Rugby: Naholo adds the X factor

Waisake Naholo
Waisake Naholo
Last year it was Malakai Fekitoa, this year it is Waisake Naholo - another Blues reject has signed with the Highlanders for the 2015 campaign.

As well as Naholo (23), lock Alex Ainley (33) and pivot Marty Banks (25) have also signed with the franchise.

Naholo, who has been in devastating form for Taranaki this year, will play against his new team-mates in the ITM Cup final against Tasman on Saturday night.

The 96kg winger was a member of the Hurricanes in 2012 before making a couple of appearances for the Blues in the past two years. Naholo, who was released by the Blues so he could join the Highlanders, adds X factor to the backline.

However, he will be competing for a starting jersey with Patrick Osborne and Richard Buckman, a combination that flourished last season.

If Naholo's first year with the franchise goes anything like Fekitoa's a season ago, when he went from Blues castoff to All Black within five months, the Highlanders will be in good shape.

Banks comes to the Highlanders after a quiet season with the Hurricanes last year, where he scored five points in as many appearances, mostly at fullback.

He heads into this weekend's ITM Cup final having scored 161 points, easily the most in the competition.

Banks, an accurate goal kicker and tricky customer with ball in hand, joins Lima Sopoaga and Hayden Parker as the third first five-eighth in the squad.

Ainley, a rugged 1.97m lock, will be one of four Makos in the Highlanders' engine room.

He will get a chance to partner Joe Wheeler in the second row, while flanker Shane Christie and prop Ross Geldenhuys also play for Tasman.

While it will be Ainley's first attempt at Super rugby, he has 61 caps for Tasman and played in Japan for the Mitsubishi Dynaboars from 2010-12.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said the coaching staff was looking for players who could contribute to the team environment and on the field.

''All these guys have great character and will add value to the team. Ainley's experience and uncompromising play will be a great asset up front, and Naholo and Banks will help round out backline stocks,'' he said in a statement.

Earlier in the month, the Highlanders signed halfback Fumiaki Tanaka, Ash Dixon, Josh Hohneck, Dan Pryor, Brendon Edmonds, Mark Reddish, Pingi Tala'apitaga and Geldenhuys.

All 15 franchises will announce their 32-man squad and five-man wider training group for the 2015 season next Wednesday.

By Robert van Royen. 

 

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