Chiefs 2018

[Stargazer]

@bovidae He returned from his head injury on 25 August, when he finally made his Magpies debut. Then he suffered a rib injury against Otago on 10 September, from which he returned on 15 October in the final round robin game against Manawatu. He only played 5 games, but played well.

[mikedogz]

[Hooroo]

@mikedogz It's nice they have a photo of Brodie from back in the unders 9's team

[Tim]

Who's in your XXIII, Chiefs fans?

[Bovidae]

Some home-town signings from Cooper. I though Marty McKenzie might be in the squad. Hoeata was involved in the wider squad this year but I don't think he is a better lock than Tucker.

We must be able to do better than Verney for a midfield back.

[Hooroo]

Out of that lot, apart from Weber, who are the halfbacks?

[Bovidae]

@hooroo

See my post last night.

[mikedogz]

@hooroo Jonathon Taumataine, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi

[Hooroo]

Thanks.

I didn't see their positions under their names!

[Bovidae]

@tim said in Chiefs 2018:

Who's in your XXIII, Chiefs fans?

1. Hames

2. Harris

3. Laulala

4. Retallick

5. Bird

6. Brown

7. Cane

8. Messam

9. Weber (to start with)

10. DMac

11. Alaimalo

12. Ngatai

13. ALB

14. Pulu

15. Stevenson

16. Taukei'aho

17. Graham

18. Moli

19. Seu

20. Boshier

21. TTT

22. Falcon

23. TNW

[Hooroo]

@bovidae That is a very very sexy midfield!!!

[Hooroo]

@bovidae and even sexier front row!

[Tim]

@bovidae Cheers. Strong first XV. Probably questions over squad depth though?

[Hooroo]

@tim said in Chiefs 2018:

@bovidae Cheers. Strong first XV. Probably questions over squad depth though?

Agreed. Is Moli the hopeless Auckland lock?

[Hooroo]

Nope! prop I see. I really can answer most of my own questions

[Tim]

@hooroo No, he is the solid tighthead prop from Waikato who trained with the ABs this year.

[Bovidae]

My guess for the squad wasn't too far off the mark.

I think Cooper may have MMac on the bench to cover 10/15 and TNW could start on the right wing ahead of Pulu. Just don't use him in the midfield.

Barnes wanted Ardron so he could be the no.8 with Messam moving to 6. I rate Brown so I would like him to be in the 23.

The battle at halfback will be interesting as the season unfolds.

[Bovidae]

Just thinking about who was available for selection but missed out from the 2017 squad.

Only Tucker, Donald, Tiatia and Fisiiahi.

[gt12]

Well, at least Fisiiahi foodbill is gone. Pretty average squad beyond a strong first 15. A few injuries and we'll really struggle.

Fucking Marty Mckenzie is back. Bloody hell. Fucking TNW is back too. If I see him in midfield, I'm going to drive to Colin Coopers house and throw my beer through his TV.

As much as I love him, I can't see how Messam deserves a starting spot. I would have given him the tap and asked him to leave. At least, I hope to see Seu starting and Messam off the bench. We're heavy on opensides, so I wonder if we might see Cane not at 7, in order to get the three best loosies on the field.

[KiwiPie]

Could be a long year for the Chiefs. Only 10 with experience is Marty Mac and he shouldn't be in any squad. Ardron is a mystery, Canadian skipper but a nonentity for the Bay this season, Parete was picked ahead of him and consistently played better than him.