How About Those Tasman Makos!

The ITM Cup has had plenty of feel-good stories this season - Otago and Hawkes Bay ending their Ranfurly Shield droughts and Counties Manukau finally winning the log of wood - and holding onto it for the summer.

And then there's the Tasman Makos.

The Tasman Makos have been the real surprise team over the last two seasons despite having one of the smaller and most rural population bases to work with out of the 14 semi-professional provinces in New Zealand; even with 42,888 people in Nelson and 30,500 in Blenheim, it's pretty much between them, Northland and Southland.

Nelson Bays and Marlborough sub-unions still play for the Seddon Shield

Furthermore, the Tasman Rugby Union is New Zealand's newest union having been formed by the amalgamation of former rivals, Marlborough and Nelson Bays. The amalgamation itself in its infancy was one that seemed doomed to failure particularly in the wake of the global financial crisis as the union found itself on the brink of insolvency.

Alas, Tasman and the NZRU worked hard to make sure the young union would not disappear prematurely and the results are evident today.

The union is now one of the better run organizations in the country and thanks to an emphasis on local talent, some shrewd signings from neighbours, Canterbury and elsewhere - Bryce Heem, George Stowers come to mind - the north of Te Wai Pounamu (South Island) is a surprise powerhouse of New Zealand provincial rugby.

Marty Banks has gone from Heartland Rugby player to Super Rugby player in 12 months

One of the stars of the Makos' revival has been Marty Banks who has been signed by the Hurricanes for the 2014 Super Rugby season. Banks joins Joe Wheeler & Shane Christie (Highlanders), Tom Marshall (Chiefs), and Quentin Macdonald (Blues).

Banks has been the Makos' top points scorer and a key in igniting a Tasman backline that has been thrilling Trafalgar Park and Lansdowne Road and destroying the likes of Southland, Otago and North Harbour this season.

It's a shame that the ITM Cup has become the ugly duckling in the eyes of the New Zealand rugby media - or at least gets far less coverage than Super Rugby or the All Blacks.

I think in its current compact format with two divisions, the ITM Cup has never been better and more engrossing to watch. You might be playing in the "second-tier" championship but you can beat teams from the so-called "first-tier" on your day - as Otago showed when they beat Waikato and Auckland this season.

The lack of All Blacks competing in the ITM Cup has been a blessing in disguise with the ITM Cup a bit like college football in the USA - it's all about the next rugby stars.

It has also meant that it is easier now for "smaller" provinces like Manawatu, Counties Manukau and Tasman to shine. While Manawatu and Counties have the population or heritage to make the most of the opportunity given to them, Tasman's lack of resources and history has made their recent success all the more remarkable.

As an Otago fan, I'd be disappointed if we didn't get promotion but it wouldn't feel too bad if we lost out to Tasman who deserve their chance to play among the Aucklands, Wellingtons, Canterburys and Waikatos of the Premiership.