Blues 2025
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@African-Monkey said in Blues 2025:
@Dice said in Blues 2025:
@gt12 said in Blues 2025:
I'm surprised they were able to keep all four 10s/15s.
Can anyone add more to the rumor about Perofeta leaving for Japan?The benefits of being a winning team.
I remember the days when no 10 wanted to come here. Even bench 10s who would've started here avoided us.
Ahhh the real days where we had Chris Noakes, Baden Kerr, Bryn Gatland, Dan Kirkpatrick, Simon Hickey amongst others that I'm sure I have missed.
A combined highlight reel of this lot would be less than a minute long.
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The list of 10s that we wrecked was really long. So hard to play that position with a dysfunctional organisation, poor coaching and a team that's out of sorts.
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@nzzp said in Blues 2025:
The list of 10s that we wrecked was really long.
I'm not sure some of these names are good enough to be wrecked.....
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2025:
@nzzp said in Blues 2025:
The list of 10s that we wrecked was really long.
I'm not sure some of these names are good enough to be wrecked.....
Agree. But some were for sure.
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@Dice said in Blues 2025:
@African-Monkey said in Blues 2025:
@Dice said in Blues 2025:
@gt12 said in Blues 2025:
I'm surprised they were able to keep all four 10s/15s.
Can anyone add more to the rumor about Perofeta leaving for Japan?The benefits of being a winning team.
I remember the days when no 10 wanted to come here. Even bench 10s who would've started here avoided us.
Ahhh the real days where we had Chris Noakes, Baden Kerr, Bryn Gatland, Dan Kirkpatrick, Simon Hickey amongst others that I'm sure I have missed.
A combined highlight reel of this lot would be less than a minute long.
Filled with them knocking penalties over from straight infront of the posts.
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I’m not entirely convinced Plummer is actually much better than Bryn Gatland. If you stick Gatland at 10 in this Blues team he’d look a million bucks…
An average 10 in an average side looks rather average. But an average 10 who does the basics well will look very good with better players around him.
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@frugby said in Blues 2025:
I’m not entirely convinced Plummer is actually much better than Bryn Gatland. If you stick Gatland at 10 in this Blues team he’d look a million bucks…
An average 10 in an average side looks rather average. But an average 10 who does the basics well will look very good with better players around him.
In fairness, you don't really rate many current Blues players at all.
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@African-Monkey said in Blues 2025:
@frugby said in Blues 2025:
I’m not entirely convinced Plummer is actually much better than Bryn Gatland. If you stick Gatland at 10 in this Blues team he’d look a million bucks…
An average 10 in an average side looks rather average. But an average 10 who does the basics well will look very good with better players around him.
In fairness, you don't really rate many current Blues players at all.
This wasn’t really meant to be a critique of Plummer. Probably worded poorly, my point was more if you stuck Gatland in this Blues side he’d do a similarly (good) job.
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@Daffy-Jaffy I’m surprised Mullan has made the Blues squad. Would’ve thought they’d be better players in blues area.
I've watched him a few times for his club side Sydenham. He doesn’t stand out in club footy. He’s got a great physique on him for a hooker.
I’m not sold on the Crusaders academy.
So maybe leaving ChCh is exactly what is needed. -
@chchfanatic said in Blues 2025:
@Daffy-Jaffy I’m surprised Mullan has made the Blues squad. Would’ve thought they’d be better players in blues area.
I've watched him a few times for his club side Sydenham. He doesn’t stand out in club footy. He’s got a great physique on him for a hooker.
I’m not sold on the Crusaders academy.
So maybe leaving ChCh is exactly what is needed.@Steven-Harris said that Jason Ryan pushed for the move?
Maybe Jason Ryan's just trying to help out his Sydenham mates? Like he did with squeezing Brodie McAlister into the ABs?
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Daffy Jaffyreplied to chchfanatic on 12 Nov 2024, 19:27 last edited by Daffy Jaffy 12 Nov 2024, 22:32
@chchfanatic said in Blues 2025:
thought they’d be better players in blues area
The only local player that comes to mind that could have been a possibility is young Bryn Gordon from Harbour. The player I was hoping for was Taine Kolose. I thought he might have been a chance due to Cotter's and Ekland's BOP connections. It will be interesting to see how Mullen goes, at only 21 he has time to develop and learn but he is only an injury away from playing already. Cotter will bulk him up and be happy if he hits rucks, tackles, throws and scrums well. The choice of wtg hooker will be important if Mullen is not quite ready straight away.
