Meet the four men that will assist Head Coach Mike Delany during the Steamers 2022 Bunnings Warehouse NPC campaign. 

Bay of Plenty Head of High-Performance Tiana Ngawati believes that the Coaching Group brings the diversity, experience, and expertise needed to form the foundations of a successful NPC campaign. 

"All these men are highly qualified and worthy of their positions in their own right. From the Union's perspective, we couldn't be happier with the team we have been able to assemble," says Ngawati. 

"We are looking forward to when the team comes together for the first time in July and the season ahead." 

Richard Watt: Forwards Coach  

I have 20 years of coaching experience which began when I started as my club's coaching coordinator and premier team coach in Wellington for eight seasons. I then coached nine seasons of Super Rugby for the Hurricanes and seven seasons of NPC with the Wellington Lions.  

I also coached Manu Samoa in 2016 for the PNC and Northern Tour and Ikale Tahi Tonga at the 2019 World Cup in Japan. In 2021, I linked up with the Steamers after relocating to Tauranga to live. I will now return for my second season with the Steamers. 

I'm excited about the 14 teams in this year's Bunnings NPC forming one Premiership with three playoff footy rounds. I'm looking forward to coaching a forward pack with a good mixture of new and exciting talent mixed with some experienced campaigners to stamp a mark in the competition. 

Pingi Tala’apitaga: Scrum Coach 

I've had a number of roles at varying levels. I've helped Bethlehem College U14s and their 1st XV; I've also coached at Mount Maunganui's Inside Running Academy. I have multiple years of experience in Baywide Premier Men's club rugby with Tauranga Sports and have representative experience with the Bay of Plenty Ngāwha and Bay of Plenty Toa.  

I greatly appreciate grassroots rugbys role in both our community and down the line in high performance. From the coaching perspective, I am very grateful for the role grassroots has played in my coaching development. It has helped put me in the position of Scrum Coach for the Steamers.    

Personally, I'm looking forward to connecting with the coaching group and getting to know them while reconnecting with some familiar faces in the Union. On a team level, it's about providing an environment that allows our players to deliver their best selves on the big stage.  

Damian Karauna: Attack Coach  

After I finished my playing career, I started coaching 15's at the academy level in Wales, which ignited my passion for coaching. I came back to New Zealand for an assistant coach role with the All Black 7's team. I then moved to Japan and became Head Coach of the Japan 7's men's program for two seasons. This was a special time for me, and I found my love of 7's again.  

After this, I returned to 15 aside rugby and moved into an assistant coach role with Japan's Sanix Blues Top League team. I continued with this role until last year when I moved up into the head coach position. After five years of coaching in Japan, I am happy to be back in New Zealand with this coaching opportunity. 

My role is not only as attack coach for the Steamers but also in coach development support. In the buildup to the Bunnings Warehouse NPC, I'm looking forward to getting out in the community this season. There is so much talent in the Bay of Plenty, and I can't wait to assist growth in our region. 

It's a privilege to work with a coaching group of this calibre. We have a wealth of knowledge and experience. We have done our job as a coaching unit if we can inspire our players to be the best versions of themselves every day.  

James Porter: Skill Development  

I have come through a traditional coaching pathway. I started with U15s schoolboy rugby and developed a love for 7's & 15's. After working into 1st XV rugby, I transitioned into representative coaching, beginning with the Bay of Plenty U16's. I have now coached every age group to the NPC level, plus a stint with the Wellington Pride in the FPC. I have also recently been a part of the Chiefs U20's program. 

My position is a great opportunity to follow our Athlete Development Program athletes through our system to where their professional rugby pathway could begin. I can continue to support these players coming through the ranks while bringing a focus on skill development for our Steamers side. For the Steamers this season, I believe it's about realising potential. Mike Delany has a clear vision for how we will achieve that, so it's exciting for sure. I am very excited about the year and what's to come.    

The Steamers official squad will be announced late July. The Bunnings NPC 2022 draw can be found here. 

2022 Bay of Plenty Steamers Management Group   
Head Coach: Mike Delany   
Forwards Coach: Richard Watt 
Scrum Coach: Pingi Tala'apitaga 
Attack Coach: Damian Karauna 
Skills Coach: James Porter 
Manager: Wayne Brill                                                                                                                                                  Assistant Manager: Lisa Appert 
Strength & Conditioning Trainer: Thomas Stebbing    
Assistant Strength & Conditioning Trainer: Scott Joblin 
Physio: Simon Robins 
Assistant Physio: Brandon Manual
Video Analyst: Brad Morgan 

Article added: Monday 20 June 2022