Looking forward to 2019...
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@Duluth possibly start Matiu at 8, Matich 6, Stokes 7? or maybe McNamara at 6, who only got a couple of games last year, Jacobsen been out all season following concussion so he unlikely to be back, unless they go with a complete rookie (a few lurking around the club scene look the goods, but big risk)
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McNamara probably edges it then.. you'd want a good lineout option to replace Robinson
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@Duluth yeah McNamara is a big unit given he played a bit at 7...the Canadian Albornoz is an undersized lock, so possibly an option too?
Losing alot of experience though, although they could recall former Taniwha Cam Goodhue who has been running around for Kamo recently
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Definitely not the news Taniwha supporters needed to hear,Robinson brings so much energy to a pack ..
Given that Robinson was going to be used mostly as a number 6, the most likely replacement will come from the HP squad so that brings into play these options
Saimoni Uluinakauvadra Waipu ,saw a bit of him in the trial very impressive with ball in hand ,apparently he was close to the best player on the field when the 2 top teams Waipu and Kamo clashed last weekend .
Jarod Byrnes from OBM ,tall and rangy with a massive engine, can play 7 as well...
Other than that another option would be Raikabula Moedonudonu from Waipu last years Fijian Under 20 captain he is in the emerging squad ..has a superb build for a loose forward ..
Lucas Albornoz from what I understand he has moved down to the Hawkes Bay and is currently in their HP squad .It’s a real bugger to lose Robinson for the season, but just thinking back to last year, we had him on the field for the first 3 and half games and had to do within him for much of the regular season..good opportunity for someone else to stand up.
Have heard though it’s going to depend on how the post opp goes so we may see him back at some stage during the season fingers crossed. -
Development squad named, no doubt a few will get the call up into the main squad.
Looks a handy squad.
Northland Development Team Named!
The 2019 Northland Development Team has been named! First training is on Thursday 11th July at 6pm at Pohe Island....
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I believe these round out the squad;
Northland Rugby announces the following new signings for the Mitre 10 Cup.
Sean Sweetman (Lock, Wellsford)
James Cherrington (Midfield, Mid Northern)
Tom Stevens (Prop, OBM)
Nick Hyde (Hooker, W Sharks)
Barnaby Abdale-Weir (Prop, Waipu)
Coree Te Whata-Colley (Prop, W Sharks)
Jarod Byrnes (Flanker, OBM) Apprentice PlayerArticle added: Friday 12 July 2019
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Northland Taniwha preseason games
Friday 26th July 5:30 pm Kaikohe Counties Manukau
Thurs 1st August 12:30pm Mahurangi North HarbourFollowing Thursday opening game of the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup
Thursday 8th August 2019 7:30pm v Southland
Rugby Park Invercargill. -
@taniwharugby Barnaby Abdale-Weir is a bit of a rugby nomad. He played for Ponsonby when he was younger then i think in the Australian NPC recently. This season he was playing for University in Auckland. I wonder did he transfer north to play club part way through the season or did Northland sign him straight out of Varsity? When he was with Ponies he was very mobile and productive in the loose but struggled a bit at scrum. However he was not long out of school so is much older and more experienced now. It will be interesting to see how he goes at the next level.
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@Daffy-Jaffy he transferred up first and has only recently been added to northland squad.
Policy is to not sign players without them playing club footy up here (unless super players, established m10 cup elsewhere or NZ u20)
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@Steven-Harris any word on the team for tomorrow?
Assume you arent making the long journey up SH1? I cant make it either unfortunately.
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@taniwharugby not at this stage,I would imagine they will post the team on the website in the next 24 hours..have sent a message out..Got a bit on at the minute, so I will have to rely on Justin if he’s heading down to Kaikohe .
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@Daffy-Jaffy Abdale-Weir had a great season for Waipu who took out the Northland title this year..Had a good tutour in former Fijian international tight head Graham Dewes..apparently he had very consistent throughout the whole season..extremely fit and very reliable at scrum time..
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Northland Taniwha Team to play Counties Manukau Preseason
Kaikohe Rugby Football & Sports Club
26/07/2019 5:30pm kick off-
Jack Straker
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Paddy-Jo Atkins
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Boyd Wiggins
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Sean Sweetman
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Sam Caird
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Sam McNamara
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Matt Matich (vc)
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Jaycob Matiu
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Sam Nock (c)
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Tom Smith
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Pisi Leilua
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Blake Hohaia
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Matt Johnson
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Tamati Tua
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Jonty Rae
Reserves
Isileli Tu’ungafasi
Coree Te Whata-Colley
Tom Stevens
Barnaby Abdale-Weir
Jordan Olsen
Nick Hyde
Josh Goodhue
Temo Mayanavanua
Kane Jacobson
Jarod Byrnes
Corey Stevens
Will Grant
Wiseguy Faiane
James Cherrington
Renata Roberts-Te Nana -
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@Steven-Harris I like the look of that team, especially like that Jacobson on the bench, guy is quality.
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Hoping to make it along to Kaikohe for this, although I hear the forecast is crap.
Good to see a number of the new faces getting a run. Any word on the injuries to Ranger and Robinson? Are those two likely to suit up at all this year?
I get a feeling we’re kind of slipping under the radar this year after reading the chat on other threads about other teams. Things are very quiet on the NRU front. That’s a good thing in my opinion.
