The Otago Whalers have named a squad stacked with familiar faces for their second season in the top tier.
After years of trying to win promotion to the premiership, they slipped in the back door last year when the New Zealand Rugby League tinkered with the format.
The six teams were split into two groups of three and the Whalers managed a 32-14 win against Canterbury.
That one win was enough to secure a semifinal.
They were then thumped 50-6 by the Auckland Vulcans.
But just making it to the playoffs was an achievement for the Whalers.
The format has changed this year.
The two groups of three have been axed and the teams will play a five-game round-robin.
The top two sides at the end of round-robin play will contest the final in Auckland on October 12.
Making that final will probably be a stretch for the Whalers.
But they do have a decent side who will be hoping to add to their one win in the premiership.
Most of the key personnel are back for another shot.
Otago will once again lean on the likes of Jordan McEntee-Walters, Hagen Free, Mika Mafi, Troy Anstiss, Tama Apineru and Cameron Brown.
They are all established players.
Prop Israel Otunuku is back after missing last season’s campaign.
Tofatu Solia got injured and was out as well. They are both monster ball-carriers who will make a difference.
The Whalers have added some firepower out wide.
Former Otago centre Aleki Morris-Lome is the most high-profile new cap.
The 30-year-old scored seven tries in 21 games for Otago between 2019 and 2021.
He played a similar amount of games for the Southland Stags as well. He has had a strong season for Kia Toa Tigers in the club competition and will add to the potency of the backline.
Harbour fullback Max Brown,the son of former All Black prop Olo Brown, has made the squad and will compete for a spot.
Zingari-Richmond winger Willie Time is back for another run with the Whalers. He is a bruising ball runner.
Taieri first five Oscar Anderson and Siua Fonua will compete for a staring spot in the halves alongside McEntee-Walters
Hooker Tonga Nau is the most notable absence. He has moved home to Auckland and will be a big loss.
He was a creative player, who had a some X-factor.
The Whalers open their campaign with two home games at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
They start with Waikato on September 8 and then host Counties-Manukau the following weekend.
They have a third game in Dunedin against the defending champions the Auckland Vulcans at Tahuna Park on September 28.
Otago Whalers
THE SQUAD
Corban Agar, Oscar Anderson, Troy Anstiss, Tama Apineru, Cameron Brown, Max Brown, Jake Day, Eli Ellison, Misinale Fifita, Siua Fonua, Hagen Free, Kiardyn Hatch, Benji Latu, Mika Mafi, Mavae Manuika, Keenan Masina, Jordan McEntee-Walters, Aleki Morris-Lome, Sefo Muasika, Israel Otunuku, Opeti Samate, Mone Samate-Palu, Tofatu Solia, Willie Time, Orlandon Vaitupu.
DRAW
Sept 8: v Waikato, Dunedin
Sept 15: v Counties-Manukau, Dunedin
Sept 22: v Bay of Plenty, Rotorua
Sept 28: v Auckland Vulcans, Dunedin
Oct 6: v Akarana, Auckland
October 12: Final, Auckland
