|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
We take a look at how the ball’s been bouncing during the past week.
Steelers squad named
Despite losing three top international players, with a third unlikely to take the field due to All Black commitments, the 2026 Counties Manukau Steelers boast a strong balance of youth and experience.
As our latest paper went to print, Steelers’ coach Reon Graham released a list of the 2026 National Provincial Championship (NPC) winning Steelers – the last part of this statement may not be true… well, not yet!
“We have a really balanced squad and despite losing so much talent offshore I am really encouraged with the amount of talent we have to work with here,” he says.
Graham has retained the core of a team that’s reached the NPC quarter-finals for the last two years running.
It includes plenty of firepower from the likes of veteran skipper Jimmy Tupou, Tongan international Veikoso Poloniati, Samoan international Tuna Tuitama, Moana Pasifika’s Ola Tauelangi and former All Black Atu Moli.
Another new addition, former Mooloo Joshua Balme, is the son of former Tuakau Flyer, shearing legend Digger Balme. If he runs half as fast as his old man shears, the Steelers may have found another star.
As reported previously, Dalton Papali’i, Hoskins Sotutu and Etene Nanai-Seturo are all set to play in Europe and, while he’s on the roster, All Black Cam Roigard is unlikely to don the red, white and black due to All Black commitments. Pukekohe prop Keran van Staden is also set to ply his trade overseas, heading to Japan.
However, there is plenty of talent stepping up from this year’s McNamara Cup to across the wider squad. This includes Karaka skipper Aporosa Vuniyayawa as well as Jarred Adams, Ian West-Stevens, Rico McQuoid, Boston Schuster and Josiah Unga from cup winners, Pukekohe.
In particular Unga is one to watch; the gifted kicker nailed two penalties including one late in the McNamara Cup final to win the game.
All up, Graham believes he has the right guys for the job.
“I’m really excited with the group we have assembled this season, and I can’t wait to get to work with everyone,” he adds.
“We look forward to a season where we make our supporters and community proud.”
Click here for more information regarding the 2026 NPC champion Steelers – we’re even more optimistic now!
2026 Steelers squad
Jarred Adams (Pukekohe)
AJ Alatimu (Ardmore Marist)
Joshua Balme (Onewhero)
Tim Brady (Patumahoe)
Cohen Brady-Leathem (Patumahoe)
Adam Brash (Bombay)
Cam Church (Karaka)
Vainikolo Fifita (Karaka)
Josh Gray (Ardmore Marist)
Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Ardmore Marist)
Kurene Luamanuvae (Ardmore Marist)
Blake Makiri (Manurewa)
Peniasi Malimali (Karaka)
Melani Matavao (Ardmore Marist)
Ioane Moananu (Manurewa)
Atu Moli (Karaka)
Sione Molia (Karaka)
Adam Morrison (Patumahoe)
Alamanda Motuga (Ardmore Marist)
Tevita Ofa (Manurewa)
Tom Polo (Bombay)
Veikoso Poloniati (Patumahoe)
Antonio Popoali’i (Ardmore Marist)
Gibson Popoali’i (Ardmore Marist)
Jackson Rainsford (Karaka)
Cam Roigard (Onewhero)
Jonty Short (Patumahoe)
Sione Takai (Ardmore Marist)
Joey Taumateine (Manurewa)
Jonathan Taumateine (Manurewa)
Simon-Peter Toleafoa (Ardmore Marist)
Ola Tauelangi (Patumahoe)
Tuna Tuitama (Karaka)
Jimmy Tupou (Patumahoe)
Aporosa Vuniyayawa (Karaka)
Ian West-Stevens (Pukekohe)
Extended squad
Tomasi Alosio (Ardmore Marist)
Austin Atiga (Manurewa)
Malcolm Fa’avela (Manurewa)
Olive Lam-Yuen (Ardmore Marist)
Stanley Liufau (Patumahoe)
Rico McQuoid (Pukekohe)
Josh Penney (Karaka)
Boston Schuster (Pukekohe)
Tomasi Setitaia (Karaka)
Rodney Tongotea (Karaka)
Larenz Tupaea-Thomsen (Manurewa)
Josiah Unga (Pukekohe)
Reegan Wheeler (Patumahoe)
Fox’s hunt for eagles
Beachlands’ Ryan Fox achieved one of the biggest wins for a Kiwi sportsman, winning golf’s British Open, bagging birdies (one under par) and an eagle (two under) along the way.
As reported previously, Fox produced what Golf New Zealand describes as ‘the round of his life.’
Click here to read more.
Forgotten silverware?
Although the McNamara Cup is already locked away for the season in Pukekohe Rugby Football Club’s trophy cabinet, and many other Counties club rugby grades have crowned their winners, there’s still a couple more champions to be decided at Navigation Homes Stadium this Saturday.
While the Pukekohe Pirates will be seeking to secure the booty (the Under 85kg Cup) against the Waiuku Bulldogs, the Beachlands Maraetai Sharks will be looking to put the bite on the Hamilton Marist Bulldogs during the U85 Shield final.
Click here for more information, including final standings in other grades, and click here to view a photo gallery of the U85 Cup semi-finals.
Yay, <insert team name here>
Unfortunately, our Chiefs Manawa had to settle for the wooden spoon in this year’s Super Rugby Aupiki – don’t check the table, you don’t want to know! – but we’re hoping for a good game this Saturday (July 25).
It’s a rematch of the 2025 final as the South Island’s Matatū takes on the Blues again, this time in Christchurch. Matatū will be aiming to secure their second title while the Blues are going for a three-peat.
Although our local team may not be in the ballpark, the final still promises to be an entertaining match.
One world cup and…
A team that no one loves or hates (Spain) beat another that no one loves or hates (Argentina) in a ho-hum 1–0 World Cup final.
However, we also saw two football teams that are very much loved and hated clash in an exciting goal-fest third place playoff won 6–4 by England over France.
After such an exciting game, we’re guessing that England’s fans may not have taken the drastic action cartoonist Roger Smith predicted.
To read more about the final, click here.
