Collins quick to step up for club

18th March 2010

It's not like Justin "Gus" Collins to muck around but his jump into coaching senior rugby may have raised a few eyebrows around the traps.

The Northland captain and Blues loose forward was forced out of the game last year with a head knock that never quite came right. While he has removed his name off the playing roster, he has joined Johnny Miller to take the helm of his club side to help bring back the glory days at Kamo.

"It was a bit of a quick turnaround for me, but it was an easy decision to make.

"Kamo's results over the past handful of years haven't been too favourable and I saw the opportunity to try and attract a few players into the club to fill a few positions that we've been lacking in recently," he said.

Kamo has already picked up  Northland signing Iwi Hauraki and promising midfielder Whiria Meltzer, tempted south from Awanui.

 "The last few years we've had a pretty decent forward pack, but we've struggled with depth in the backline," he said.

The addition of Northland prop Matt Wallis  won't hurt.

 Collins said he felt  he hasn't been around much for his club  with  his playing commitments and he was  keen to make up for his absence.

He is hoping for a playoff spot for Kamo but knows that such an improvement in one year is a big jump.

"We just need to improve from where we've been - in the bottom half of the table - and just build from there, hopefully by building some good depth at the club."