News

Hazel Tubic will celebrate a milestone game alongside long-time Black Ferns and Counties Energy Heat teammate Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu when the side faces Canterbury in Farah Palmer Cup action Saturday.

Tubic brings up her 50^th game for the Heat in the first game of the FPC-NPC double-header at Navigation Homes Stadium alongside her good mate Marino-Tauhinu.

The pair first played alongside each other in a Northern Region composite team in 2004 and Tubic follows Marino-Tauhinu as the second player to register 50 games for the Heat.

Coach JP Faamausili has made just one change to the starting side that defeated Manawatu last weekend in Palmerston North for their first win of the season.

Joanna Fanane Lolo gets a start at number eight, having been named on the bench the past couple of weeks.

Jacqui Aiono, Glory Aiono and Kataraina Enosa-Taifau are given an opportunity off the bench this week against a Canterbury side that has won both of their games to start the 2022 campaign.

Kick-off for the game is at 11.35am with the PIC Steelers taking on Otago in their first game of the NPC season at 2.05pm.

Counties Energy Heat v Canterbury
1. Lauryn Steed, 2. Grace Gago, 3. Leilani Perese, 4. Paris Mataroa, 5. Rebecca Burch, 6. Stacey Brown, 7. Ti Tauasosi, 8. Joanna Fanane Lolo, 9. Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu, 10. Mererangi Paul, 11. Jaymie Kolose, 12. Emily Kitson, 13. Shyanne Thompson (capt), 14. Ruby Tui, 15. Hazel Tubic. Reserves: 16. Lana Samuelu, 17. Katafoekina Veainu, 18. Jacqui Aiono, 19. Timiria Mataroa, 20. Glory Aiono, 21. Leititia Vaka, 22. Kataraina Enosa-Taifau, 23. Lanulangi Veainu.