Northland 2020
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@Duluth said in Northland 2020:
Matt Matich (I think I recall seeing recent photos of him playing for his Sharks club side... maybe??)
Isi Tu'ungafasi (Transferred to Canterbury)
Jaycob Matiu (Playing for Hora Hora, so assume he'll be signed considering he was Northland player of the year last season)Fixed some for you...
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Kara Pryor has been playing for HH this year, so unsure if he will be an option as well.
@Tim Tua is definitely a tall one, has skills and pace, think it is between the ears where the issues lie.
Isi definitely did transfer to Canterbury.
IIRC Roberts-Te Nana may have gone to the US initially (similarly Blake Hohaia who was back a few weeks ago for Kamo)
I didnt realise we had got Matt Wright back, I think I'd prefer to see him running at 10 before Hawkins, be interesting to see how Johnny Cooper (former POnsonby and Auckland age group player) goes though returning north.
Is a shame NRU couldnt get on board with the Blues and get DC up here for us
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@taniwharugby is Wiseguy playing as well?
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@kev Wiseguy has been playing for Waipu and playing the house down, seems to have had a change in mindset and is a good chance of signing with the Taniwha..a tad surprised they signed Hawkins to be fair..
I was hoping they might have a quick look at Zarn Sullivan ..plays for College Rifles in Auckland ..played for the NZ Maori colts last year and has played NZ Secondary schools . -
I havent been to as many seniors games this season, Waipu top the table (assume Wiseguy at 10) HH 2nd (Hawkins at 10) MN in 3rd (assume Cooper is playing 10, which could be a good sign given MN were last in 2019)
Kamo (4th) have a guy who played wing/FB last year mainly at 10 this year (not a great kicking game) assume KK still has Tom Smith who got a few minutes last season for Northland
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@taniwharugby Has Jack Straker remained in Queensland with the Reds ? Cause he had a contract for 2020
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@NateHill74 I believe so.
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@taniwharugby You guys must be swimming in money if you can afford to have two assistant managers to back up the manager.
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@Duluth very much so, but there is some tough games on the horizon , including , Harbour , Auckland & Waikato to come in terms of premiership teams and 2 tough away games this Friday against the Magpies and the following week against Otago ..a win this over one of these teams is required , a win over the Magpies , I will probably be drunk for days ..😂..
On the down side , Northland will lose Temo Mayanavanua either after the Magpies game or at stretch the Otago Game and that will probably be the last time we see Temo in Northland colours again, he is joining the Fijian national squad for the Autumn games in Up North ..and the word is his agent is looking for an oversees deal .
And Northland will not only be looking for 1 lock next year , but possibly 2 as Sam Caird has signed a 3 year deal with the Waratahs .
The union sensed this may happen,hence the signing of NZ Secondary schools lock Allen Craig , former Whangarei Boys and St Kentigern college , got really good size .. -
@Steven-Harris said in Northland 2020:
The union sensed this may happen,hence the signing of NZ Secondary schools lock Allen Craig , former Whangarei Boys and St Kentigern college , got really good size ..
I've seen a bit of Craig up close and he is rated the top school lock but he isn't as tall as you think. His profile says 1.95 m which seems about right. Good that Northland can get one of their own back.
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@Bovidae One thing Northland is really driving towards is getting as many home grown kids to come home after they have done their education piece ..they would dearly love to a get a Rivers Reihana back ,also these 3 Boys that were in the Whangarei Boys High School team ,Max Brunker who has a similar build to Damien McKenzie and like D-Mac can shift and is very intelligent , Also Josh Beehre and lock/6 very athletic , saw him play 7s , but I believe he was offered a scholarship from Hastings Boys High and Jordon Dwight a number 8 who the Blues rated ,but went down to Otago University..
Northland have also being trying to sign a couple of kids that are schooling down here in Auckland , but have run into a road block , namely Dan Bowden who is running locking up all the talent , much of these kids end up getting no game time and end either giving the game away or going to another province that is not in the Blues Franchise.
Really frustrating, you just wish the Blues would get involved . -
@Steven-Harris Does Bowden work for Auckland or the Blues? He was one of the Blues U18 coaches.
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@Bovidae said in Northland 2020:
@Steven-Harris Does Bowden work for Auckland or the Blues? He was one of the Blues U18 coaches.
Auckland skills coach
