Foster; 19. Jasyn Van Vlet; 20. Jordan Searle; 21. Jacob Lowe; 22. Ione Moorea; 23. Greg Compton.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm. Frank Lane By Jared Smith Steelform Whanganui are preparing for a heavy dose of wild South Island weather and a rugged West Coast team charging right in behind it, as their Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship season kicks off on Saturday. The squad&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16502,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Ride the lightning: Steelform Whanganui heads for the Coast\r\nhttps:\/\/wp.me\/p4wlzH-4i9\r\n\r\nSteelform Whanganui are preparing for a heavy dose of wild South Island weather and a rugged West Coast team charging right in behind it, as their Bunnings Warehouse Heartland Championship season kicks off on Saturday.","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-heartland-championship","category-rugbyheartland-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/A_270816WCBRCRug01-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4wlzH-4i9","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5920,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2017\/08\/06\/2017-steelform-wanganui-heartland-extended-squad\/","url_meta":{"origin":16501,"position":0},"title":"2017 STEELFORM WANGANUI HEARTLAND EXTENDED SQUAD","author":"admin_hland","date":"August 6, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Follow @RedefinedRugby Congratulations to the following members selected for the 2017 Steelform Wanganui Heartland Extended Squad for the Training Camp & first Pre-Season game v Hawkes Bay Saracens in Napier on Saturday, 12th August \u2013 2.45 pm. Following the Camp, the squad will be reduced to 26 players. All players\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Heartland Championship&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Heartland Championship","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/heartland-championship\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/rhland_wangi.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/rhland_wangi.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/rhland_wangi.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/rhland_wangi.gif?fit=1024%2C356&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14571,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2021\/09\/07\/whanganui-rugby-coach-receives-heartland-appointment\/","url_meta":{"origin":16501,"position":1},"title":"Whanganui rugby coach receives Heartland appointment","author":"admin_hland","date":"September 7, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Appointment as a New Zealand Heartland coach is a further feather in the cap for Jason Hamlin who has enjoyed success both as a Whanganui rugby player and coach over the past 30 years. He joins Waverley's Guy Lennox as only the second local coach to receive a NZ Heartland\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;RugbyHeartland News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"RugbyHeartland News","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/rugbyheartland-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/hamlin.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/hamlin.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/hamlin.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/hamlin.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/hamlin.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15124,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2021\/11\/25\/2022-heartland-shadow-draw\/","url_meta":{"origin":16501,"position":2},"title":"2022 HEARTLAND SHADOW DRAW","author":"admin_hland","date":"November 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"By J B Phillips Steelform Whanganui faces a most interesting Heartland rugby schedule next year including visits from three South Island unions and an away challenge for the new Bill Osborne Taonga. Hanan Shield next door neighbours South and Mid Canterbury will play at Cooks Gardens as will Buller with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Heartland Championship&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Heartland Championship","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/heartland-championship\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/news19.jpg?fit=995%2C621&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/news19.jpg?fit=995%2C621&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/news19.jpg?fit=995%2C621&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/news19.jpg?fit=995%2C621&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14915,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2021\/10\/30\/week-7-results-heartland-championship\/","url_meta":{"origin":16501,"position":3},"title":"Week 7 &#8211; Results Heartland Championship","author":"admin_hland","date":"October 30, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Full Time Week 7 Bunnings Heartland Championship #Rugbyheartland\u00a0 Sat, Oct 30, 2021 South Canterbury and Thames Valley will contest the final of the Bunnings Heartland Meads Cup in a fortnight after their bonus point wins in week seven of the competition. South Canterbury romped to a 43-22 win over Mid\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Heartland Championship&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Heartland Championship","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/heartland-championship\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/251316116_10159589140978810_627685707780827059_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/251316116_10159589140978810_627685707780827059_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/251316116_10159589140978810_627685707780827059_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/251316116_10159589140978810_627685707780827059_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/251316116_10159589140978810_627685707780827059_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14707,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2021\/09\/25\/south-canterbury-and-thames-valley-sit-atop-heartland-championship-table\/","url_meta":{"origin":16501,"position":4},"title":"SOUTH CANTERBURY AND THAMES VALLEY SIT ATOP HEARTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE","author":"admin_hland","date":"September 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Mid Canterbury provided an early thrill in the Bunnings Heartland Championship when picking off Whanganui 24-17 in Ashburton on Saturday. Both teams had won their first round games and Whanganui has been a perennially strong side in latter seasons. But scoring four tries to two, the home team stole an\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Heartland Championship&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Heartland Championship","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/heartland-championship\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/vvvd.jpg?fit=1200%2C469&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/vvvd.jpg?fit=1200%2C469&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/vvvd.jpg?fit=1200%2C469&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/vvvd.jpg?fit=1200%2C469&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/vvvd.jpg?fit=1200%2C469&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19653,"url":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/2023\/10\/07\/finalists-found-in-the-bunnings-warehouse-heartland-championship\/","url_meta":{"origin":16501,"position":5},"title":"FINALISTS FOUND IN THE BUNNINGS WAREHOUSE HEARTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP","author":"admin_hland","date":"October 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Heartland Championship finalists have been found with a repeat of the 2022 decider between South Canterbury and Whanganui to decide the Meads Cup. West Coast will host the Lochore Cup final against Poverty Bay who pulled a rabbit out of the hat to shock North Otago. South Canterbury:\u00a034 (Liueli\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Heartland Championship&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Heartland Championship","link":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/category\/heartland-championship\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/h_00110307__FocusFillWyIwLjE4IiwiLTAuNDkiLDExMDAsNDMwXQ.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/h_00110307__FocusFillWyIwLjE4IiwiLTAuNDkiLDExMDAsNDMwXQ.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/h_00110307__FocusFillWyIwLjE4IiwiLTAuNDkiLDExMDAsNDMwXQ.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/h_00110307__FocusFillWyIwLjE4IiwiLTAuNDkiLDExMDAsNDMwXQ.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/h_00110307__FocusFillWyIwLjE4IiwiLTAuNDkiLDExMDAsNDMwXQ.jpg?fit=1100%2C430&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16501"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16501\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16504,"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16501\/revisions\/16504"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rugbyheartland.co.nz\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}