The Southern Saints have retained the services of Auckland based players Alex Fakatoumafi, Daniel Howie and Nico Donnell-Brown for the 2019 Premiership season.
The trio are retained under Category 3 of the Retained Players List (RPL).
RPL 3 is the Retention of Auckland based players. (Up to 5 players retained).
Read more: 2019 AFLNZ Premiership retained players list explained
Alex Fakatoumafi
Southern Saints full forward Alex Fakatoumafi has been retained for 2019 after a stellar debut season in the Premiership.
Having spent the previous two years coaching on the sidelines due to injury, Fakatoumafi regained full fitness in 2018 where he was snapped up by the Saints in the National Draft.
After a slow start to the season, the former NZ International found his feet and become a key target in the forward line.
In the final round of the last season, Fakatoumafi kicked a whopping 10 goals for the match against the Western Crows, a Premiership record.
Nico Donnell-Brown
Aucklander Nico Donnell-Brown will be a Southern Saint again in 2019.
The hard running roving forward was retained by the Premiership side for his slick skills and fast pace and will be a key player for coach Andrew Congalton and the Saints forward line.
Nico will once again suit up with his brother and Waitakere Magpies team mate Carlos as the pair guide the 2017 Premiers to another flag.
Daniel Howie
Former AFL New Zealand Premiership Rising Star Daniel Howie will add some height to the Saints line up in 2019.
Standing at 194cm, Howie hails from Auckland’s North Shore and was drafted by the Southern Saints during the 2017 National Draft.
The 18 year old is not only tall but has speed to burn recording a 10 minute 19 second three kilometre time trial during last year’s pre season.
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