He talks to the new Otago Rugby Football Union community rugby manager Warren Kearney and one of the sponsors and ex-Prem coach Tumua Ioane.
He asks about the new powerhouse club Zingari splashing the cash, have the CRC gone too far trying to rein in the big clubs by cutting their team numbers and have the refs gone insane over new rules to manage Prem games?
Another Dunedin club rugby season gets under way rather bizarrely on a Thursday night heading into Easter.It all kicks off at 5:30pm unless you’re from the High Veldt up at Kaik as you have the bye.
There have been a lot of off-field machinations so let’s talk about some of these.
The new Melbourne Storm
The new powerhouse of rugby is Zingari and yes, you have read that correctly. Roll over the Melbourne Storm and Craig Bellamy, the big-spending Dragons have been splashing the cash. Rumour has it they’ve smashed the salary cap of both Otago and the Highlanders in assembling a prem and prem colts side to take on allcomers. From memory, they finished second-last in 2023 but now unbelievably they have the favourites tag going into 2024 season.
The dollars spent are mind-blowing if you believe the rumours abounding. They wanted to get the draw changed to take on their sparring partners at the Mornington Tavern, Kaik, in the first game of the season but that request fell on uninterested ears. They’ve ended up away at Harbour so that could be some watch!
Who finishes where?
Well, we are tipping Zingari to go all the way to finals for the first time this century.
Southern and coach John Leslie have been sniffing around a few clubs to add numbers to his squad. He can’t get too many more in — he’s named over 40 already! How many do you need, JL?
However, they look hellbent on making it three titles in succession and they won’t be far away. Last year’s beaten finalist, Dunedin, looks reasonably strong and have recruited some good new young talent so should make the playoffs, but they can’t seem to win a final despite having won five prem colts banners in succession.
Kaik have lost a few players but their pack looks strong so they will be there or thereabouts when the whips are cracking. The same could be said for GI who have a good enough side to make the playoffs, provided they don’t have too many injuries.
Perennial winners Taieri have lost a lot of grunt out of their pack and are touch and go to make the six. They have no prem 2 side this year so depth could be an issue as well. But something tells me somehow, they make the six.
Varsity are a bit of an unknown quantity but they have a good young squad. If they can match the heavyweights up front, they are always a chance. Harbour are looking very thin. The pack is still big, but they’ve lost key players in the backs especially at 9 and 10. They will cause some upsets but will struggle to make the six.
That leaves AU potentially sucking on the spoon. They had the year from hell last year and unfortunately this will be deja vu!
So our potential finishing order come playoff time is: Zingari (1), Southern (2), Dunedin (3), Kaik (4), GI (5), Taieri (6), Varsity (7), Harbour (8), AU (9). But let’s be honest, I’ve been wrong before!
Off-season conferences
Word on the street is that a couple of clubs were seen sitting around a table in the offseason discussing a potential amalgamation.
The aforesaid clubs were none other than AU and Harbour. I think the talks stalled pretty quickly as the AU heavies got a case of chilly toes. So, we still have a prem comp which is tough to manage from a competition structure angle. Is it time for West Taieri to step up to the big leagues? Word is they will win the southern comp in a canter this year. They also aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty in the player transfer stakes — just ask Taieri! Man up lads and make the call!
Have we gone mad
I am also hearing the referees want a match controller at each premier game now — ostensibly to manage players coming on and off. Both sets of reserves also now have to be on the same side of the ground. Well, that sounds OK in principle, but the reality is we don’t have referees to cover all our games now.
Are the lunatics really in charge of this asylum? Let’s concentrate on recruiting some more referees and leave the pie-in-the-sky thinking to some bakers. If you are considering reffing as a pursuit, give me a call and I’ll point you in the right direction.
Country rugby
Apparently, it’s already under way! Both Central and South kicked off last weekend.
South are playing this weekend but Central have cried off.
The Southland comp kicks off this weekend as well. Our country page kicks off next Friday.
North Otago is still awaiting for the 737 to land with this year's new players so they could be the some time! In Central, surely this is Upper Clutha’s year? They must win. Alex, I hear, are reasonable and Wakatipu maybe a smoky. In the south, West Taieri go unbeaten.
Tipping comps
We will be running tipping comps against yours truly in Central and South Otago and in Dunedin.
In the country, I’ll go up against each club's best volunteer with the eventual winner getting to come to an NPC game, courtesy of Speight’s and the ODT with a few of their clubmates.
In Dunedin, I will go up against some independent luminaries with a real interest in club rugby. The winner will choose which club gets to come to the same NPC game.
Sponsors
Thanks to our sponsors Liquorland, Speight’s, Speight’s Alehouse and newbie Mornington Tavern for getting behind our club rugby pages. Make sure you support this august body of sponsors.
Tonight's games
In week one I’m up against Dave Callon, an ex-Otago flanker from years gone by and a Pirates stalwart. Do you still remember them? I asked Dave to send me a selfie and he supplied a photo of Richie McCaw so I’ve had to find one which as you can see is a spectacular likeness!
The Zingari Dragons (Melbourne Storm) head to the Cockabilly cauldron at Port to take on Harbour in a decidedly interesting encounter. I’d hate to be reffing that. Zingers (13+) will be too strong. The Eels (12-) are hosting Varsity at the Eelpit and they win at home but nearly too close to call. Southern (13-) are at home to AU and I hear big Pari Pari Parkinson is donning the Magpie feathers. It could be a good old-fashion thumping. The Dunedin Sharks (12-) might just be a bit big up front for the GI Spannerheads in the sandpit at Shark Park.
