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Blues 2025

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  • B Offline
    B Offline
    brodean
    replied to Daffy Jaffy on last edited by
    #174

    @Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2025:

    From Blues Facebook -
    Champs go last
    We’ll be the last team to drop our Super Rugby Pacific squad
    Tuesday 3pm, mark your calendars

    Got to say I'm feeling a bit pessimistic. Seems like the squad is going to be ravaged.

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  • Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy Jaffy
    wrote on last edited by Daffy Jaffy
    #175

    from Blues media - as rumored further up the thread -
    Some unfortunate news out of Blues HQ, Bryce Heem will miss the entire 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season with a wrist injury 🥲

    Best of luck on your recovery uncle 💙

    Commence 1 full day of sadness before our full squad is announced tomorrow

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  • Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy Jaffy
    wrote on last edited by Daffy Jaffy
    #176

    A punt from left field -
    About 2 weeks ago Blues Insta story posted a random video of Melani Nanai scoring for the Blues off a flukey deflected kick, with the commentary saying "no-one expected that" could it have been a hint at him signing as an experienced mid-field/Wing replacement for Heem? Nanai has been playing in Canada and for Manu Samoa in the Pacific series. May be nothing in it but if it is so 'You heard it here first'. 👽

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  • Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy Jaffy
    wrote on last edited by Daffy Jaffy
    #177

    Blues Facebook posted this morning -

    "We may or may not have 7 new players 👀"

    So there may be fewer squad changes than we suspected.

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  • M Offline
    M Offline
    Mr Fish
    wrote on last edited by
    #178

    There's at least seven even if you're only counting the publically confirmed departures, no?

    Vikena, Akira, Rush, Cashmore, Heem, Banks, Tangitau?

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  • M Offline
    M Offline
    Mr Fish
    wrote on last edited by Mr Fish
    #179

    No shocks in the Blues squad - some good youngsters added to the mix (plus Beauden Barrett). No major unannounced departures/transfers from other sides.

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  • Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy Jaffy
    wrote on last edited by
    #180

    Blues squad for 2025
    Props: Angus Ta’avao, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Marcel Renata, Jordan Lay, Joshua Fusitu’a, PJ Sheck, Ben Ake
    Hookers: Kurt Eklund, Ricky Riccitelli, James Mullan
    Locks: Laghlan McWhannell, Cameron Christie, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Josh Beehre
    Loose forwards: Cameron Suafoa, Adrian Choat, Dalton Papali’i, Anton Segner, Hoskins Sotutu, Che Clark
    Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Sam Nock, Taufa Funaki
    First five-eighths: Stephen Perofeta, Harry Plummer, Beauden Barrett
    Midfielders: Xavi Taele, Corey Evans, Meihana Grindlay, Rieko Ioane
    Outside backs: Zarn Sullivan, Mark Tele’a, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Payton Spencer, Reon Paul, Cole Forbes

    Ins: Ben Ake, Cameron Christie, Che Clark, Beauden Barrett, Xavi Taele, Payton Spencer, Reon Paul
    Outs: Soane Vikena, James Thompson, Akira Ioane, Rob Rush, Lucas Cashmore, Bryce Heem, Kade Banks, Caleb Tangitau

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  • BovidaeB Offline
    BovidaeB Offline
    Bovidae
    wrote on last edited by
    #181

    Thompson is unlucky to miss out as he did well in his brief appearances.

    TimT 1 Reply Last reply
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  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    replied to Bovidae on last edited by
    #182

    @Bovidae Was going to comment that. What's the skinny on Reon Paul?

    BovidaeB 1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • BovidaeB Offline
    BovidaeB Offline
    Bovidae
    replied to Tim on last edited by
    #183

    @Tim said in Blues 2025:

    What's the skinny on Reon Paul?

    @ARHS is a fan. A midfielder who can play on the wing.

