Looking forward to 2019...
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@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.
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@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.
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@steven-harris Has Choat finished his engineering degree? He may want to stay closer to Auckland Uni if not.
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Ranger and Goodhue re-sign.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=12196102&ref=twitter
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@taniwharugby awesome news.
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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.
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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.
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@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?
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@taniwharugby The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Rapid Rugby has been postponed until 2020.
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Maybe Rinakama might head back for another season then...
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@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.
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@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.. -
@Steven-Harris yeah I think he was in some pre-season pics with them before Xmas?
What I hadnt realised was Ross Wright at the Chiefs, could be a shortcut to the ABs after last year with Tu'unukuafe and Ta'avao
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@taniwharugby rapt for Ross.should have been at this level several years ago.
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@Steven-Harris Did you make it to the pre-season game?
