Blues 2025

[Tim]

@Mauss Thanks!

[brodean]

Anyone know what Lotu Inisi is doing? That guy was dynamite last year.

[Mauss]

@Bovidae said in Blues 2025:

Sam Hainsworth-Fa'aofo would be a better option as a 7 in the immediate future.

He'd definitely be more SR-ready than a player like Woodley. But if we're talking about players potentially replacing Choat specifically, then I think Woodley is the more like-for-like replacement.

Hainsworth-Fa'aofo strikes me as more of a 7/8 while Choat is a 6/7: someone who works hard on defence, who is mainly a support option on attack, looks to disrupt the opposition ruck and aims to win the physical battle at the breakdown.

[brodean]

Semisi Paea and Ekuasi could be options.

[African Monkey]

@brodean said in Blues 2025:

Anyone know what Lotu Inisi is doing? That guy was dynamite last year.

I agree with that.

[Bovidae]

Who were the Blues NDC players? From some of the photos posted on here, I remember seeing Baker, Faleafa and Simpson. There will be a few more.

[Landers92]

Hearing another rumor to go along with the Slater one. Blues are in on/have signed Ioane Moananu. Just something I heard over the weekend, no reason to believe it isn’t true but would take with a grain of salt. Worth a share at least

[African Monkey]

@Landers92 said in Blues 2025:

Hearing another rumor to go along with the Slater one. Blues are in on/have signed Ioane Moananu. Just something I heard over the weekend, no reason to believe it isn’t true but would take with a grain of salt. Worth a share at least

I would love for that to be true. Not holding my breath, but would be awesome.

[SouthernMann]

Blockbuster marquee signing for the Blues. Showing their true pulling power!

[Landers92]

@African-Monkey from a guy I’ve not got oil from before so unsure how reliable

[frugby]

@Landers92 Have heard Moananu is not signed to the Crusaders so this would make sense.

[gt12]

@Landers92

The right place for him to look - no really established player at AB level, and the opportunity to work alongside AB level tight five players.

[KiwiMurph]

That would be good for both Blues and NZ Rugby

[Bovidae]

How long was Mullan signed for? Four doesn't go into three if Eklund and he are still under contract.

[frugby]

@Bovidae Teams have contracted four hookers before... perhaps Eklund has something lined up in Japan though?

[brodean]

We had 5 hookers signed for 2025. According to all.rugby only Eklund has a contract beyond this year. He's getting a bit long in the tooth age wise but still seems quite dynamic and has improved his set piece a lot

[KiwiMurph]

@brodean said in Blues 2025:

We had 5 hookers signed for 2025.

There's a difference between a full squad signing and having to bring guys in due to an injury crisis

Moananu seems too good to be true so I would assume Slater is the signing.

Blues website states Mullan is signed until end 2026.

[Tim]

Mullan is terrible, so hopefully he is gone.

[Tim]

So given the rumors and the known departures, who are we looking at next year for the preferred match-day squad?

1 Tu'ungufasi
2 Moananu
3 Renata
4 Darry
5 Tuipulotu
6 Christie
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu

9 Funaki
10 Barrett
11 Clarke
12 Taele
13 Lam
14 ?
15 Sullivan

16 Eklund/Slater
17 Fusitua
18 ?
19 Beehre/McWhannell
20 Segner
21 Christie/Nock
22 Perofeta
23 Evans

Obvious signings needed will be tight-head prop and wing. There must be some quality young wings around. Forbes can cover there.

Who will be the backup 12 and 13?

Lock is a strength so expect plenty of rotation.

[African Monkey]

Is Sotutu hanging around? Ofa obviously has a bad injury and it has been reported that he could be retiring, I'd assume we'll be keeping Mason Tupaea and maybe Hamdahn Tuipulotu comes into the squad if Ta'avao is retiring too.

I'm gonna assume that Slater and Eklund will be our hookers next year, with Christie starting at 9. Right wing? Do we see Xavier Tito-Harris get a gig? Is Perofeta hanging around?

As you pointed out, Lock is a position of strength. Do we see Beehre get some minutes at 6 next year?