• Canterbury are the current Farah Palmer Cup champions
• The Storm got off to a good start last week in Hamilton against Waikato with a 41-23 victory
• Black Ferns Charmaine Smith and Ruahei Demant return in blue and white for the first time in 2019

The Storm will look to build-on their good start to the Farah Palmer Cup season against Canterbury this Sunday at Eden Park. Auckland will certainly have their work cut out for them against the defending champions but will take great confidence from their performance in Round 1 against Waikato.

Black Ferns Charmaine Smith and Ruahei Demant return in blue and white for the first time in 2019. The return of Demant, who is joined in the halves by her sister Kiritapu, sees impressive debutante from last weekend, Patricia Maliepo, take her place on the bench.

Smith will look to provide considerable athleticism and experience to the Storm tight-five that has only eight caps between them. The forms of Leanne Thompson and Captain Linda Itunu provide invaluable experience to the pack from the back-row.

The Demant siblings will form the 9-10 axis this week and will look to once again unleash what is an exciting backline outside of them.

Wingers Isla Norman-Bell and Princess Elliot exploded out of the gates last weekend and won’t be able to fly under the radar against Canterbury. Both rookies made impressive debuts and will be aiming to repeat this effort at home on Sunday. Natahlia Moors, named at fullback, completes the back-three and provides further firepower that Canterbury will have to repel.

Head Coach Richie Walker was pleased with the opening effort from his charges, especially those new to this level of rugby.

“We had eleven new girls that we put on the field that got to wear the Storm colours for the first time, so that was very exciting, and as a coach, I was particularly proud of the effort and obviously the win that we can away with (in Hamilton).”

Looking ahead to the challenge of Canterbury this weekend, Walker was under no illusions as to what lay ahead for his side.

“Our skill level needs to be top notch this week. We showed plenty of it last week against Waikato, but it needs to go to the next level against the defending champions in Canterbury.”

The Storm kick-off the double-header at Eden Park this weekend from 11.35am in what is their first match at home for 2019.

Match Day Programme

Storm team to play Canterbury:

1. Chryss Viliko (Marist, 1 cap)
2. Vainga Moimoi (College Rifles, 4)
3. Cristo Tofa (Ponsonby, 1)
4. Charmaine Smith (College Rifles, 5)
5. Maikawanakaulani Roos (College Rifles, 1)
6. Joeannha Naime-Purcell (Ponsonby, 1)
7. Leanne Thompson (College Rifles, 17)
8. Linda Itunu - Captain (Ponsonby, 53)
9. Kiritapu Demant (College Rifles, 29)
10. Ruahei Demant (College Rifles, 29)
11. Isla Norman-Bell (Ponsonby, 1)
12. Daynah Nankivell (Ponsonby, debut)
13. Lauren Sa’u (Marist, 5)
14. Princess Elliot (Ponsonby, 1)
15. Natahlia Moors (Ponsonby, 13)
16. Saphire Abraham (College Rifles, 1)
17. Meriana Hokianga (Ponsonby, debut)
18. Alanis Toia (Ponsonby, debut)
19. Tafito Lafaele (Papatoetoe, debut)
20. Moana Cook (Ponsonby, 1)
21. Patricia Maliepo (Marist, 1)
22. Lose Mafi (Marist, 16)