Best of two for league | Auckland Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Auckland

For the first time, Counties-Manukau has its own rep team in rugby league. John Landrigan explains a new format and talks to an Otahuhu player to watch.

Time management is the sort of term used by office suits, not a footy player in rugby league's revamped national competition.

But Otahuhu speedster James Blackwell needs to shuffle his busy week as much as he needs to sidestep opponents.

Not only does he attend several midweek practices and weekend matches for his club, he works part-time as a personal trainer and is studying full-time to become a teacher. Now he's fitting representative footy into his hectic schedule.

Blackwell is one of 25 players selected at the weekend to represent Counties Manukau in the new national competition.

The new tournament replaces the Bartercard Cup and splits Auckland league into two distinct zones for the first time in its 101-year history.

The Auckland squad will be drawn from clubs inside the Waitemata and Auckland district health board boundaries. That includes famous clubs like the Hibiscus Coast Raiders, Te Atatu Roosters and Mt Albert Lions. Counties Manukau picks talent from Otahuhu to Howick and areas south.

Seven teams play in the new tournament, each playing six games. The top two teams after the round-robin will play off to decide the champion. It starts on Sunday.

As well as showing his skills to a wider audience, Blackwell stands a good chance of making a new national selection named after the tournament.

The speedy fullback is the leading try scorer in the Auckland-wide Fox Memorial Shield with 18 tries from just 15 outings.

"I have speed and good footwork. I can read the game quite well," says Blackwell. "I'm a busy player and feed off the energy of others. There's going to be a lot of energy in this competition."

Trevor Gill, acting general manager for Counties Manukau, is enthusiastic about Blackwell and the talent that will be on show in the new-look tournament.

"I'm blown away by the skills, and very impressed with the standard of play.

"James is one to watch. He's had a great season for Otahuhu."

Gill says the first game against Auckland will be played under lights at Mt Smart Stadium next month. The date can't be confirmed until it is known where the Warriors finish in the NRL.

An under-15 selection will play for the Nathan Cayless Cup, under-17 for the Mark Graham Cup and premiers for the Albert Baskerville Trophy.

Your team

Counties Manukau players were chosen from Otahuhu, Howick, Mangere East, Manukau, Papakura, Manurewa, Otara, Papatoetoe, Pakuranga, Pukekohe, Tuakau and Waiuku clubs.

The squad is: Otahuhu - James Blackwell, Henry Heta, Willie Heta, Atelae Nafetalai, Taqele Naiyaiavaro, Freddie Turuwhenua, Geoffrey Ruaporo, Sema Mataora. Howick -  Tony Tuia, Steven Waetford, Jason Tavita, Mark Lemalu, Lee Wetherill, David Mu, Aidan Howard, Troy Becroft. Papakura -  Rusty Bristow, Beau King, Shaun Clark, Roman Hifo. Manurewa -  Aaron Woodhouse, Darin Kingi, Trident Pamatangi. Otara -  Willie Peace. Manukau -  Peter Bell.

Coach: Rusty Matua, Manurewa. Manager: Warren Manuel, Otahuhu. Trainer: Kyle Rayner, Manurewa.