Blues 2019

[Tim]

Well, the NPC regular season is over, so it must be time for yet another of my "Will the Blues have a decent team next year? Well ... maybe." posts.

Assuming Manu is signed, then there's three big holes to fill: hooker, halfback, and fullback. Nonu as backup centre?

I'm still hoping for Stevenson, but I guess Trainor will be the other option. Still a bit small, IMO.

Halfback is a fucking gamble.

Hopefully that Waikato hooker is available and steps up. Over at Green and Gold Rugby they're saying that Abel isn't actually contracted to the Brumbies. Would be a nice signing - better than any of the 2018 Blues hookers. The Brumbies signed him until end of 2019 in 2017, but they do have three other hookers they've signed too.

Olmsted and Whetton have been big finds, and Marcel Renata has really improved. Mafileo has been pretty good for Harbour. We need a third loosehead, as prop attrition rates are very high now.

I think both Gibson and Papali'i have looked really good in the NPC. Backup number 8 is a big issue. Depth at 6 might be a question too.

[taniwharugby]

@tim 6 is where I reckon Matich would go best at super level, at a pinch 7, but not sure he is even on the Blues radar.

[KiwiMurph]

Sotutu covers 8 as does Papali'i.

Halfback Ruru should start.

Fullback Duffie should start with Trainor pushing him. That prob won't happen though....

Hooker yes is an issue. Hopefully some fresh blood there.

[Tim]

@kiwimurph Yeah, I don't know about Ruru at super level. His passing doesn't seem good enough to be honest, even though he improved in the NPC. Also, he can be a bit slow at clearing kicks.

[Tim]

@kiwimurph Riedlinger-Kapa looks a good prospect at 6, but again is very young.

[Duluth]

@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:

Sotutu covers 8 as does Papali'i.

..and Tupou

[taniwharugby]

@duluth am sure Taramai could too

[Tim]

@duluth Ouch!

[Duluth]

@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:

@duluth am sure Taramai could too

Hopefully he isn't signed?

We know Tupou is signed

[Tim]

@taniwharugby Double ouch!

[Duluth]

At 6 it will be interesting to see who has been added

Papalii should start at 6 (until Gibson is injured..)

Olmstead? Umaga was looking at Robinson in the Northland v Waikato game. Maybe they both got contracts

[KiwiMurph]

@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:

@duluth am sure Taramai could too

not on the basis of the Battle of the Bridge....

[taniwharugby]

@kiwimurph NPC means nothing!

[KiwiMurph]

@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:

@kiwimurph NPC means nothing to Tana!

Fixed

[Tim]

@kiwimurph Pretty sure Duluth was being sarcastic.

[KiwiMurph]

@tim just making sure in case Tana reads this

[Tim]

Robbie Abel left the Brumbies earlier this year.

Chris Dutton  /  Jul 15, 2018  /  Brumbies

'We won't recruit rockstars': Dan McKellar keen to develop Brumbies

The Brumbies have already turned their attention to building a squad for the future.

[KiwiMurph]

Robbie Abel has been named in the Maori All Black squad.

I wonder if that's a hint that he's hanging around NZ for Super Rugby?

[KiwiMurph]

Blues Rugby

The official home of the Blues rugby team. Buy tickets and merchandise, get the latest news, view results and go behind-the-scenes with our players.

Experienced Super Rugby trainer Phil Healey has been named to join the Blues with coaches Tana Umaga, Tom Coventry and Leon Macdonald.

Healey, former Chiefs strength and conditioning coach and currently at Glasgow Warriors in Scotland, will join the Blues for the next two years to lead the club’s strength and conditioning programme.

Healey was head strength and conditioning coach at the Chiefs for nine years and a key part of their two Super Rugby titles along with reaching the playoffs five times. He has spent two years with Dave Rennie at the Glasgow Warriors in UK and will return to New Zealand with his family before the start of the 2019 pre-season.

[Nepia]

@kiwimurph The Blues probably shoud have tried for Rennie as they appear to be assembling the rest of his team.