Blues 2020
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So the CEO applications closed 3 weeks ago. Haven't heard any rumours around about who might have applied? Anyone got thoughts on who might have applied or a wish list as to who you hope applied? Maybe a couple of the 80 odd failed NZRFU applicants tried out for it as a backup.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Doug Howlett is back in the country isn't he?
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Exciting young Bay of Plenty winger Emoni Narawa has signed for the Blues for the 2020 Investec Super Rugby season.
The 20-year-old has been signed for two years after impressing the Blues coaches when he came in as a replacement player this season, and was a stand out player for the Blues A team against the touring Honda Heat side from Japan.
Narawa, born in Fiji, schooled at Hamilton Boys High on scholarship before being recruited by Bay of Plenty. His debut last year only lasted 50 minutes before breaking his ankle, although he returned to play Sevens for the Steamers and has been impressive in this year’s Mitre-10 Cup.
“Emoni is an elusive, fast and smart young winger who impressed us not just with his of field attributes but as an excellent young man,” said Blues General Manager High Performance, Tony Hanks.
“He will fit in with our approach to the game and we think he has enormous potential.”
Emoni features in the top 3 wingers in the Mitre 10 Cup for defenders beaten, is first in clean breaks and has so far scored three tries.
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Happy with that signing. Should see plenty of game time with Clarke gone with the 7s.
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Clarke and Nanai are out, and we still have Ioane, Duffie, and Tele'a. Should see some game time then, especially if Ioane plays at 13 some times. Duffie to be more of a 15 option next year?
Manu would be a good option to play 13 and wing.
Any other prospects? Telea from Harbour, and Fainga'anuku from Ta$man?
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@African-Monkey plus if Reiko follows through with his reported request to move into centre next season. They will need further wing signings also. Maybe Tele'a can be used there again but Duffie is only any use as Fullback cover now, he seems to have lost too much pace to play wing at super level.
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@Daffy-Jaffy Yeah don't know what we're gonna do at fullback next year. Duffie's past his best now so I guess Perofeta plays there but he's always injured so yeah, we're gonna struggle there next year.
I think Tele'a is best suited to wing at this stage of his career so I expect to see him play out there a lot next year.
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The team is shaping up now, but there's a lot of inexperience at the back.
- Karl T
- ? Abel or Niuia?
- Ofa T
- Tuipulotu
- ? Maybe one of the Harbour boys or Whetton?
- Robinson
- Papalii
- Ioane
- Christie
- Barrett
- Narawa
- Faiane
- Ioane
- Tele'a
- Perofeta
- Parsons
- Hodgman
- Renata
- GCT
- Gibson/Sotutu
- Nock
- Manu/Plummer
- Duffie/Manu
Olmsted would be handy.
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
The team is shaping up now, but there's a lot of inexperience at the back.
- Karl T
- ? Abel or Niuia?
- Ofa T
- Tuipulotu
- ? Maybe one of the Harbour boys or Whetton?
I'd give Pierce the first chance along side Tuipulotu
If the rumours are correct we'll need a new TH
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@Tim pretty strong forward pack if the Blues can grab a decent-ish lock. Maybe taking a punt on someone like Cridge from the Bay, even though he has had injury troubles in the past.
My ?? are in the backs. I think the Blues would look far stronger if they leave Ioane on the left wing and attempt to sign more of a distributing 13. Also wouldn't Clarke be your starting 11 if Ioane was your 13?
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@Canes4life Clarke is playing 7s next year.
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@African-Monkey oh yup.
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Regardless of how the future plays out, Collins looks back at his time with the Blues with some fondness and dismisses criticism of the Auckland franchise's culture.
"Auckland's interesting because you've got such a wide area from where people would have to travel in from for training, whereas in Dunedin everything is obviously five minutes away," he said.
"So, there's obviously restrictions but at my time at the Blues the management found ways around it.
"In the past the Blues used that as excuse. There's a lot of comments about the culture not being good enough but I never found that at all. I loved the culture up there, turning up at training. I'm part of the Highlanders now but I still want the Blues to do well at some stage."
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