Ultimate NPC: - Northland
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Warren "the boot" Johnstone.. jezz that name caused me grief for years! lol
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We need an 8, Mose Tuiali'i is an option for someone who played for the ABs and did play well in his season up here? Struggling to think of someone else, mind is blanked?
@taniwharugby said in Ultimate NPC: - Northland:
OK, so looking like team pretty much picks itself aside from a few positions?
1 - Con Barrell (Northland/North Auckland Caps - 77, AB's - 4 matches, 0 tests)
2 - Whitcombe (20,5) Sloane (146, 1)
3 - Richie Guy (91, 4)
4 - Ian Jones (66, 79)
5 - Glenn Taylor (143, 1)
6 - Norm Maxwell (38, 36)
7 - Gus Collins (114, 0)
8 -Peter Jones (79, 37)
9 - Sid Going (110, 29)
10 - David Holwell (115, 0) Eddie Dunn (107, 2)
11 - Rupeni Caucau (21, 0)
12 - Jack Goodhue (9, 14)
13 - Norm Berryman (107*, 1)
14 - Rene Ranger (88, 6)
15 - Warren Johnstone (161, 0) Jared Payne (36, Ire 20) -
Hilton-Jones? Another option is move Gus to 8 and pick one of the other open sides. None of them really demand selection though
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@Duluth yeah HIlton-Jones possibly stacks up with other 7s we have had over the years who were quality NPC players, but probably fall short when looking at a 15 such as this.
THere is someone I know I am forgetting, but I think he will fall into the above category too.
in the OP I had Brett Waaka who played over 60 games, but he isnt the other name I cant remember
Mike Burgoyne, who is listed as a flanker, played 31 times for North Auckland and 8 times for NZ Maori, you could also consider Dan Pryor, 54 games for Northland, 2 for NZ Maori
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Assuming Cantabs don't want him you could put Hamish MacDonald at lock. He returned to Northland and played until 78.
Better option than Jones
Seriously I do get both chosen locks are legends but MacDonald was an outstanding player.
If BOP don't want him you could consider adding Tuck Waaka to the loose forward mix
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@dogmeat yeah I did have a look at him too, but I think Jones edges him, Michael Speight is another good lock, although he played 1 game more for NH than us.
@Gunner Bevan Holmes is another to consider at 8, 90 games for Northland, Wiki says he played for NZ between 1970-1973 with 0 appearances.
I thought of Jake too.
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according to Wiki, NPC started in 1976, Sid played through to 1978, but Guy would miss by 2 years.
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Bevan Holmes, the holder of that infamous record of playing the most games for the All Blacks with out playing a test (31).
He would have played more for both NZ (IMO) and North Auckland, but he had a bad run with injuries throughout an interrupted career.
He played until the end of 1978 (including the Ranfurly Shield win) and was better a better No. 6/8 than many that have been suggested. -
have to be Bronson if no Guy then, over 100 games for Northland, over 40 super games plus 7 for NZ Maori.
So just 10 now - Dunn or Holwell?
1 - Con Barrell (Northland/North Auckland Caps - 77, AB's - 4 matches, 0 tests)
2 - Whitcombe (20,5) Sloane (146, 1)
3 - Bronson Murray (104, 0)
4 - Ian Jones (66, 79)
5 - Glenn Taylor (143, 1)
6 - Norm Maxwell (38, 36)
7 - Gus Collins (114, 0)
8 - Bevan Holmes (90, 31, 0)
9 - Sid Going (110, 29)
10 - David Holwell (115, 0) Eddie Dunn (107, 2)
11 - Rupeni Caucau (21, 0)
12 - Jack Goodhue (9, 14)
13 - Norm Berryman (107*, 1)
14 - Rene Ranger (88, 6)
15 - Warren Johnstone (161, 0)@Pepe Holmes taught my brother at Primary School for a while too, not sure if that says much given you know my brother haha
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@taniwharugby said in Ultimate NPC: - Northland:
have to be Bronson if no Guy then, over 100 games for Northland, over 40 super games plus 7 for NZ Maori.
So just 10 now - Dunn or Holwell?
1 - Con Barrell (Northland/North Auckland Caps - 77, AB's - 4 matches, 0 tests)
2 - Whitcombe (20,5) Sloane (146, 1)
3 - Bronson Murray (104, 0)
4 - Ian Jones (66, 79)
5 - Glenn Taylor (143, 1)
6 - Norm Maxwell (38, 36)
7 - Gus Collins (114, 0)
8 - Bevan Holmes (90, 31, 0)
9 - Sid Going (110, 29)
10 - David Holwell (115, 0) Eddie Dunn (107, 2)
11 - Rupeni Caucau (21, 0)
12 - Jack Goodhue (9, 14)
13 - Norm Berryman (107*, 1)
14 - Rene Ranger (88, 6)
15 - Warren Johnstone (161, 0)@Pepe Holmes taught my brother at Primary School for a while too, not sure if that says much given you know my brother haha
Give it to Holwell
And swap Maxwell & Taylor around...
That is a bloody good team, how about the razzle dazzle in the backline
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looks a pretty handy side, even putting Goodhue at 12 (where he played well for Northland)
Berryman, Ranger & Rupeni...that pack could supply them some quality ball
@Gunner said in Ultimate NPC: - Northland:
1 - Con Barrell (Northland/North Auckland Caps - 77, AB's - 4 matches, 0 tests)
2 - Whitcombe (20,5)
3 - Mike Storey (36,0)
4 - Ian Jones (66, 79)
5 - Norm Maxwell (38, 36)
6 - Glenn Taylor (143, 1)
7 - Gus Collins (114, 0)
8 - Bevan Holmes (90, 31, 0)
9 - Sid Going (110, 29)
10 - David Holwell (115, 0)
11 - Rupeni Caucau (21, 0)
12 - Jack Goodhue (9, 14)
13 - Norm Berryman (107, 1)
14 - Rene Ranger (88, 6)
15 - Jared Payne (36, Ire 20, B & I Lions 0) -
@taniwharugby. Not bad but dissenting on a few....Bronson Murray was a weak scrummager. Someone like Mike Storey who I really rate would be better. He, with Whitcombe and Tim Knight were the best front row I can remember. You have to have Eddie Dunn who was a first choice AB and ahead of his time with the type of rugby he played, in front of David Holwell. Also Jared Payne ( Ireland, Lions ) offers more than the boot.
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@taniwharugby said in Ultimate NPC: - Northland:
@dogmeat yeah I did have a look at him too, but I think Jones edges him, Michael Speight is another good lock, although he played 1 game more for NH than us.
@Gunner Bevan Holmes is another to consider at 8, 90 games for Northland, Wiki says he played for NZ between 1970-1973 with 0 appearances.
I thought of Jake too.
As @Pepe notes, most games for NZ without a test, but if he was playing today with the substitutions/rotation etc he would have had at least 30 odd tests.
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@kev I could easily be convinced of Payne over Johnston, The Boot just carries a bit more mana I reckon, even though Payne was a more well rounded and dangerous player, similarly someone over Murray, who I agree wasnt a strong scrummager, even though he was very good at times...very inconsistent, so yeah I could go with Storey over him (Storey played 36 times for Northland and 3 for the Blues as a sub)
While Dunn played higher than Holwell, I'm still not sold, think it is about 60/40 for me.
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