    A 1 Reply Last reply
    1
  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    wrote on last edited by
    #184

    I imagine that the main selection questions will be over how they use their playmakers, and the loose forward mix. Perofeta, Plummer, Barrett, and Sullivan will be tough to fit into a 23. Suafoa to 6, and Segner on the bench?

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  • DuluthD Offline
    DuluthD Offline
    Duluth
    wrote on last edited by
    #185

    A stable squad. Only missing Akira & Heem from the 23 that started the final

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  • Crazy HorseC Offline
    Crazy HorseC Offline
    Crazy Horse
    wrote on last edited by
    #186

    I haven't seen anything of Spencer. Does he warrant a spot now or is he more of a hopeful pick for the future?

    DuluthD 1 Reply Last reply
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  • DuluthD Offline
    DuluthD Offline
    Duluth
    replied to Crazy Horse on last edited by
    #187

    @Crazy-Horse said in Blues 2025:

    I haven't seen anything of Spencer. Does he warrant a spot now or is he more of a hopeful pick for the future?

    He's been injured almost all year. Had some good moments in the 2023 NPC.. but that was only 3 games

    So it is slightly risky

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  • Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy Jaffy
    wrote on last edited by Daffy Jaffy
    #188

    7 Props and only 6 loosies is a small concern. Especially with Suafoa's health concerns. I imagine Christie may get a run covering 6 occasionally and Trystan Cook is sure to be in the academy/wtg. No Tito-Harris is the other surprise. Must be returning to Sevens. Reon Paul is the biggest surprise but i have liked the small highlights I've seen of him at NPC level.. I know little about Mullen. About fifth ranked Canterbury hooker called up to Super rugby off of 2 starts and 5 bench games over 2 seasons. Someone in the know must rate him. He is only 21 so has time to develop but could be on the bench in some big games..

    F C 2 Replies Last reply
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  • F Offline
    F Offline
    Fredsaua12
    replied to Daffy Jaffy on last edited by Fredsaua12
    #189

    @Daffy-Jaffy James Mullan has a ton of potential. Was NZ Schools hooker in 2020 but sitting behind George Bell in every Canterbury team since. I believe he also studies Broadcasting, hence a move to Auckland probably makes sense in that regard too. He is deceptively quick and is a similar mould to a Dane Coles type hooker.

    ChrisC 1 Reply Last reply
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  • KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurph
    wrote on last edited by
    #190

    I would rather see Lam as a midfielder and have another wing option.

    I know Taele has talent and is one for the future but he is physically very small and I question how much he will play next season.

    I wonder if Grindlay was on a 2 year deal as he was barely sighted this year. Will need him to step up with no Heem

    DuluthD 1 Reply Last reply
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  • A Offline
    A Offline
    ARHS
    replied to Bovidae on last edited by
    #191

    @Bovidae said in Blues 2025:

    @Tim said in Blues 2025:

    What's the skinny on Reon Paul?

    @ARHS is a fan. A midfielder who can play on the wing.

    Yep, intelligent player who seems to make good metres whenever he gets the ball.

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  • DuluthD Offline
    DuluthD Offline
    Duluth
    replied to KiwiMurph on last edited by
    #192

    @KiwiMurph said in Blues 2025:

    I would rather see Lam as a midfielder and have another wing option.

    It's interesting that we lost two wingers (Tangitau & Banks) but didn't add another specialist

    I suspect the centre pairing will be Lam/RI. So there's a question about who plays wing when Clarke or Tele'a are injured.

    KiwiMurphK 1 Reply Last reply
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  • Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy Jaffy
    wrote on last edited by
    #193

    A brief Reon Paul Vid -

    147K views · 1.6K reactions | Maketū Meat Pie of the Week | 🥧The...

    147K views · 1.6K reactions | Maketū Meat Pie of the Week | 🥧The...

    🥧The Maketū Meat Pie of the Week - Another Mr Mussel Pie moment! Our man Reon Paul at the Wellington match in Rotorua last weekend.

    1 Reply Last reply
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