Blues 2019
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Some good competition for the locking spots now.
Currently signed players:
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
Scott Scrafton
Patrick Tuipulotu
Jimmy TupouTuipulotu, Whetton, and Lemalu are all showing good form, with Scrafton to return from injury. When he comes back from his ACL and LCL ruptures is unclear, so extra cover might be needed.
Cowley-Tuioti has been pretty good for Harbour, with Pierce showing promise.
Have noticed Robinson from Northland. How is Goodhue going?
I'm considering Tupou as a six only, and Olmsted looks like the better option for a six who covers lock. That gives three specialist locks signed for probably five positions. Probably two of Goodhue, Whetton, and Lemalu will make the cut.
Lemalu has a unique ability, amongst potential Blues locks, to strongly defend mauls. He also adds a lot of power to scrums. How is his lineout work?
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@tim Goodhue has been very good, as has Robinson.
Both didnt play last night, and our lineout that had been functioning well struggled last night, we also missed both at the breakdown, conceding a bazillion turnovers
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@kiwimurph An awful signing. I don't know how he got an extension.
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African Monkey said:
@kiwimurph An awful signing. I don't know how he got an extension.
Cos he's mates with Tana from Counties. Urgh.
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The starting positions we need improvements in:
Hooker
Halfback
First Five
Centre
FullbackHoping we recruit:
Samisoni Taukei'aho
Leon Fukofuka
Otere Black returns well from injury
Tumua Manu
Shaun StevensonThen bench tighthead prop needs addressing. Renata has the workrate, but his scrummaging will need to go up a notch.
Tu’inukuafe
Taukei'aho
Tu'ungafasi
Scrafton
Tuipulotu
Olmsted
Gibson
Ioane
Fukofuka
Black
Ioane
SBW
Manu
Duffie
StevensonParsons
Hodgman
Renata
Whetton
Papali'i
Pulu
Perofeta
NonuShould be a lot of competition at lock and loose forward, which pleases me no end.
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@taniwharugby hope they have got security..!
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@steven-harris said in Blues 2019:
@taniwharugby hope they have got security..!
Blues better lock their shit.. Tutu finger capital of NZ!
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@tim said in Blues 2019:
Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
Please be true.
Big wraps on Tumua Manu from Steven Bates, who is a dev coach with Harbour and the Blues.
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@tim said in Blues 2019:
Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
Please be true.
It would relegate Collins to where he should be - a utility who makes the 23 when injuries hit
If this does happen its another big win for Coventry after recruiting Tu'inukuafe. MacDonald needs to up his game.. he's falling behind in the race to be 2020 coach
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@tim said in Blues 2019:
@tim said in Blues 2019:
Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
Please be true.
Big wraps on Tumua Manu from Steven Bates, who is a dev coach with Harbour and the Blues.
Manu is a must sign for the Blues.
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As an outside spectator of the Blues, Stevenson would be a fantastic signing. He will add plenty of variety in that backline, with a Ioane, Duffie, Stevenson back three.
The Blues have probably been guilty in the past of having too similar a player through their backline.
I think the question marks around Manu would be his distribution game because if he is another Moala there is no chance he is going to set his outsides away on a regular basis. If he is a Fekitoa type player then he could, however, fit fairly nicely outside Sonny Bill.
Also where would a player like Rayasi fit in the squad with guys like Ioane ahead of him, is there room for him anywhere as he looks like a great prospect?
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@canes4life Manu is a much better distributor than Moala. While his passing game could still improve - he's put wingers away with passing (and with some excellent kicking) this season. He should be Blues starting Blues 13.
The problem for the Blues is there's only limited spots and they have some questionable signings taking up roster spots.
Rayasi absolutely should be in the squad but there's only so many outside back spots and with Collins (lol), Nanai, Duffie, Ioane and Clarke already signed (and Stevenson?) there's not many spots for a winger. Collins will leave after this season so how does that help the Blues. In the meantime they are likely to lose Rayasi to another franchise.
It's the same problem in the midfield - SBW, Nonu and Tele'a already signed, supposedly Faiane is signed, that doesn't leave much room for Manu. Blues could easily lose Manu to another franchise and then SBW and Nonu bugger off after next season leaving the Blues in strife.
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@tim said in Blues 2019:
Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
As a Chiefs fan I would be disappointed but not surprised. Stevenson is a NH boy so might want to be based there all year. It would also indicate that Alaimalo is their first-choice fullback.
A few decent Auckland outside backs will be available as the Blues can't sign everyone.
