THE WHALERS NAME SQUAD TO FACE NEW MEXICO; CROTTY TO CAPTAIN

The Whalers have named their matchday squad to face New Mexico, featuring key rotations and a veteran return to the midfield.Chay Fihaki and Timoci Tavatavanawai join the starting lineup on the wings, injecting fresh pace into the outside backs. In the midfield, Ryan Crotty returns at second-five (number 12) to captain the side, with regular skipper Tom Christie being rested for this fixture.The loose forward trio sees a shuffle as Cullen Grace steps into the blindside flanker role, shifting Dom Gardiner over to the openside.Whalers backs coach Andrew McCormick emphasized the importance of managing player workloads during this crucial stretch of the season."We have some tough games left, including this one against New Mexico," McCormick said. "All the teams we are scheduled to play are in the top six, so squad rotation is critical. But we're confident the players coming in can get the job done."