RETURNING STARS, EXCITING NEWCOMERS FEATURE IN CANTERBURY BULLS 2024 MEN’S SQUAD
The Canterbury Bulls squad for the 2024 South Island Men’s Championship has been named, boasting some familiar faces, returning stalwarts and exciting newcomers.
Fifteen players from Sunday’s epic CRL Whitehead Plumbing & Gas Men’s Premiership grand final between Hornby Panthers and Halswell Hornets have been included as the Bulls begin preparations for the competition, which gets underway on September 7.
“Our competition has been really exciting this season, when you look at how close it was – Eastern were only a last-minute try from going through – and the quality of the finals, capped by a fantastic grand final, it’s allowed us to see some real talent and I’m excited about the group,” incoming Canterbury Bulls coach Walter Wilson says.
After a difficult 2023 campaign in which they were relegated from the NZRL National Premiership, the Canterbury Bulls are determined to stamp their authority on the South Island Men’s Championship.
From there, the goal is to win their way through to the playoff against the North Island Men’s Championship winners and ultimately promotion back into the NZRL National Premiership for 2025.
“I’ve had a number of conversations with players and the main theme that’s come across is they want to do their bit to get Canterbury back up where we all believe we should be,” Wilson says.
“There’s some real belief about that and we’ll work hard to get that result.”
Hornets co-captain and front-row hardhead Phill Nati ends a lengthy hiatus from the representative scene, as does former Bulls captain Kyle Leka, now with Riccarton Knights.
Dual Mel Cooke Trophy winner Sincere Harraway returns to the Bulls set-up for the first time since 2021, while Panthers teammate Seamus Stack – whose grand final double included a sensational long-range effort – headlines the contingent set for a provincial debut.
Nine members of the 2023 squad have been selected again.
FAST-STARTING PANTHERS HOLD OFF HORNETS RALLY TO CLINCH PREMIERSHIP
“We’re really lucky to have a healthy mix of youth and experience.
“We’re going to have some experienced leaders, but also some young guys who are going to be able to come up and be part of something I’d like to think is going to be very special.
“There’s been a lot of talk about [Canterbury’s win over Auckland] in the ’93 National Championship final at the 30-year reunion and something of a legacy that’s built around that – and these players have the opportunity to do the same.”
Two members of that famous 1993 triumph, captain Mark Nixon and Mike Dorreen, along with fellow ex-Canterbury stalwart Tai Arona, assisted Wilson with picking the squad.
“The work they have put in with the games they’ve attended, the meetings we’ve had and picking what we believe is a really good side, has been outstanding,” Wilson says.
Arona and Kevin Te Hau are Wilson’s Canterbury Bulls assistant coaches, while former Bulls star Shane Beyers comes on board as trainer and Natasha Fergus is the manager.
The Bulls’ opening South Island Men’s Championship fixture is against West Coast Chargers in Greymouth on Saturday, September 7, followed by clashes with Aoraki Eels at home at Ngā Puna Wai (September 14) and Southland Rams in Oamaru (September 21).
The playoff between the winners of the South Island Men’s Championship and the North Island Men’s Championship is set down for Sunday, October 6.
2024 MEN’S CANTERBURY BULLS SQUAD
Antonio Lemalu (Halswell Hornets)
Brodie Greig (Halswell Hornets)
Champ Betham (Hornby Panthers)
Chanel Feala (Linwood Keas)
Christian Fetu (Hornby Panthers)
Cooper Te Hau (Halswell Hornets)
Danny Latu (Linwood Keas)
Dene Grace (Hornby Panthers)
Devaun Thompson (Hornby Panthers)
Elisara Vaifale (Linwood Keas)
Eti Collins (Hornby Panthers)
George Faaiva (Linwood Keas)
Pui’ai Patu Vaega’au (Linwood Keas)
Jaedon Wellingon (Hornby Panthers)
Kyle Leka (Riccarton Knights)
Maoluma Sakaria (Linwood Keas)
Matthew Logopati (Linwood Keas)
Muipu Nati (Hornby Panthers)
Nick Evans (Halswell Hornets)
Phill Nati (Halswell Hornets)
Seamus Stack (Hornby Panthers)
Sincere Harraway (Hornby Panthers)
Tahemaka Nui (Halswell Hornets)
Taniela Leka (Eastern Eagles)
Uale Peneli (Eastern Eagles)
