Seven Bay players in the Chiefs squad for 2010 - no Bay players ended up drafted elsewhere. Well done to James McGougan, Culum Retallick, Luke Braid, Tanerau Latimer, Colin Bourke, Junior Polu and Mike Delany.

Here is the Chiefs squad for 2010 :-

Nathan White, Ben Afeaki, James McGougan, Sona Taumalolo, Aled de Malmanche, Hika Elliot, Kevin O’Neill, Craig Clarke, Callum Retallick, Romana Graham, Jarrad Hoeata, Liam Messam, Tanerau Latimer, Luke Braid, Sione Lauaki, Colin Bourke, Brendon Leonard, Junior Poluleuligaga, Stephen Donald, Mike Delany, Callum Bruce, Jackson Willison, Richard Kahui, Lelia Masaga, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dwayne Sweeney, Tim Nanai-Williams, Mils Muliaina.

The bottom line is 14 from Waikato, 7 from the mighty Bay of Plenty Steamers, 2 from Counties, 4 on the loan back scheme and one from the draft.

That looks a pretty fair selection from the talent pool available in the region and I can't remember the last time we said that about a Foster-selected squad. There are 2 different props from last time, Ben May has a long-term injury and Joe Savage has been dropped with Nathan White recalled and Ben Afeaki on loan back from Harbour. The hookers were a predictable selection. Toby Lynn and Mark Burman have been excluded leaving room for the Steamers trojan Culum Retallick and Waikato's giant Romana Graham in the squad. The loose forwards selection is almost the same as last time with Luke Braid replacing Serge Lilo as openside cover.

To the backs and with Morland gone, Junior Polu comes in as cover for Leonard. The rest of the backs are identical to last season except that James Wilson is gone and replaced by the young Counties star Tim Nanai-Williams.

I expect Jason Hona and Phil Burleigh to be on the fringes of the squad with a chance of a call-up if there is the usual injury crisis. Also Joe Savage should be ready for a call-up if a prop or 2 goes down.

Great news for Culum Retallick who thoroughly deserves his chance, for Luke Braid who should get plenty of game time from the bench, for Colin Bourke who can push to replace Lauaki and stay with the Bay through to 100 games and to Junior Polu, who kept out that youngster Kerr-Barlow. Delany, Latimer and McGougan are all certainties these days - which is great news in itself.