Looking forward to 2019...
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HP weekend away up at Puriri bay...doing some work for DOC by the looks
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Gutting to see him leave, but he has served Northland well, most Northland fans will no doubt feel he has had a bit of a raw deal at the Blues behind the legend that is James Parsons, but even so, now is a good time for him to go.
just wording in article, or has Moulds negotiated an early release from Northland? @Steven-Harris @Northlandallday
https://warriors.co.uk/2019/04/25/warriors-sign-blues-hooker-moulds/
Warriors have made Blues and Northland hooker Matt Moulds their seventh new signing for the 2019/20 season.
Moulds will become Warriors second signing from Super Rugby side Blues after wing Melani Nanai.
Moulds, 27, also plays for Northland alongside another new Warriors recruit, scrum-half Jono Kitto, and captained the province in the ITM Cup from 2015 to 2018.
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@taniwharugby The same media release also says this:
His strength and mobility have impressed Warriors Director of Rugby Alan Solomons who is looking forward to Moulds’ arrival at Sixways in time for the start of next season.
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@Stargazer yes I saw that too...he is/was signed for Northland for this season...which is why I queried if he been released given the crossover of M10 starting well before the start of the UK season, but finishing after.
I know Northland had been negotiating with another hooker, and also have heard Whitcombe rates the rookie hooker they bought into squad last year...Olsen will likely lead Northland this seaosn then.
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Good on Moulds for choosing to cash in. Don’t blame him at all. Can imagine his frustration at the Blues being stuck behind Parsons and Apasai. I scratch my head every time he’s left out of the 23. Yes, he has lineout problems, but I think he’s improved tenfold there from when he first started. Around the field he offers shitloads more than those other two.
All the best to him overseas, it’ll be good to hopefully see him back one day to finish his career in the Cambridge Blue.
As for the Northland front, I think we are well covered with Olsen. Hopefully Campbell Matthews comes through as a back up, or we manage to entice someone else with quality.
Who skippers now? As TR said, Olsen is a prime candidate. I’d also look at big red, Matich or even J Deb..
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@J77 Olsen was Captain last year in Moulds absence, so think he is obvious (although he might be on Canada's radar for RWC...)
Matich would be my other option.
Also heard that Moulds will not be considered a foreign player in UK due to heritage? so in theory, if makes the transition well enough (as others have) could play for England...?
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@taniwharugby
UK heritages? -
@Northlandallday heard one report say he is not listed as a foreign player, so have assumed that could also make him eligible for England?
“I’m really excited to start a new chapter in my rugby career with Worcester. My UK heritage is something I am very proud of, so to be able to live in the UK and play in the Gallagher Premiership at a great club with great people is an amazing opportunity for me. I’m really looking forward to working with everyone there,” said Moulds.
Moulds' signature completes Worcester's second successful raid of Super Rugby's Blues
Matt Moulds claims he is very proud of his UK heritage and his sealed move to Worcester will allow the Blues hooker the opportunity to strengthen those family connections.
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@J77 if Olsen gets called up to play for Canada I expect Ross Wright to be playing 2 for us, Matthews backing up and then someone else to be called in.
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@taniwharugby said in Looking forward to 2019...:
@J77 if Olsen gets called up to play for Canada I expect Ross Wright to be playing 2 for us, Matthews backing up and then someone else to be called in.
That could work! And he would also be a suitable captain. As would Matich and Goodhue.
Moulds qualifies for 🇮🇪 and 🏴.
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@J77 the Blues selection and development of players had been a shambles for years. Northland players struggle with selection with no one in the coaching and support staff. The Blues don’t rotate players despite being the worst performing franchise over many years. Too many of their 2nd and 3rd choice players never play but the first choice team is packed full of over rated players not performing that don’t compete for their place. Just really disappointed that Moulds hasn’t been given a real shot when the player in front of him is so average - deserved better.
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trial squads announced:
This Saturday! Northland Mitre 10 Cup Trial Game @ Hora Hora
Check out the North and South Zone Teams and Management for the Northland Mitre 10 Cup Trial Game. The game will be...
copy and paste is a mess from thier site....
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Sykes was back playing for Kamo on the weekend, but not named in either trial team...huge opportunity for Levien and Pittman I think with Nock possibly out for a part or all of the M10 Cup season now.
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@taniwharugby going to pop up for this trial game,I have been getting some goss on players to watch..
From what I believe OBM is building some really good depth and have attracted some good players from outside the region.. -
From what I have heard, OBM have a shit load of cash in the bank...you always hear from opposition clubs 'we never pay players' but they do, then another club says they dont, but someone else says they do...so taken with a grain of salt, but heard of one player who was in negotiations with OBM and another club and he told them outright why he went there.
