NPC - news, injuries etc
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Northland have announced a group of signings for the 2019;Mitre 10 Cup Season
Mathew Johnson OBM. (Midfielder)
Pisi Leilua. Waipu (Fullback)
Tom Smith.Kerikeri(First Five)
Corey Taylor. Kerikeri (Halfback)
Jonty Rae. OBM (Fullback/Wing)
Paddy Jo Atkins. Wellsford. (Hooker/Prop)
Nikau Graham. Kamo (First Five) Apprentice ProgramBlake Hoahaia has extended his contract through until the end of 2020 season .
Really excited about having Mathew Johnson (Former Southland and Blues Midfielder part of the Taniwha set up)
Pisi Leilua is in the Solomon Alaimalo mould is a very big quick fullback ,played sevens for Auckland
I especially like the look of Jonty Rae, tall rangy player who can play fullback or wing with a super big left foot, similar to James Lowes ,great for exits
One things for sure Northland will probably be fielding one of the biggest backlines in the Mitre 10 Cup.Fantastic to see the highly promising first five Nikau Graham bought in on an Apprentice programme, this kid looks the goods, played for the Northland under 19s last year .
Only 3 places to fill,
Tight head Prop,Lock and another midfielder -
Is this guy the next Beaudy? Anyone from Manawatu seen this kid play?
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@Canes4life I watch as much schoolboy rugby as I can and I can't remember him. I think if he would have been the next BB, I would have noticed, but obviously, I may be wrong. Stewart Cruden definitely isn't the next Aaron Cruden, just in case someone is wondering.
It looks like Wellington is poaching talent from other provinces again, having a fuller bank account than its fellow Hurricanes provinces.
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@Stargazer Interesting, I guess we will see how he develops.
Rich coming from Hawkes Bay who signed nearly every promising Wellington school kid a couple of years back.
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@Canes4life They signed a few Wellington school kids that the Wellington Lions didn't want. Big difference. We get the leftovers only. And often, they aren't good enough to make the Magpies.
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@Canes4life said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@Stargazer Interesting, I guess we will see how he develops.
Rich coming from Hawkes Bay who signed nearly every promising Wellington school kid a couple of years back.
Can you give us this list? They made such an impact I can't think of any.
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@Stargazer If we have poached so many players, who are they? Last I looked the likes of Aumua, Fidow, Numia, Savea, Perenara, Garden Bachop (brothers), Umaga Jensen (twins), Proctor, Coles, Toomaga Allen, Goosen all grew up in Wellington. I really don't get your point. I think you just like having a whinge.
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@Canes4life I'm not talking about the Canes, but about Wellington poaching players. I can't be bothered to go through the squad lists of recent years (I have better things to do), but from last year, Sheridan Rangihuna and yes, Isaia Walker-Leawere (from Gisborne, that's our backyard, not Wellington's) spring to mind.
I know Leo and Tyrone Thompson's father also played for MSP, but I've also heard from a good source that Wellington offered them money that the Bay didn't have.
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@Stargazer ironically you are getting Walker-Leawere back this year after the $$ Wellington put into him through that crucial development phase. You win some and lose some mate. Wellington have lost plenty of players to other provinces over the years. I'm afraid it's all business and money does the talking, which I agree is a real shame, but a reality nevertheless.
I talked to one of the MSP coaches the other day re the Thompson brothers and he said they moved for personal reasons and wanted a change in lifestyle, so again not all abou the money.
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@Canes4life said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@Nepia the NOBM four of Jack Nelson Murray, Zach Donaldson, Michael Buckley and Hanon Brighouse are all from Wellington.
Those were your star schoolboys?
Buckley looks a decent prospect but the others haven't made a dent.@Canes4life said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
I think you just like having a whinge.
What a stupid comment, you only have to look at how many Magpies make various Super squads to see why Hawkes Bay fans might get the pip with the Canes selectorial policies rather than just whinge for the sake of whingeing.
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Yeah but you guys moan about it every time a signing is made. For christ sake, Hawkes Bay have plenty of talent playing in Super Rugby. Next year the Canes have Flanders, Evans, Walker-Leawere, Toala, Lowe and will most likely sign up Keruru-Symes, McClutchie and Farrell. 8 players from a province like Hawkes Bay is exceptional and I haven't even touched on the likes of Fakatava, Makaele Tu'u etc at other franchises. Wellington is always going to feature more players because of the share size and talent pool they can select from. It's just the way it is.
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@Canes4life I'm still waiting for any evidence that the Canes will sign Kereru-Symes, McClutchie and Farrell. K-S trained with them during preseason, so he might be, but McC wasn't. If only the Landers would finally publish that list of youngsters that they have reportedly signed ...