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@African-Monkey Apparently he’s very highly rated by Ryan injury curtailed his progress ,
Is a very big body with a turn of pace ,could turn out to be a very good pick up for the Blues long term -
Answering someone's question about where is Mason Tupaea? Blues Instagram said "he’ll be around!" so I guess he is in the wtg.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Bryn Gordon is with Moana Pacifica wider squad like he was last year. He didn't get many minutes behind Shilo Klein this season who is now capped by the USA too. Perhaps Klein will be in the Blues WTG but I have a feeling he has re-signed with the San Diego Legion in the MLR
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So Zarn Sullivan a possibility of moving into the midfield
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@george33 said in Blues 2025:
So Zarn Sullivan a possibility of moving into the midfield
Interesting
His kicking is too slow at 10 but would be useful at 12.
A similar shape to the Blues preferred midfielders too AJ/RI and the injured Heem
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That would help to get the best players into the 23
9 Funaki/Christie
10 Plummer
11 Clarke
12 AJ/Sullivan
13 Ioane
14 Telea
15 BB/Perofeta21 Funaki/Christie
22 AJ/Sullivan
23 BB/Perofeta -
@george33 said in Blues 2025:
@Duluth possibly playing 13, with AJ at 12, ,
Indicating Rieko to take a sabbatical after all?
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Blues academy players Leo Gordon and King Maxwell are playing on loan in Japan for Blues partner club.
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Fucking best team name ever
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2025:
I'll be annoyed if Lam is forced to play wing as he's the best 12 in the squad
Surely with Heem out for the season Lam is a walk up start?
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Working with Lam and Sullivan in that position would be awesome. I think that might be Sullivan's best position.
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@Kirwan said in Blues 2025:
Working with Lam and Sullivan in that position would be awesome. I think that might be Sullivan's best position.
What makes you say that? I think he's an out-and-out 15. Good under the high ball, a booming punt, strong as a secondary playmaker and looks good with a bit of space but not so much when he's under more pressure closer to the action...
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@george33 said in Blues 2025:
@Duluth possibly playing 13, with AJ at 12, ,
that would be a big midfield.
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@Mr-Fish said in Blues 2025:
@Kirwan said in Blues 2025:
Working with Lam and Sullivan in that position would be awesome. I think that might be Sullivan's best position.
What makes you say that? I think he's an out-and-out 15. Good under the high ball, a booming punt, strong as a secondary playmaker and looks good with a bit of space but not so much when he's under more pressure closer to the action...
With Zarn's lack of pace I can see the appeal of 12. I think his lack of pace means his ceiling is limited in NZ at 15 and how they like to select.
I'd be happy if the 12s were Lam and Zarn.
Having thought about it more I can see Forbes being the next winger chosen behind Telea and Clarke. Versatile player that would have earned a lot of goodwill with his 2024 Blues performances.
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I'd say Zarn Sullivan will need some game time in the 13 or 12, pre season, Big opportunity for him to claim a spot in the 23, Sounds like Vern will start Plummer 10,
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@Mr-Fish said in Blues 2025:
@Kirwan said in Blues 2025:
Working with Lam and Sullivan in that position would be awesome. I think that might be Sullivan's best position.
What makes you say that? I think he's an out-and-out 15. Good under the high ball, a booming punt, strong as a secondary playmaker and looks good with a bit of space but not so much when he's under more pressure closer to the action...
Observing him at ten, or when he stands at first receiver in open play. His size makes him excellent to hit it up, he has very good distrubition skills and the long punt gives us another option to clear the ball more often. Left foot is useful in combination with Plummer as well.
As Duluth said, his slow windup makes him a chardown target at 10, a little more space or as a surprise clearing option reduces that risk.
Australian method of using all your best players on the park too.
