Living with expectation is not a concern for Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau, who will begin their push to confirm a home semifinal as the second round of Tasman Tanning Premier begins against Waverley Harvesting Border on Saturday.

Stacked with multi-faceted talent across their backline and up front in the engine room, Kaierau currently hold the Barracks Challenge Shield and have locked away the Paul Mitchell Cup as unbeaten points table leaders after the first round.

Just as impressively, they did the bulk of it on the road – winning at Dallison Park, Memorial Park and the Rātana Pa.

This creates the possibility if they have a strong second round with matches at their Country Club and just the derby game with Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist across town at Spriggens Park, Kaierau may never have to leave the city limits to play again, including the playoffs.

But coach Danny Tamehana knows that defending champions Border, who came back at them in their 24-22 win in the season opener, have reached a point beyond compromise.

In a statistic that would have been inconceivable 12 months ago, at the halfway point of the club season Border is the only side out of all Premier and Tasman Tanning Senior teams yet to secure an on-field victory.

“Wow. That’s out of it. They’ve probably never been in this predicament before,” said Tamehana.

“[Shield defence] right at the top of our list, but first we’ve got to get out there and do the business.

“We definitely know what Border’s capable of doing, but we’ve put our hands up as a team that we make sure that we’re making a statement as well this year.

“Hopefully we can continue doing that. Saturday we’ll find out.”

With former professional and quasi-assistant coach Te Rangatira Waitokia back on the paddock, Kaierau’s backline combinations between Sheldon Pakinga, Ethan Robinson, Ezra Malo and Adam Boult are the strongest in the competition.

Robinson will be taking back the captaincy as fellow Steelform Whanganui representative Doug Horrocks heads overseas for the next three weeks.

Tamehana was going to decide at Thursday training who takes over the No8 position – although Whanganui representative Joe Edwards has plenty of experience there, the coach would prefer to keep him at hooker, meaning the likes of Junior Tauapai could be an option.

Kaierau have been effectively rotating their front row trio of incumbent Whanganui prop Raymond Salu, 2022 rep Tai Pulemagafa and cast-iron veteran Lasa Ulukuta, former rep player and survivor of the last Metro side to win the Premier title – Pirates way back in 2015.

Robinson currently shares third place in the Barracks Bar MVP standings alongside Marist’s tough halfback Daniel Kauika.

Leading the table is Tāmata Hauhā Rātana’s talented first-five Te Atawhai Mason, followed by Border loose forward Ekenasio Fiso.

The MVP prize is determined by most overall points awarded after each Premier regular season match, on a 3-2-1 allocation basis.

Most Valuable Player standings (first round)

1. Te Atawhai Mason (Rātana) 11 points; 2. Ekenasio Fiso (Border) 9; 3=. Ethan Robinson (Kaierau) 6; 3=. Daniel Kauika (Marist) 6. 

Draw

May 25th, 2.35pm kickoffs

Kaierau vs Border, Country Club Taihape vs Marist, Memorial Park; Rātana bye.

 

By Jared Smith