Blues 2017

[rotated]

Pretty uninspiring signings so far from Umaga, although it is a down year for free agents admittedly.

[SammyC]

@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2017:

Im a Perofeta fan - good signing.

Watched him a couple of times last year and wondered why he was playing heartland rugby.

Looks to be a smart player and a good kicker.

[Wurzel]

You'd hope Tana is showing Harry Plummer some love. It's early days yet, but if a player like him flourished elsewhere it would be a disaster for Auckland/Blues rugby

[KiwiMurph]

@SammyC Yes he looks to also have a natural running aspect to his game too. I thought he was the more impressive of the NZ U20s 10s this year.

[African Monkey]

@rotated SBW, Pulu, Manu and now Perofeta. Not inspired by Collins coming but I'd hardly say that it's been uninspiring recruitment so far.

[KiwiMurph]

@African-Monkey Jimmy Tupou also a solid signing.

[African Monkey]

@KiwiMurph Forgot about Tupou and Hodgman who is also a very good signing, he just hasn't had a chance to prove himself at Super level behind Moody and Crockett. Wouldn't suprise me if Hodgman starts next year.

[pukunui]

Did TNW end up signing?

[Stargazer]

@pukunui said in Blues 2017:

Did TNW end up signing?

I try to keep up with all the signings, but as far as I know, he's still in Japan and hasn't signed with any SR franchise yet (or a team anywhere else).

[Crucial]

@Wurzel said in Blues 2017:

You'd hope Tana is showing Harry Plummer some love. It's early days yet, but if a player like him flourished elsewhere it would be a disaster for Auckland/Blues rugby

His names suggests he should be playing for England.

[African Monkey]

@pukunui http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/85378694/tim-nanaiwilliams-resigns-with-chiefs-after-spell-in-japan

[cgrant]

Harry Plumer is an outstanding prospect, at least as a goalkicker. He was very good against the Aussie schoolboys.

[Crucial]

@cgrant said in Blues 2017:

Harry Plumer is an outstanding prospect, at least as a goalkicker. He was very good against the Aussie schoolboys.

He does look the goods doesn't he? I would assume someone has him tied into something. Needs a season of NPC but you'd be silly to let another team get him first if you had an option.

[cgrant]

Trask, who played for the NZ Barbarians against Fiji, showed a few touches of class in that game. I don't remember the name of the Waikato 1st Five who played in the NZ schools final but he is another one who has a big future ahead. NZ are blessed with very good 1st Fives, too many in fact as a good number will head north ...

[Crucial]

@cgrant said in Blues 2017:

Trask, who played for the NZ Barbarians against Fiji, showed a few touches of class in that game. I don't remember the name of the Waikato 1st Five who played in the NZ schools final but he is another one who has a big future ahead. NZ are blessed with very good 1st Fives, too many in fact as a good number will head north ...

However the Blues always manage to not find one of a high enough quality.

I hope for their sake that they get the early selection right this time around and they are locking in Barrett's rather than Bleyendaals.

[Bovidae]

@cgrant Rameka Poihipi - the Ham BHS captain and 1st 5/2nd 5?

There is another 1st 5 from Waikato that has a big future called Matty Lansdown. He was the 1st 5 of the champion Waikato Junior team and trialled for the NZ U20s.

[cgrant]

Yes, I was talking about Lansdown (it wasn't the NZ schools final but the Hobbs tournament with Waikato vs Auckland in the final).

[Dice]

These are the players signed for the Blues so far. Fill in gaps if I missed anyone.

Pauliasi Manu
Sam Prattley
Alex Hodgman
Charlie Faumuina
Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Sione Mafileo

James Parsons

Patrick Tuipulotu
Jimmy Tupou
Scott Scrafton
Josh Goodhue
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti

Jerome Kaino
Steven Luatua
Akira Ioane
Kara Pryor
Blake Gibson

Augustine Pulu
Billy Guyton
Sam Nock

Ihaia West
Piers Francis
Stephen Perofeta

Sonny Bill Williams
George Moala
TJ Faiane
Rieko Ioane

Melani Nanai
Jordan Trainor
Michael Collins
Matt Duffie
Rene Ranger

How many full contracts are we allowed? Last year we had 33 on full contracts and 9 on WTG contracts, but we were allowed to have a bit more due to 7s. If all the players above are on full contracts, we have at most one more full contract left, which would likely go to a hooker.

[African Monkey]

As long as Kurt Eklund is nowhere near the side I don't care who it is. Su'a and Moulds would be my guess behind Parsons.

[Duluth]

@African-Monkey said in Blues 2017:

As long as Kurt Eklund is nowhere near the side I don't care who it is. Su'a and Moulds would be my guess behind Parsons.

Pleasants-Tate?