Pasifika SR team
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Be interesting to try and make a team from the players posted above. I would expect them to only pick up a hand few of the super rugby players from last year's Moana Pasifika squad. They have mentioned Steven Luatua a lot though.
If I'm being optimistic:
1 Daniel Leinert-Brown
2 Samisoni Taukie'aho
3 Sione Mafielo
4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi
5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
6 Steven Luatua
7 Niko Jones
8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u9 Jonathan Taumateine
10 Josh Ioane
11 Salesi Rayasi
12 Chase Tiatia
13 Vince Aso
14 Tevita Nabura
15 Stephen Perofeta16 Leni Apisai
17 James Lay
18 Marco Fepulea'i/ Joe Apikotoa/Jarred Adams/ Jordan Lay
19 ? Locks are a problem, maybe Filo Paulo
20 Samipeni Finau
21 Lisati Milo-Harris
22 Orbyn Leger
23 Lolagi Visinia -
@tim that smokes the Highlanders, takes depth from the Blues, and seriously disrupts other teams.
I think the key question is whether we have enough quality rugby players in the country and the Islands to sustain 6 teams. We have struggled in NZ with 5 ... the weak 5th team has been pretty clear, and shared around. Hell in 1996 it was the Crusaders.
It is possibly a good thing IF we stop losing players overseas. If you could keep NZ developed rugby players here, 6 teams would be a doddle. But I can't see it happening, and I still can't see the step up from islanders in the islands into Super. It's a massive, massive jump.
I hope it works, I'm just not confident, and it has a risk of damaging teams, provinces and people on the way through (Vikings anyone?)
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@tim said in Pasifika SR team:
Be interesting to try and make a team from the players posted above. I would expect them to only pick up a hand few of the super rugby players from last year's Moana Pasifika squad. They have mentioned Steven Luatua a lot though.
I can't see Luatua throwing in his Bristol salary for this but it would be great if he did.
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I'll throw some names about. Haven't researched current contracts etc but am guessing that they may either be happy to move back or could be at the end of a bigger contract and ready to come home. Let me know where I am off the mark.
Motu Matu'u
Fio Paulo
TJ Ioane
Jack Lam
Pele Cowley
TNWMaybe both Lay brothers?
I'm guessing that there are others scattered through lower divisions in UK/Europe that may trade to a similar pay here if the only left because they couldn't crack a NZ Super team.
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They may attract guys like Luatua back home. I hope they can attract guys that are test capped for Island teams and left NZ because I am pretty sure there is a limt on how many overseas capped players in a NZ squad. Counties had a few guys that were test capped and they left probably because their choices were limited in NZ. Guys like Ahsee Tuala, Rey Lee-Lo, TNW, etc.
As a counties fan I hope our island boys that left, come back and play for these guys and for counties in the NPC. This will be my other team that I will support.
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@mikedogz said in Pasifika SR team:
I hope they can attract guys that are test capped for Island teams and left NZ because I am pretty sure there is a limt on how many overseas capped players in a NZ squad. Counties had a few guys that were test capped and they left probably because their choices were limited in NZ. Guys like Ahsee Tuala, Rey Lee-Lo, TNW, etc.
I saw this comment recently from Pacific Rugby Players chief executive, Aayden Clarke:
There are limited opportunities in New Zealand and Australia because of the eligibility quotas in place. At the moment, players and their families have to go a long way offshore to earn a living. So quite simply, it would provide another option. There are many players we work with who love the opportunity to get away and live in Paris, UK or experience living in Japan and whatnot. It gives them a great lifestyle and experience. But at the moment that is the only option, so the ability to be a professional and stay closer to home and earn a living in this part of the world is hugely important.
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@mikedogz said in Pasifika SR team:
They may attract guys like Luatua back home. I hope they can attract guys that are test capped for Island teams and left NZ because I am pretty sure there is a limt on how many overseas capped players in a NZ squad. Counties had a few guys that were test capped and they left probably because their choices were limited in NZ. Guys like Ahsee Tuala, Rey Lee-Lo, TNW, etc.
As a counties fan I hope our island boys that left, come back and play for these guys and for counties in the NPC. This will be my other team that I will support.
How? Half a session of rugby, maybe a tenth the pay for Luatua, he's Captain of Bristol and on a bomb. Why would those sort of guys come back? And he still can't play for a PI team once he's here. Unless moana drag some serious talent from the islands, this is going to be kick in the teeth for the quality of NZ SR sides.
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@machpants said in Pasifika SR team:
@mikedogz said in Pasifika SR team:
They may attract guys like Luatua back home. I hope they can attract guys that are test capped for Island teams and left NZ because I am pretty sure there is a limt on how many overseas capped players in a NZ squad. Counties had a few guys that were test capped and they left probably because their choices were limited in NZ. Guys like Ahsee Tuala, Rey Lee-Lo, TNW, etc.
As a counties fan I hope our island boys that left, come back and play for these guys and for counties in the NPC. This will be my other team that I will support.
How? Half a session of rugby, maybe a tenth the pay for Luatua, he's Captain of Bristol and on a bomb. Why would those sort of guys come back? And he still can't play for a PI team once he's here. Unless moana drag some serious talent from the islands, this is going to be kick in the teeth for the quality of NZ SR sides.
What we are saying is that there are some reasonable quality players overseas because they can't work in NZ under the current rules and may like to return as this team won't have the cap on foreign players that NZ teams does.
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@crucial I think we'll see (relatively) low quality players stay behind, cos their earnings won't be so far different. But the majority of the decent players will do the right thing for them and their family, play in NH for the money, and they can still play internationals.
Edit: I hope I'm wrong but I'm really worried about this
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Is there a financial burden on NZR for this team?
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All reports suggest that Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua need to fund themselves.
