Hohaia big loss in Whio squad

Will Johnston

Former New Zealand Barbarian Iritana Hohaia is the big omission from the Taranaki Whio’s Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) squad announced on Thursday.

The elusive fullback played for the gold-medal-winning New Zealand Youth Olympic sevens team in 2018, New Zealand Barbarians and called into the Black Ferns squad last year. She played 10 matches for Taranaki and claimed the player of the year award in 2019.

But her career was cut short because of ongoing kidney issues and an imminent police career.

“I was high tackled, which compressed my kidneys and resulted in renal failure,” Hohaia said at a police promotional event in Hawera last week.

“After that, I had to really consider what I would do next.”

She will move to Porirua’s Police College in August.

The team is also missing a number of key players from last year. Loose forward Tiana Davison has gone to rugby league in Australia, last year’s captain Chelsea Fowler is training with Canada and halfback Kelsyn McCook went to Christchurch for university and subsequently selected in the Canterbury squad.

Sammie Bean and Ashlyn Pescini have also been snapped up by Otago and Wellington respectively.

It’s a young squad including 10 potential debutants. Many players have represented Taranaki at age-group level meaning an exciting pathway exists for female players in the region.

Coach Latoya Mason said the preparations for the competition, which begins for Taranaki on Saturday, July 23, is going well.

“We have been together now for a good number of weeks and had a really good pre-season camp as well which all our players brought into which was great,” she said.

“We’ve had a good club season which has helped in the preparation for this FPC.”

Mason, a former England international, said the focus for the year is on themselves and building within their environment.

Many return from last year’s squad, including the team’s most capped player Victoria McCulloch, Keighly Simpson and the Neilson sisters Paige and Brooke.

Megan Cloke is back after a nine-year absence. She last played in a first-class match in 2013.

Danielle Muggeridge returns after concussion issues and last year’s manager Brooke Sim is a new addition this season.  

Mason said everyone has an opportunity to be a standout player.

“We are wanting to be a team and one person doesn’t make the team. Yes, we have our leaders and experienced players, but we also have young talent and consistent players in our environment.”

Mason will be joined by assistant coach and former Taranaki utility back and centurion Kerry Eynon. He has had a spell coaching Clifton’s premier side and coached the Clifton women’s team to a championship in the women’s competition this year.    

She said he is a role model for the team.

“Kerry brings a lot to the coaching set up and is a proud Taranaki man as well. The players enjoy his energy, passion and knowledge and it’s just great to have a new set of eyes and fresh voice in the mix.”

Taranaki will play North Harbour, Otago and Northland at home along with Tasman and Hawke’s Bay away.  

Taranaki Whio squad: Forwards: Angel Lindsay, Brook Neilson, Cat Tulloch, Catherine Butler, Charlotte Stark, Charlotte Webby, Elle Johns, Gemma Gardiner-Harrison, Jacqui Tulloch, Danelle Dhedadig, Jaymi Ngaia, Kelsi Bailey, Logie Burch, Leah Barnard, Megan Cloke, Nicole Whittle, Pareake O’Brien, Victoria McCulloch, Maree Dallinger-Phipps. Backs: Danielle Muggeridge, Chloe Sampson, Sharna Tito-Green, Paige Neilson, Badinlee Munr0-Smith, Keighly Simpson, Bonnie Maxwell-Thompson, Danika Northcott-Weherua, Tara Blyde, Brooke Sim, Lucy Blyde, Luciana Haami, Ruby Hutchison.