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Blues 2021

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Blues 2021
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  • KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurph
    replied to Stargazer on last edited by
    #243

    @Stargazer I presume a midfielder.

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  • KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurph
    wrote on last edited by
    #244

    So I wonder how Eklund works?

    Is he in for the whole season replacing Vikena?

    Or only part of the season?

    macmanusM 1 Reply Last reply
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  • CrucialC Offline
    CrucialC Offline
    Crucial
    wrote on last edited by
    #245

    I know this signing was announced a few weeks ago but the Blues have scored a bit of a coup stealing Darry from Crusader land.
    Decent prospect by all accounts, just that the locking queue in red and black is a bit long.
    His mum is the nutritionist on the weetbix ads and his dad was a North Otago rep and good mates with Steve Hansen

    nzzpN 1 Reply Last reply
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  • nzzpN Offline
    nzzpN Offline
    nzzp
    replied to Crucial on last edited by
    #246

    @Crucial it seems that Auckland is suddenly a credible (even attractive) destination for young players.

    At long bloody last is all I can say.

    CrucialC 1 Reply Last reply
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  • CrucialC Offline
    CrucialC Offline
    Crucial
    replied to nzzp on last edited by
    #247

    @nzzp also helps that he is friends with Rangi’s son

    nzzpN 1 Reply Last reply
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  • nzzpN Offline
    nzzpN Offline
    nzzp
    replied to Crucial on last edited by
    #248

    @Crucial yeah, but it's not just him. Our fringe players are a huge step up on last year, and the year before that.

    Every team has stars, but it's the squad depth that often makes a difference when injuries start to kick in. That's where the recruitment is so effective, and where Canterbury have had an edge for so long. I think you're starting to see talented up and comping players moving from other regions into Auckland because they want to - the outside back from Naki (JRK), Hunt coming home. Hell, even Nepo coming back over the hill wouldn't have happened in the past.

    Anyway, our traditional (of the last few years) weaknesses of 2/9/10/15 are still there, but they have moved from 'yawning chasm of pain' to 'solid, but not world class'. I'll take that, and there is plenty of upside out there too.

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  • macmanusM Offline
    macmanusM Offline
    macmanus
    replied to KiwiMurph on last edited by
    #249

    @KiwiMurph Niuia over Eklund...

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  • Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy Jaffy
    wrote on last edited by Daffy Jaffy
    #250

    ins and outs -

    Vikena for Ekland
    Lay - Lindenmuth
    Laulala -Mafileo
    Darry - Tucker
    Plumtree - Carroll
    Hunt - Lamborn
    Lam - Marchant
    R-Kneepkins - Duffie
    Macilai-Tori - Hyland
    Sullivan - Barrett
    TBC? - Reidlinger-Kapa or
    TBC? - Heighton
    gone not replaced - Page.

    DiceD 1 Reply Last reply
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  • DuluthD Offline
    DuluthD Offline
    Duluth
    replied to Tim on last edited by
    #251

    @Tim said in Blues 2021:

    Depth in midfield is a big concern.

    Probably looking at utilities providing cover? AJ Lam often plays 13 at club level. Plummer covers 12

    Hopefully Tele'a's bad luck with injuries is over

    SnowyS 1 Reply Last reply
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  • SnowyS Offline
    SnowyS Offline
    Snowy
    replied to Duluth on last edited by
    #252

    @Duluth said in Blues 2021:

    Probably looking at utilities providing cover? AJ Lam often plays 13 at club level. Plummer covers 12

    Yeah was just going to say that too. Plummer will cover 12.

    If there is one to be to be added, and it is a midfielder, who else is out there?

    DiceD 1 Reply Last reply
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  • DiceD Offline
    DiceD Offline
    Dice
    replied to Snowy on last edited by
    #253

    @Snowy Ray Nu'u, Tei Walden and Stacey Ili would be 3 guys I'd have a look at.

    Ili is the least likely to be picked, because he's played for Samoa and is a bit older, but he's the most exciting option. He's a local boy though, and the brother of Tall Blacks player, Shea Ili.

    SnowyS 1 Reply Last reply
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  • SnowyS Offline
    SnowyS Offline
    Snowy
    replied to Dice on last edited by
    #254

    @Dice Had forgotten about Tei Walden. He's still in the 'Landers WTG though isn't he. I don't know how that contracting works?

    DiceD 1 Reply Last reply
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  • DiceD Offline
    DiceD Offline
    Dice
    replied to Snowy on last edited by Dice
    #255

    @Snowy Unless I've missed something, it doesn't seem he's with the Highlanders at all.

    News | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership

    News | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership

    Keep up to date and get breaking Highlanders news first! See the latest scores, team standings and player news.

    Not back from 2020: Jack Whetton (NSW), Dillon Hunt (Blues), Rob Thompson ( Japan) Bryn Gatland (Chiefs), Jesse Parete (Japan), Josh Iosefa-Scott, Zane Kapeli, Kirisi Kuridrani, Teihorangi Walden, Tevita Nabura, Josh McKay

    SnowyS 1 Reply Last reply
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  • SnowyS Offline
    SnowyS Offline
    Snowy
    replied to Dice on last edited by
    #256

    @Dice Cheers. Hadn't seen that.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • BovidaeB Offline
    BovidaeB Offline
    Bovidae
    wrote on last edited by
    #257

    Walden has an achilles injury so could take a while to fully recover.

    StargazerS 1 Reply Last reply
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  • Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy JaffyD Offline
    Daffy Jaffy
    wrote on last edited by
    #258

    New Blood -

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  • DiceD Offline
    DiceD Offline
    Dice
    replied to Daffy Jaffy on last edited by
    #259

    @Daffy-Jaffy When looking at that, I think we've upgraded our roster this season.

    Luteru Tolai would be the most unlucky one from last season's team to not be in the team again.

    He's only 22, so hopefully we pick him up again after 2021 when Parsons and Niua should be off contract.

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • StargazerS Offline
    StargazerS Offline
    Stargazer
    replied to Bovidae on last edited by
    #260

    @Bovidae Yeah, but he suffered that injury after it became clear that the Highlanders weren't going to re-sign him. So it's not due to his injury that he doesn't have a Highlanders contract.

    BovidaeB 1 Reply Last reply
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  • BovidaeB Offline
    BovidaeB Offline
    Bovidae
    replied to Stargazer on last edited by
    #261

    @Stargazer I was meaning that the injury could be the reason that Walden wasn't picked up by another team (e.g., Chiefs, Blues).

    1 Reply Last reply
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  • KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurphK Offline
    KiwiMurph
    wrote on last edited by
    #262

    Interestingly - the 2019 Blues development player of the year was a midfielder - Lemeki Namoa - but he's fallen away - he has been injured and then could only make Auckland B squad this year.

    1 Reply Last reply
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