Exodus 2017
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Just a rumour, and it probably won't happen, but ..... arrggghhhh
Damian McKenzie set for move to Leicester Tigers - report
Chiefs livewire Damian McKenzie is in advanced talks to join England top tier side Leicester Tigers according to reports out of the UK. The 22-year-old has been a key cog for the Chiefs this season, but the Rugby Paper suggests he has been questioning his place in New Zealand Rugby after finding himself low in the All Blacks pecking order. Called up to the national side for last year's Rugby Championship, McKenzie was underwhelming in the few times he made it on the park. McKenzie was recently called into the All Blacks during the Lions series but only after an injury to superstar fullback Ben Smith. He was also used as a back-up to newcomer Jordie Barrett. The Tigers had reportedly taken an interest in Damian's brother Marty before setting their sights on the All Blacks fringe player. In 2016, McKenzie fended off contract offers from the Blues and the Crusaders to stay at the Chiefs until the end of the 2018 Super Rugby season. A move to Leicester would see him join the likes of former Blues flanker Brendon O'Connor as well as England backs George Ford and Manu Tuilagi. Newshub. -
@Stargazer I posted this rumour a few weeks ago. It was mentioned on the RugbyPod by Andy Goode and he seemed pretty convinced that it was happening.
What a blow this would be if confirmed to be true, we can't afford to lose guys of his caliber. He's arguably the best player at Super level.
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given he is contracted through to end of Super rugby next year (I assume) maybe his signing will be dependant on his inclusion in the ABs with an out clause if he gets selected.
What are the chances he will leap frog Sopoaga or BB at 10 or BFA, Dagg or JB at FB, so while he has utility value if he does fulfill at 10, he has a tough run to get past these guys, so looking off-shore next year could well be a possibility.
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@taniwharugby Great news. He's the core of our AB midfield at the moment and his experience and leadership in that role will be crucial while the rookies are still learning. Hopefully, injuries will not ruin the rest of time in black.
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guys like Crotty are often undervalued, and is only when they aren't there you really appreciate their value.
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@taniwharugby So that's a one year extension?
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@Tim ha, I didn't even take that in, or failed to actually twig that 2018 is farking next year!!
Yeah odd only a year, although maybe he is taking a pragmatic view with his injuries and the fact we have a few youngsters coming through and an injury sees you gone...?
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@taniwharugby said in Exodus 2017:
given he is contracted through to end of Super rugby next year (I assume) maybe his signing will be dependant on his inclusion in the ABs with an out clause if he gets selected.
What are the chances he will leap frog Sopoaga or BB at 10 or BFA, Dagg or JB at FB, so while he has utility value if he does fulfill at 10, he has a tough run to get past these guys, so looking off-shore next year could well be a possibility.
I think it could be done. If fans are honest (might be a struggle for the Canes fans) then before the Welsh series last year there was nothing to suggest that BB would leap frog Cruden. Also, Sopoaga spent a long time being not outstanding before his breakthrough year.
A good year at 10 for the Chiefs next year and 2nd year Syndrome for JB and he could be sitting pretty.
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RS interviewed Crotty just after 5pm today, he said he likes to go for a single year contract. keeps him on his toes and pushes him to keep in form, and said he is lucky that NZR have allowed him to do it.
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Interesting. I remember when another AB midfielder used to do the same thing. And the NZ rugby public went utterly feral. So a 1-year contract doesn't mean you don't have the ABs best interests at heart? You are not a mercenary? You are not selfish?
huh
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@mariner4life if your initials are SBW, everything you do is deemed incorrect and purely for the money.
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@mariner4life said in Exodus 2017:
Interesting. I remember when another AB midfielder used to do the same thing. And the NZ rugby public went utterly feral. So a 1-year contract doesn't mean you don't have the ABs best interests at heart? You are not a mercenary? You are not selfish?
huh
I didn't know he was only doing one year extensions, I think he's a dick for hanging out with a Muslim hate preacher who says gays are worse than animals. Hell of an athlete though, no argument there.
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@mariner4life A huge difference between SBW and Crotty is that Crotty has never switched codes or even teams. He's is one of the greatest examples of loyalty to NZR/Crusaders. The criticism that SBW faced had to do with perceived lack of loyalty and unwillingness to commit properly to NZR because he's been going back and forth to league and has switched teams quite often. So, apples and oranges, you can't compare both players in this respect and that will most likely explain any lack of criticism about a one-year contract for Crotty.
By the way, he is currently on a 2-year contract.
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@mariner4life said in Exodus 2017:
Interesting. I remember when another AB midfielder used to do the same thing. And the NZ rugby public went utterly feral. So a 1-year contract doesn't mean you don't have the ABs best interests at heart? You are not a mercenary? You are not selfish?
huh
To be fair, Crotty's rep career pretty much encompasses Canterbury, Crusaders and ABs.
SBWs encompasses Canterbury, NZRL, Toulon, a different Canterbury, ABs, Crusaders, Chiefs, Panasonic, Roosters, Counties, Sevens, Blues and assorted boxing matches.
I'd accept that one guy likes to be kept on his toes - the other guy seems to like to keep his options open!
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I have to say considering how generally woeful super rugby has become, NZ teams other than the Blues notwithstanding, we are doing a great job at hanging onto most of our talent. They must enjoy their rugby in NZ.
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@Chris-B. said in Exodus 2017:
@mariner4life said in Exodus 2017:
Interesting. I remember when another AB midfielder used to do the same thing. And the NZ rugby public went utterly feral. So a 1-year contract doesn't mean you don't have the ABs best interests at heart? You are not a mercenary? You are not selfish?
huh
To be fair, Crotty's rep career pretty much encompasses Canterbury, Crusaders and ABs.
SBWs encompasses Canterbury, NZRL, Toulon, a different Canterbury, ABs, Crusaders, Chiefs, Panasonic, Roosters, Counties, Sevens, Blues and assorted boxing matches.
I'd accept that one guy likes to be kept on his toes - the other guy seems to like to keep his options open!
Well put.
In other news, the North Queensland sun has been shown to rot your brain.
