As the calendar flips over to 2024, Counties Sports Hub takes a look at the burning questions at each McNamara Cup club heading into a new year.
Can lightning strike three times with Manurewa?
Jeremy Clark and his Manurewa side have timed their run perfectly the past two seasons, hitting their straps at just the right time and securing titles with superb performances on the biggest stage. Would you bet against them doing it again in 2024? On paper, other clubs will fancy their chances, as they have over the last two years, but there is something about winning championships that creates a culture of winning more and you’d be a brave person to bet against the most successful club in McNamara Cup history completing a three-peat.
How will Karaka fit everyone in?
It is the problem every coach wants – how to fit a surplus of talent into not enough positions and that will be a challenge for Karaka as more of their dearth of young talent graduates from their champion U21 side. Already blessed with a truckload of elite talent, Karaka has won back-to-back Massey Cup U21 titles, and those youngsters are now knocking on the door. Can they keep hold of the majority of the best up and comers?
Can Patumahoe get the monkey off their backs?
Patumahoe has been arguably the most consistent side over the past decade, making the semi-finals every year barring one. But through that era of consistency and success, they have a grand total of zero McNamara Cups to show for their efforts. Brad Healy has enjoyed two terrific seasons since taking over as head coach – he won every game of the 2022 season until losing to Manurewa in the final, while his side dropped just two games in the 2023 round robin before losing to Karaka in the semi-finals. Can he and the experienced core at Patumahoe find a way to overcome their demons in 2024?
Will Pukekohe be able to contend without their two young props?
Pukekohe was the best side in the competition in 2023 until they reached the semi-finals and a lot of that success came off the back of some brilliant play by talented young props Kauvaka Kaivelata and Keran van Staden. Kaivelata has picked up a Chiefs contract and is unlikely to play much club footy in 2024 while van Staden broke through to earn a Steelers debut. If he plays significant time, expect Pukekohe to be knocking on the door once again.
Will patience and a foundation lead to a quicker re-build for Bombay?
Bombay opted against swinging for the fences and forcing a quick re-build last year. Coach Mike Tuiloma promised a thorough foundation when he took the job as head coach of Bombay 12 months ago. He delivered on that promise with a solid season and assembled a group of players that could carry Bombay forward. With a recruitment drive that will grow that pool of players and a methodical approach, could Bombay return to the semi-finals in 2024? Smart money says they are cooking something good up the hill.
Is the youth brigade at Papakura ready to take the next step?
Throughout the past decade other clubs have nominated Papakura as the dark horse or sleeping giant of the competition as they complete re-build after re-build. Despite that, they have never challenged for a semi-final berth but there appears to be something different with this current group. Boasting a solid core of exciting young talent that will enter a second or third season of Premier rugby in 2024, the coaching staff of Jarrod Firth and Mark Thomas will continue to recruit and there is a feeling that we will see the return of Papakura rugby at the pointy end in 2024.
Will Ardmore Marist’s players have the patience to see their re-build through?
After losing a coach and the majority of their players a couple of years back, things hit rock bottom for one of the giants of Counties Manukau Rugby. But the club set about putting the systems in place for long-term and sustained success and they should be commended for it. They had an U21s side for the first time in a number of years in 2023 and their approach has been about growth. If their players can hang in there for another season of re-build, Ardmore Marist will quickly find themselves back fighting for titles. But as Papakura has found over the past decade, getting everyone to buy in for that re-build is not an easy feat.
Will any other club be able to make the jump up to McNamara Cup?
Eight clubs is a more ideal number than seven and it is no secret that those at CMRFU headquarters would love to see another club join the McNamara Cup ranks in the near future. Weymouth were most recently at the table while Waiuku continues to harbour ambitions of getting back to where it belongs. Drury have enjoyed success in the Sid Marshall Shield and have the population growth in the region to support a move up in the coming years, while Onewhero and Te Kauwhata played premier rugby not too long ago. All of those clubs can tick one box – either being willing or being able but as of now no-one is able to tick both boxes. Will that change by the end of 2024?
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