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Confirmation -
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The Clermont one is pretty cool:
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Won SR and briefly became an All Black. With the lack of genuine interest from these selectors the choice was basically made for him
If there's 50/50 selection calls the Blues have to make this year I think they should go against the guy leaving
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@Duluth said in Blues 2025:
Won SR and briefly became an All Black. With the lack of genuine interest from these selectors the choice was basically made for him
If there's 50/50 selection calls the Blues have to make this year I think they should go against the guy leaving
If you make the All Blacks for the first time (and it was the first time you deserved to), and the guys ahead of you are significantly older with one of them looking well past it, but you decide to cash in and go to France immediately...
That's on Harry, not the selectors.edited: just to say that I feel a bit sick having defended the idiots.
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@reprobate said in Blues 2025:
That's on Harry, not the selectors.
Same as Akira then. You either reckon they got the nudge from the selectors or you don't.
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@reprobate said in Blues 2025:
@Duluth said in Blues 2025:
Won SR and briefly became an All Black. With the lack of genuine interest from these selectors the choice was basically made for him
If there's 50/50 selection calls the Blues have to make this year I think they should go against the guy leaving
If you make the All Blacks for the first time (and it was the first time you deserved to), and the guys ahead of you are significantly older with one of them looking well past it, but you decide to cash in and go to France immediately...
That's on Harry, not the selectors.edited: just to say that I feel a bit sick having defended the idiots.
At the end of the day most people want to be rewarded for a job well done and get paid their worth. That's clearly not happening with players like Havili and Blackadder getting special treatment off the back of little play in a losing team.
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@nzzp said in Blues 2025:
@reprobate said in Blues 2025:
That's on Harry, not the selectors.
Same as Akira then. You either reckon they got the nudge from the selectors or you don't.
Not really the same: Akira is 29 and has been in the frame for years, whereas Plummer is 26 and this is the first time he has been even close on Super performance. One is quitting after giving it a decent crack, one is quitting at the first sign of potentially being up to it.
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@brodean said in Blues 2025:
@reprobate said in Blues 2025:
@Duluth said in Blues 2025:
Won SR and briefly became an All Black. With the lack of genuine interest from these selectors the choice was basically made for him
If there's 50/50 selection calls the Blues have to make this year I think they should go against the guy leaving
If you make the All Blacks for the first time (and it was the first time you deserved to), and the guys ahead of you are significantly older with one of them looking well past it, but you decide to cash in and go to France immediately...
That's on Harry, not the selectors.edited: just to say that I feel a bit sick having defended the idiots.
At the end of the day most people want to be rewarded for a job well done and get paid their worth. That's clearly not happening with players like Havili and Blackadder getting special treatment off the back of little play in a losing team.
I'm talking about Plummer only. If, when rated as the 3rd best 10 in NZ, he has the attitude that he's being undervalued so much that he has no option to leave - on the back of one decent but hardly amazing Super season - I'd be surprised and disappointed.
Guys like Sotutu, even Riccitelli on the other hand - they've been absurdly under-rated by the selectors. Oh and I guess every outside back not named Fihaki too. -
@reprobate said in Blues 2025:
@brodean said in Blues 2025:
@reprobate said in Blues 2025:
@Duluth said in Blues 2025:
Won SR and briefly became an All Black. With the lack of genuine interest from these selectors the choice was basically made for him
If there's 50/50 selection calls the Blues have to make this year I think they should go against the guy leaving
If you make the All Blacks for the first time (and it was the first time you deserved to), and the guys ahead of you are significantly older with one of them looking well past it, but you decide to cash in and go to France immediately...
That's on Harry, not the selectors.edited: just to say that I feel a bit sick having defended the idiots.
At the end of the day most people want to be rewarded for a job well done and get paid their worth. That's clearly not happening with players like Havili and Blackadder getting special treatment off the back of little play in a losing team.
I'm talking about Plummer only. If, when rated as the 3rd best 10 in NZ, he has the attitude that he's being undervalued so much that he has no option to leave - on the back of one decent but hardly amazing Super season - I'd be surprised and disappointed.
Guys like Sotutu, even Riccitelli on the other hand - they've been absurdly under-rated by the selectors. Oh and I guess every outside back not named Fihaki too.If someone came along and offered you a half a million dollars extra to move jobs you might feel undervalued in your current role too.
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