Looking forward to 2019...
-
Great to see 22 players already locked in with contracts for the 2019 season.
It’s a massive advantage to be able to get players on the required programs so early in the piece.Notable omissions are Rene Ranger & Jack Goodhue, but I suspect we will see them back in a Cambridge Blue jersey in 2019 although Goodhue’s playing time will extremely limited if not at all.
Murray Douglas will be loss but that has been offset with the signing of 2017 NZ under lock Sam Caird from Waikato he will add some much needed height at 2.02 metres and with a 116Kg frame there is an opportunity to add on another few Kgs.
Matt Matich and Kara Pryor are looking for opportunities off shore, we wish them well in their endeavours
It has left a hole in the loose forward stocks,but I am pleased the coaches have shown loyalty to the local guys Matiu,Jacobson,McNamara and Aorangi Stokes especially.
The most notable omission is Matt Wright,according to the Northern Advocate he has a few boxes to tick before he can come back into the frame.Some interesting pieces to the puzzle to ponder over will be
Wiseguy Faiane as a possible back up to Jack Debreczeni that’s if he stays in the union and Renata Roberts TeNana as an outside back,had limited opportunities but looked sharp.
Hoping to see a much fitter and lighter Jone Macilai return in 2019,Props
Ross Wright (Wellsford)
Ropate Rinakama (Waipu)
Jack Straker (Kamo)
Isileli Tu'ungafasi (Mid Northern)
Boyd Wiggins (OBM)Hookers
Matt Moulds (Otamatea)
Jordan Olsen (Mid Northern)Locks
Josh Goodhue (Kamo)
Tom Robinson (Kerikeri)
Temo Mayanavanua (Waipu)
Sam CairdLoose Forward
Kano Jacobson (Kamo)
Jaycob Matiu (Hora Hora)
Sam McNamara (Waipu)
Aorangi Stokes (OBM)Halfback
Sam Nock (Kerikeri)
Jono Kitto (Hikurangi)First Five
Jack DebreczeniMidfield
Tamati Tua (Kamo)
Scott Gregory (Hikurangi)
Blake Hohaia (Kamo)Outside Backs
Jone Macilai (Awanui)
Jordan Hyland (Wellsford) -
@steven-harris Wouldn't there be a good chance that Ranger - now that he's signed with the Sunwolves - will also sign with a Japanese club for the Top League?
-
@steven-harris gutted about Matich & Douglas, both the types of players every team needs, huge engines and accurate.
Yeah Roberts-Te Nana should be someone they need to invest in.
No reason for Jack not to sign for Northland, as it doesnt matter who he signs for, he wont play anyway.
-
@taniwharugby agree with your coms regarding Douglas and Matich ,it was always going to be tough holding Douglas if he did not pick up an NZ contract besides I have been told he is looking for a path closer to home and my have aspirations to play for Scotland.
Matich very much in the same boat although the Union went over and beyond to keep him..pushing 3 x contracts under his nose.
There was an offer made to NZ under 20 and Auckland no7 Adrian Choat but I am guessing it cam down to loyalty. -
@steven-harris said in Looking forward to 2019...:
Murray Douglas will be loss but that has been offset with the signing of 2017 NZ under lock Sam Caird from Waikato he will add some much needed height at 2.02 metres and with a 116Kg frame there is an opportunity to add on another few Kgs.
Caird was only the 4th choice lock for Waikato this year and was overtaken by a younger McWhannell.
He has plenty of promise and just needs more opportunity. And as you say, a bit more bulk wouldn't hurt.
-
@bovidae he was so keen to look at the opportunity,he even drove up to Whangarei for the interview with the coaches.
We will gladly take him given it’s an area where Northland are a bit thin on the ground. -
@steven-harris obviously Tom Robinson can be a loosie too.
Be interesting to see if he bulks up a bit with the Blues.
-
@steven-harris Has Choat finished his engineering degree? He may want to stay closer to Auckland Uni if not.
-
Ranger and Goodhue re-sign.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=12196102&ref=twitter
-
@taniwharugby awesome news.
-
Also from that article:
In other signing news, local player Aorangi Stokes received a full contract after being on a development contract for the last two years. Northland prop Ropate Rinakama has not signed on with the team and will compete in the Global Rapid Rugby competition which involved multiple teams across Australia and Asia.
-
heard Alaimalo will not be joining Northland this year.
No word on where he is going, but assume Waikato, as my understanding is he wants to play 15, which he cant if he stays at Ta$man which is why he's leaving.
Since these negotiations have apparently been going on since soon after the conclusion of last years M10 Cup, I hope we havent been pinning our hopes on getting him and not been looking at other options for 15?
As great of a servant Matt Wright has been for us, I think 2019 will be a step too far for him.
Also heard that Ranger was looking at getting into that Rapid Rugby thing rather than play M10, which would be a shame, as playing for Northland seems to be what gets him going, as when he is not playing M10/ITM Cup for Northland, he just doesnt seem to have his spark and energy at other levels either.
Not to mention, he is getting close to picking up 100 caps.
-
@taniwharugby said in Looking forward to 2019...:
Also heard that Ranger was looking at getting into that Rapid Rugby thing rather than play M10
Why? I think RR finishes before the NPC?
-
@taniwharugby The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Rapid Rugby has been postponed until 2020.
-
Maybe Rinakama might head back for another season then...
-
@Tim See my most recent post in the Rapid Rugby thread; there will still be a "showcase" series of games. It doesn't say how many games, but the last game in 2018 was played on 17 August, so the first weekend of the Mitre 10 Cup. If this year's series will be played in the same period, it shouldn't interfere with Mitre 10 Cup too much.
-
@taniwharugby that’s gonna be very interesting regarding Rinakama, you do wonder what sort of advice these guys get from their agents, no question the man can scrum..just his defending close in let’s him down..if he rectifies that part of his game along with fitness ,he’s probably looking at a super contract ..
I also see Isi Tuangafasi was on the team list for the Saders in their pre season game against the Canes..
