semi final v Waikato

[Hooroo]

All you need to do is slightly antagonise our forwards and they will give you dumb penalties all day, especially if it is tight at the end and we are on you try line....

[taniwharugby]

@hooroo after our last effort, keeping it tight is the key

[Chiefy07]

So much of this game will depend on the injury list.

These are the sorts of games the SR coaches will be looking for guys to step up. So big opportunities for guys like Nock, Matich, Robinson, Hyland, Olsen, Kitto, Tua who may be on the fringes

[taniwharugby]

Rene Ranger has won both player of the year and players player of the year.
Jordan Hyland has won off-field performance
Moulds won team man of the year
Debreczeni most improved back
Robinson most improved forward

[kev]

@taniwharugby really pleased for Rene. He was always a great player for us but he has become a leader - always giving 80 minutes of effort. A great example for those around him and for fans there is nothing better than seeing his name on the roster each year. Hope he comes back next year.

[Machpants]

So bizarre to have the awards before the season is over.

[Steven Harris]

I pray for one thing only..!


[taniwharugby]

Absolutely gutted...coincidentally I am staying in Hamilton this weekend but at game time I'm gonna be in Rotorua, probably unable to watch, maybe not even able to listen, depending on what we are upto at that time 🤔

Could be a blessing or could be gutting...especially as we should be getting at least a few back off the injured list.

[Steven Harris]

From what understand there’s 25% chance that Pickerill be the official for the Northland v Waikato game on Saturday
Thought I would listen back to the radio commentary from last Saturday’s Shield challenge,former Waikato lock Steve Gordon absolutely tore him a new one and suggested he should go back to heartland rugby..
Maybe these odds are falling by the wayside..

[taniwharugby]

@steven-harris although Waikato were pretty lucky in that game, they shoulda had 2 YCs, from where I was sitting he was fairly consistent in his poor decisions with both team bar the cards

[taniwharugby]

surely he wont consider playing for anyone else in NZ?

His 2 years at NH didnt really go too well, he knows where he should stay!

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=12143371

[taniwharugby]

TAB odds for Saturday:

Head to Head: Waikato $1.27 Northland $3.50
$1.87 for a 10 point start for Northland
Northland 13+ $10
Northland 12 and under $4.50
Halftime double: Waikato/NOrthland $8.00
Northland/Waikato $5.50
Northland/Northland $5.50

I think pretty fair.

[Crucial]

@taniwharugby said in semi final v Waikato:

TAB odds for Saturday:

Head to Head: Waikato $1.27 Northland $3.50
$1.87 for a 10 point start for Northland
Northland 13+ $10
Northland 12 and under $4.50
Halftime double: Waikato/NOrthland $8.00
Northland/Waikato $5.50
Northland/Northland $5.50

I think pretty fair.

Considering the TAB had your lot at 1.87 with a 1.5 point start in your last game and the Ferald had that as one of its bets of the round...…

[taniwharugby]

@crucial I will be very surprised if we are pumped like that again (while also not....) this team can play, just too inconsistent

[taniwharugby]

A few back form the injury ward: Ross Wright, Goodhue, Robinson, Matich, Ranger.

Albornoz gets a start, bit surprised, thought McNamara would have done enough to get another start but Albornoz looks like a bit of a worker too, Matiu over Matich is a big call IMO (although I guess he didnt have his best outing last time v Waikato) and Tua at 12 is also a bit of a gamble given his form, but hopefully he pulls finger and has a stormer.

Northland Team to face Waikato:
Wright, Moulds, Rinakama
Albornoz, Goodhue
Robinson, Stokes, Matiu
Nock, Debreczeni
Tua, Ranger
Gregory, Wright, Hyland

Olsen, Straker, Tu'ungafasi, MacNamara, Matich, Kitto, Faiane, Hohaia

Injury list: Douglas (fractured leg) Jacobsen (concussion) Pryor (shoulder) Mayanavanua (shoulder) Roberts-Te Nana (hammy) Thoroughgood (ankle)

[Steven Harris]

Referee appointments for the Mitre 10 Cup Championship/Premiership semi finals

Waikato v Northland >Paul Williams.
Ta$man v Canterbury>Mike Fraser
Otago v Hawkes Bay>Ben O’Keeffe
Auckland v Wellington>Brendon Pickerill Sorry about that..!

[taniwharugby]

@steven-harris first hurdle avoided, and also not the guy that we had v HB, in fact I dont think we have had this guy this season that I can see.

just need to beat Waikato now

[taniwharugby]

Cam Goodhue podcast with Ross Wright

#3 - Ross Wright by The Up and Under

[Chiefy07]

Biggest surprise for me is Stokes starting ahead of Matich and Tua in midfield whilst Gregory is on the wing. Good to get Ross Wright back. After his defence the last few weeks, Rinakama might be a tad lucky to start.

[taniwharugby]

@chiefy07 think Stokes is closer to a 7 than any of the others in the team, so for me its Matiu/Matich.

What we lose in work rate and accuracy MAtiu brings with his ball carrying and probably harder defence.

The Tua one is interesting, especially as his defence has been poor this season, so he needs to be on ppoint this game otherwise the game could well again get away from us pretty damn quick.