Turbos Conclude Season with Loss but Look to Future Growth

The Manawatū Turbos ended their season on a disappointing note, suffering a 38-10 defeat to Hawke’s Bay at the Arena on Saturday night. This loss capped off a season where the team secured three wins and seven losses, finishing in 11th place in the standings. Despite this setback, coach Wesley Clarke expressed optimism about the team’s direction and future.

This season marked a significant improvement for the Turbos, as they matched their total number of wins from the last three seasons combined. Notably, they finished above the historically strong Auckland team. At one point, the Turbos were in contention for a playoff position, demonstrating their potential. However, a series of heavy losses towards the end of the season brought them back to reality.

Clarke remained proud of his team’s efforts throughout the season, stating, “The men that we’ve got here, they’re good men. I’m proud of the standards we’ve set. The training standards have been really high.” He acknowledged that the squad faced challenges, particularly in depth, which hindered their ability to compete with stronger teams like Hawke’s Bay.

Injuries plagued the Turbos late in the season, with key players including props Flyn Yates, Malakai Hala-Ngatai, and hooker Raymond Tuputupu sidelined. Additionally, both Brayden Iose and Brett Cameron were unable to play against Hawke’s Bay due to concussion symptoms. This forced regular fullback Drew Wild to adapt to a new position at No 10, showcasing the team’s resilience.

Despite the loss, Clarke noted that the community’s feedback indicated that the Turbos had restored some respectability, although he was not fully satisfied with the results. “I know we’ve had three wins, but there are games we should have won,” he said, emphasizing the importance of minimizing defensive errors that led to conceding soft tries.

The Turbos struggled defensively throughout the season, with Hawke’s Bay scoring early in the match and leading 21-0 by halftime. Clarke pointed out that many of the tries conceded stemmed from errors rather than poor defensive organization. He remarked, “If you look at the season, we should have beaten Southland, we should have beaten Auckland… We could have had five wins and be playing in a quarterfinal.”

Looking ahead, Clarke is already focusing on next season. He plans to enhance player pathways and recruit new talent to strengthen the team. Having returned from a stint in Japan, he is now fully committed to the Turbos and believes this continuity will be advantageous.

The squad includes young talents who have shown promise, such as center Kyle Brown, wing James Tofa, and fullback Taniela Filimone, all of whom performed well against Hawke’s Bay. Additionally, hooker Vernon Bason and flanker TK Howden have consistently been standout players in the forwards.

As the season concludes, the final standings reveal a competitive landscape, with Canterbury leading with 42 points, followed closely by Otago at 41 points. The Turbos, with their 18 points, find themselves in a position to build on their progress next year, aiming for greater success and stability in the league.