Toll Northland Mitre 10 Cup Squad for 2017
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@Steven-Harris what was the deal with Lomax? Has he signed for another team, or is he staying put in Oz? Have heard good things about that guy, would have been a good scoop for us.
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@J77 said in Toll Northland Mitre 10 Cup Squad for 2017:
@Steven-Harris what was the deal with Lomax? Has he signed for another team, or is he staying put in Oz? Have heard good things about that guy, would have been a good scoop for us.
Lomax has just finished the first year of his 2-year Melbourne Rebels contract. I'd assume he will play for the Melbourne Rising in the NRC again? Obviously, we don't know what's going to happen to Rebels players if they're the franchise to be cut from SR ...
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given there was an article about 'The All Blacks' contacting him to entice him to NZ, and Cheika apparently keen on him, they (ARU) aren't gonna let him come here for Mitre 10 Cup where there is a chance he might see the light and try his luck here!
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@taniwharugby Bloody Aussies, no surprises there..
On the subject of props, I notice that Tongan who played for Waikato last year is missing from the squad. Can't remember his name, but he played for Kamo. Does anyone know what happened to him?
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@taniwharugby that's him.
Oh well that answers that then. Last I heard he was expected to be a beast.
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@Steven-Harris
Yeah Monster has signed with Harbour I hear. -
Northland has 2 x preseason games,both against North Harbour,
Should be a good pointer to how the Taniwha squad is shaping up before the season starts properly,as North Harbour now that they are in the premiership and have recruited very well, look a very good squad on paper.
Should be a good challenge for the Taniwha.
Can't wait..!Friday 4th August - Northland - Kerikeri - 2:30pm kickoff.
Thursday 10th August - Northland - Harbour Stadium Oval - 2:30 kickoff.
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SO Ranger has signed to go back to France for La Rochelle, says for 2 years through 2019.
Assume that means he leaves after Mitre 10 cup after failing to pick up a super contract?
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@taniwharugby Rene has played almost no rugby with injuries in last two years. When he has been on the park his ball retention hasn't been the best - but I felt he just needed more time. Didn't see his game against Sunwolves but he is still the type of player that Northland could build a campaign around if he is switched on. Hope he has great season (last?) for the Taniwha.
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Northland team for North Harbour preseason game:
- Ropate Rinakama
- Matt Moulds (c)
- Namatahi Waa
- Tim Bond
- Josh Goodhue
- Murray Douglas
- Jack Ram
- Matt Matich
- Sam Nock
- Dan Hawkins
- Rene Ranger
- Blake Hohaia
- Tamati Tua
- Jordan Hyland
- Matty Wright
- Jordan Olsen
- Phil Kite
- Paddy Jo Atkins
- Josh Larsen
- Jaycob Matiu
- Michael Faleafa
- Malcolm MacLeod
- Peter Breen
- Monty Lama
- Renata Te Nana
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https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1434646829962012&id=112070018886373&tn=-R
North Harbour take on Northland in the second of their three preseason fixtures in Kerikeri. Here's the squad:
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Adrian Smith
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Leon Thambrian
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Mike Tamoaieta
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Brandon Nansen
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Shane Neville
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Glenn Preston ©
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Kane Jacobsen
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Josh Tyrell
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Lewis Gjaltema
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Bryn Gatland
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Shae Tucker
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Daniel Hilton-Jones
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Matt Vaega
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Mark Telea
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Ben Volavola
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Mark Royal
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Tony Tu'ungafasi
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Lua Li
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Jarrad Hoeata
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Kuki Moala-Liava’a
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Connor Collett
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Chris Smylie
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George Pisi
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Todd Doolan
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Harrison Groundwater
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Murphy Taramai
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I will by no means get carried away with that result today, as there's still a long way to go, but from what I witnessed I must say Northland look way better than we have in the past two years.
The thing that stood out for me was our set piece has improved tenfold. the lineouts worked like clockwork, and the scrum was dominant. Harbour had an absolute nightmare with our pack today, we were far more organised and aggressive.
Was really impressed with the communication as well, everyone was in unison and had a good understanding of what each other was doing.
Yep it was pre-season, and yep both sides were trying new things, but if Northland keep building from this performance I think it will be a pretty successful season.
Our first two tries were well worked from the forwards, it was a pick and go attack for the first one, with some good work close to the line, and the second was very similar. from there the backs had there turn with some well worked moves along the chain which culminated in meat pies!
Individually I had several stand-outs. Josh Goodhue was my man of the match, the guy played the whole 80 and was still running at full steam at the end. His defence was top notch and he was a sharp shooter in the lineout, took everything coming to him. He's in for a big year.
I was really impressed with our new Scotsman, Murray Douglas, the guy is a beast, very aggressive and great in the contact. To all the 'locals only' guys, I challenge you to find someone better running around up here right now. Yep there maybe guys that'll be good in the future, but right now, he's our best fit.
Out wide Tamati Tua and Matty Wright had solid matches, as did Rene Ranger after a bit of a shaky start. Sam Nock better be ready for a lot of minutes this year, as under him I'm not sure about Macleod, I would have preferred Matt Markwick there..
Our two first fives had decent games too, Hawkins was solid in the first 40, and Breen was solid in the 2nd. Breen takes the battle by a whisker though..
Other mentions go out to the like of Mike Faleafa, Namatahi Waa, Matt Matich, Jack Ram, Blake Hohaia and Kara Pryor, all were right in the thick of it. Faleafa made some brutal runs.
Tactically we were far more efficient than Harbour, our outside-in defence choked them all day and they had no answers. Their tries were opportunist, and came from our errors.
For them I thought Volavola was their best. Former Taniwha Shane Neville played ok too, not a bad effort.
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@J77 on your comment about Douglas I agree.
We dont know if any local locks were offered contracts, and therefore turned down for thier own reasons.
I know of a couple of players who just cant afford to take the time off work for a basic contract and as such arent really looking at making it a career, just play rugby cos they love the game.
Will be interesting to see how Ranger responds this season, while he could return in 2 seasons for a swansong, I reckon this seaosn could well be his last, hopefully it does reignite his passion and flair and has a huge season, him running off Jack Goodhues shoulder is an exciting prospect.
This season promises an awful lot, but I need to temper that with the fact we've been down this road before of having a decent looking squad that has failed to deliver.
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