Katonibau confident of more upsets along the season

Northland head coach Isake Katonibau is using his experienced players to help develop the younger one’s that are part of the extended squad for this season.

Last weekend the young Northland team outplayed an experienced Tailevu side when they beat them 16 – 11 at Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori.

The Northland lineup comprised of young players mostly 19 and 20-year-olds, some of them who played in the Vodafone Deans Competition in 2019.

Katounibau said that the experienced players in his squad will surely help build confidence for the young players and help in upskilling them.

“A good thing about having the old warhorse is that they’ll share their experience with the young players, it will be a good learning experience for these young players,” said Katonibau.

He also emphasized that he will be looking to implement more structured
game-play for his squad as they continue their Skipper Provincial Cup campaign this year.

“Right now we want to implement a different pattern all together as to what the rest of the teams in the country actually play,” said Katonibau.

“So, it was quite hard for the players to transit to the pattern that I needed but going along the way we will adapt to it.

Northland will take on Rewa in the third round of the Skipper Provincial Cup.