Hurricanes 2020
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@Canes4life Agree that the Canes are stacked in the midfield, but players will leave. What you say about Tyrone Thompson possibly being developed to take Coles' spot (eventually, after the 2021 season), the same reasoning could be applied to his twin brother being developed for when one of the midfielders leave. Peter U-J and Jonah Lowe could both be gone after the 2020 season. Jordie might move to another franchise after the 2020 season. I expect Laumape to leave after the 2021 season (esp if he doesn't get regular game time for the ABs, which isn't a given).
Having seen both of them play, I also disagree that Kienan Higgins looks a better prospect than Leo Thompson, esp if a team is looking for a more physically imposing player.
Anyway, it doesn't matter anymore. As I said, hopefully, Leo Thompson will come back to (NZ) rugby one day. After all, we don't know whether he'll succeed in league (or wants to stay in league) and for how long he has been signed by the Raiders. I haven't even seen the signing confirmed by the Raiders, yet. There may be spots available at other SR franchises next season (e.g., Highlanders midfielder Rob Thompson, if he decides to earn some coin overseas; he's already 28; or the other Umaga-Jensen, Thomas, might not be re-signed as he's always injured).
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@Stargazer Sport is a funny thing at times and maybe we will see Leo, I just think there are too many midfield options in the Hurricanes for him to get a chance.
Re Tyrone my feeling is that DC's seasons are numbered, also Riccitelli may look offshore and cash in on a better contract elsewhere in the next few years. Tyrone might aswell bide his time as I don't think he will get any other chances elsewhere, especially this young. Who knows though, the Blues might look to poach him considering their hooking stocks are crap.
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@Stargazer said in Hurricanes 2020:
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Because the Hurricanes don't need a good first five to replace BB. Oh wait ...
If Cruden comes back a bit shit, or breaks down for a decent wedge of the season (both distinct possibilities) then they made the right move. It's a risk for the Chiefs. A risk worth taking IMO, but a risk none the less
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@mariner4life Yeah, true, but even if that happens, he can still be useful in a mentoring role, because the Chiefs have promising rookies. The Canes don't even have that. My biggest concern about the Canes' first five recruitment (or lack thereof) is that they may be considering to try luring Sopoaga back to NZ next season, who has been playing so well the last few years.
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@Stargazer I can't even remember off the top of my head who the Canes 10s are? Isn't one of the Marshalls one of them?
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@Nepia The best of them is James Marshall, then there's a reasonably inexperienced Fletcher Smith, and then there's JGB, who is well below SR level.
Edited to add that the Canes coaches have said that they're not seeing a first five role for Jordie. Now that Plum has gone, who knows, that may change.
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@Stargazer said in Hurricanes 2020:
@Nepia The best of them is James Marshall, then there's a reasonably inexperienced Fletcher Smith, and then there's JGB, who is well below SR level.
Edited to add that the Canes coaches have said that they're not seeing a first five role for Jordie. Now that Plum has gone, who knows, that may change.
Jesus, (hometown bias warning alert for you blokes who care about that) but how the fuck did McClutchie not get into the Canes amongst that motley bunch?
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@Nepia said in Hurricanes 2020:
@Stargazer I can't even remember off the top of my head who the Canes 10s are? Isn't one of the Marshalls one of them?
As an entire country we aren't that great at developing them. The Blues haven't had a decent one since Carlos. The Chiefs have had to go back to Cruden. The Cane's haven't had a good one since the solid Holwell.
The South Island franchises doing the heavy lifting. Mehrts. Dan (sigh). Tony Brown. Sopoaga. Stephen Brett...
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@mariner4life said in Hurricanes 2020:
@Nepia said in Hurricanes 2020:
@Stargazer I can't even remember off the top of my head who the Canes 10s are? Isn't one of the Marshalls one of them?
As an entire country we aren't that great at developing them. The Blues haven't had a decent one since Carlos. The Chiefs have had to go back to Cruden. The Cane's haven't had a good one since the solid Holwell.
The South Island franchises doing the heavy lifting. Mehrts. Dan (sigh). Tony Brown. Sopoaga. Stephen Brett...
What do we call this bait? Beaudiebait?
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@mariner4life Justice for Evans and Anscombe!
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Gopperth!
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@ploughboy said in Hurricanes 2020:
sir stephen donald
The Chosen One was before Cruden. And we went back to him as well.
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@Tim said in Hurricanes 2020:
@mariner4life Justice for Evans and Anscombe!
One is a Pom, one's Welsh.
@Stockcar86 said in Hurricanes 2020:
Gopperth!
pfft hahahaha
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@Nepia said in Hurricanes 2020:
@Stargazer said in Hurricanes 2020:
@Nepia The best of them is James Marshall, then there's a reasonably inexperienced Fletcher Smith, and then there's JGB, who is well below SR level.
Edited to add that the Canes coaches have said that they're not seeing a first five role for Jordie. Now that Plum has gone, who knows, that may change.
Jesus, (hometown bias warning alert for you blokes who care about that) but how the fuck did McClutchie not get into the Canes amongst that motley bunch?
It is bewildering.
Fletcher Smith looks ok, I think will develop, JGB is just NPC standard, McClutchie would have been my pick. -
@Darren Fletcher Smith was horrible last year, both him, JGB and Marshall are all journeyman. Atleast we have plenty of weapons in the backline to hopefully counter their journeyman status.
