Hurricanes 2019 Discussion
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@canes4life Don't think you're doing Coles, Savea, Fifita and Evans justice with that comment. And Tooamaga-Allen if he can manage to stay injury free (unlikely) and Lousi if he can find his form (which he seemd to have lost during NPC).
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@toddy What gets to me is that they are all the same props that we've had for the past three years. Yes we won the title in 2016 but that was on the back of some outstanding work by the only prop that isn't there anymore - Loni Uhila.
It actually baffles me that we can't seem to pick up good quality props - maybe Dan Cron smells bad or something because picking the same mediocre blokes (Toomaga Allen included) means we are destined for the same results (get to the playoffs but stink out to someone like the Crusaders or Lions away).
No point harping on about the signing of Rayasi, when our forwards will be back peddling all year. Also where is the mamouth lock Plumtree promised to track down - oh wait he is playing for the Melbourne Storm.
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@stargazer The only chance we have is if guys like Lousi, Cridge, Fidow, Aumua, Walker-Leawere all manage to put in a shift like Fatialofa did when he took the step up from the WTG a few years ago.
I can't see any pack in the competition bettering that Crusaders 8 though.
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@canes4life We've got some good young front rowers coming through in the Bay - so in a few years time you'll be able to assess them playing for other franchises.
Yeah, I was impressed Nicholas this year.
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@canes4life Toby Smith is a much better scrumagger than Uhila was. It's the TH side and the reserves that will be a big problem for the Canes. Eves is always backpeddling in the scrum.
There were a couple of NZ U20 props from the region this year (Xavier Numia, Sione Asi) in addition to the HB players.
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@bovidae Toby Smith and Fidow are the only two props that I am happy to see selected. The rest have a history of failing.
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@canes4life Eves was second or third choice LH for Harbour this year, and seemed to really have faded.
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@tim Painful isn't it. Any one of us could have come up with a better list of squad players and these guys get paid for it.
Funny how in their season review they saw srummaging as a real weakness, yet they bring back every single player from that campaign, including the scrum coach who has been there far too long. If this was the NFL, none of them would have a job anymore.
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@canes4life I honestly think that there needs to be a minimum number of roster spots kept open until after the NPC finishes. Every year there seem to be better several players exposed than those already signed.
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@stargazer said in Hurricanes 2019 Discussion:
@canes4life Lowe is better than Matt Faddes, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Tevita Li, Tevita Nabura and Josh McKay.
Hahahahahaha.
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@canes4life said in Hurricanes 2019 Discussion:
@tim Painful isn't it. Any one of us could have come up with a better list of squad players and these guys get paid for it.
Funny how in their season review they saw srummaging as a real weakness, yet they bring back every single player from that campaign, including the scrum coach who has been there far too long. If this was the NFL, none of them would have a job anymore.
Some people just don't get that, unlike big money US sports, Super Rugby franchises in NZ don't get the options of clean slate selections to fix areas.
Of course fans could write a wish list better squad but they don't have to pay the bills, break the contracts etc etc. They don't have to negotiate with agents demanding 2 year contracts to secure services. Or try and secure potentially good players before league/NH/another franchise takes them away and they then cop endless criticism from fans for letting someone slip away.
This isn't directed just at C4Ls frustrations but across nearly all the Super selection threads where the system and circumstances we have to deal with are causing misdirected criticism.
I'm not saying we shouldn't point out the problems or look for better, but at least temper criticism with a better understanding of the system these selections are done in.
I'd much rather that MMac had departed the Chiefs and another option was found, but I suspect there wasn't much choice. -
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@kiwimurph said in Hurricanes 2019 Discussion:
@crucial this doesnt apply to the Blues. There was no need to re-sign Collins and Tupou a few months ago. There was no need to sign Apisai to a 2 year deal 12 months ago.
Collins and Tupou, yeah, the selectors choice there. Criticise away. My only comment is that pre NPC a non decision on this type of player means you are dismissing them to overseas and hoping to spot/pick up someone else. It's a decision that has to be made at a dumb time, before seeing the options, but yes it is still a decision that you have to live with and cop it when you get it wrong.
I think Apisai falls firmly in the scenario I described where they took a punt on a guy that was getting good raps from the scouts but would have also had pressure from his agent for more than 1 year. You don't really get a choice in that regard unless you are the Crusaders where young players are looking to get their foot in the door no matter what.
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@cgrant said in Hurricanes 2019 Discussion:
Ben-Nicholas' absence from any franchise is beyond me. He was the standout player for Wellington during the M10 Cup and the Canes have no massive ball carrier in their loose forwards.
Agree. He was impressive
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@winger said in Hurricanes 2019 Discussion:
@cgrant said in Hurricanes 2019 Discussion:
Ben-Nicholas' absence from any franchise is beyond me. He was the standout player for Wellington during the M10 Cup and the Canes have no massive ball carrier in their loose forwards.
Agree. He was impressive
and had anyone thought he should be a Super player before the NPC?
Our system and the fighting for signings doesn't allow much room (unless lucky) for latecomers to the party that starts before the NPC.
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I'm sure Ben-Nicholas will get a run somewhere with injuries etc. as he was definitely pushing Akira as the best no.8 in the M10 cup. Maybe an Aussie franchise might even pick him up?
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@sparky said in Hurricanes 2019 Discussion:
Great backline yet again. Shame about the Props and Locks. Hope that Fidow and Aumua kick on next season.
Its essential. The team needs these 2 to kick on but also Walker - Leawere. But maybe even Cridge if he has got it
Injuries have been a killer for the last 2 years now. Its an area the Canes need to look at. players seem to be injured even off the field so maybe they need to look at the way they are conditioning players. Especially the tight 5 where we just lack depth. But if the tight 5 don't suffer too many losses then they may be able to compete. But lose our two hookers and other powerful dynamic players like Fidow and WL we won't have a hope. Just having workhorse type players is not enough.
The key when they won was not too many players out. And the Tongan bear fully fit and in outstanding form. The next and his final year he was stuffed with injuries. But just one player in dynamic form made a difference