We have a home game that day, so might try to get along too
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Researched a few the names we don’t know to much about.
Firstly it’s great to see a few names starting to filter through from the Northland under 19s.
Denver Patauawai who is a very solid prop that has being going really well for such a young guy and also Nikau Graham who has been running the cutter at first five at Kamo.
From what I have been told about Graham with the extra bow as a goalkicking looks a potential Mitre 10 Cup player of the future.I will start with a couple of new names in the forwards
Raikabula Moemoedonu is last year’s Fijian under 20 skipper who can play 6 or 8 tall rangy is good athlete that has been going well for Waipu.
Mathew Elia ,famous Rugby League second name has a bit of pedigree ,was involved with NZ secondary schools rugby ,was in the NZ Development Under 17 squad back in 2010
which I guess makes him around 26 years old.
Can play any one of the 3 loose forwards coach but talking to Greg Shipton who overseas OBM rugby has real potential as a number 7 over 100kgs and 6 foot.
Played most of his rugby down in Christchurch and was on the cusp of cracking Canterbury ,has played for the Canterbury Development squad , but I guess when you have so many good players in that region, the next best thing is to move on..Good to see the net has also been cast far and wide which gives local players a crack.
Don’t know too much about these 2 Paora Allen from Otiria who plays lock and Likewise Trevor Attwood from OBM who has been putting in some great performances, has a huge engine with a good work rate ,both players are from the Bay of Islands.Don’t know to much about Richard Manuel from Kaitaia, Bodene Davis from Kaikohe ,both loose forwards and Abdale Weir a prop from Waipu..hopefully someone can fill in some blanks.
Just looking at the backs, it’s the outside backs that’s exciting me the most.
Jonty Rae has looked extra good lining up at fullback for OBM
Tall and Rangy and good size 1.89 98 kgs can also play wing, has a very educated left foot which has good distance, can an also kick goals which is an extra string to his bow..
Having been part of Waikato 7s and Waikato Development back in 2017 he was very close to cracking Waikato’s top side but had a season ending injury which required knee surgery ,fell off the radar and decided to head over to Ireland ..but only 24 he’s back in NZ and more importantly in the Taniwha frame..could be a real solution to the Northland fullback puzzle .Pisi Leilua we have spoken about before ,but it is great to seeing he has further pushed his claims by making the trial squad ,Philip Manako as well both are part of a Waipu back division that has been extra well..
Peniasi Malimali from Western Sharks is a Fijian boy who only just missed out on a place in the Fijian National 7s Team ,is a converted flanker has been likened to Sevu Reece in terms of power and physicality..really keen to see this guy in action
Good to see a couple of players returning James
Cherrington from Mid Northern, made the Taniwha squad a couple of seasons back, so I’m guessing club form and taking on board a leadership role at his club placing him back in the frame .Emile Pittman impressed us all couple seasons seasons back, but never really caught a really good opportunity, with a 3 halfback yet to be decided and Mac Sykes having pulled out of the HP squad he’s probably in a straight battle with Wil Grant from Hora Hora who is a very tidy 9, has played for New South Wales Country and is tough as they come..reminds me of Steve Devine the former Blues halfback
Only player I don’t know too much about is the other halfback Cory Taylor from Kerikeri ,has come up from Christchurch.
Once again relying on someone to fill the gaps
Heading up to watch the trial on the 1st June, should be interesting -
@Steven-Harris will be interesting to see Nikau the kamo 10 outside Sykes, looked handy outside a struggling 9 early on, so Sykes might give him a shot to shine.
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@Steven-Harris got up to experience some North Zone club footy today. Watched Otiria v Rarawa at Ahipara. Paora Allen is a big unit, didn’t really show out as being overly physical, but having said that the standard of footy was poor. He was the only lineout option for Otiria and took every one.
He stood out like dogs balls in terms of physique, the rest were pretty much carrying beer guts and love handles!
I haven’t had the chance to get to many games this year up north so I couldn’t really fill you in on the other Far North prospects unfortunately.
Good to see Jone Macilai back running about too..
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Renata Roberts-Te Nana (outside back) re-signed with Northland for 2019, Aorangi Stokes and Sam McNamara (both Loose forwards) re-signed through to 2020
New signing, Harrison Levien (halfback) for 2019 season.
Scott Gregory recommitted to Northland through to 2022!
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@taniwharugby hope Renata stays fit. Looked good with limited time last year.
