Blues 2022
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@stargazer that's really good news.
Hooking stocks suddenly looking pretty damn good, it's great. The years where we had James Parsons and then ... no-one were soul destroying. Love JP to bits as a human, but goddamn he was too small to be the front line hooker for us, great as a squaddie
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So confirmation of the three hookers
He will complete the Blues hooking roster with incumbents Kurt Eklund, who played for the Maori All Blacks against Samoa, and last year’s Blues Development Player of the Year, Soane Vikena.Not renewing Niuia makes sense
There were two other hookers who got game time. Apisai has never got his throwing to the required level. Has Luteru Tolai signed for another franchise? Hopefully he's still around the Dev team etc
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@nzzp think it was more he had less natural ability than most, he is taller than RR and only a few kgs lighter...
But Agree, JP comes across as an absolute top bloke off the park, but was limited on it (but gave it his all still)
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With the high attrition rate in Super rugby I feel all squad members are potential starters,so where they are rated is irrevelant.
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Make that irrelevant.Wrong word!
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@trodthesod said in Blues 2022:
With the high attrition rate in Super rugby I feel all squad members are potential starters,so where they are rated is irrevelant.
I think this is true to an extent, but still, he's moving for a reason. Presumably this reason is because at the Hurricanes he was rated lower than the other hookers.
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'No one wanted me': Surprise reason why Otere Black is leaving NZ
Despite only starting to enter his peak years of professional rugby, Otere Black has called time on his career in New Zealand and is set to head to Japan following the NPC.
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@dice said "Hopefully we've kept Pierce around".
This line from the article would suggest not, unless he was overlooked (much like at match day selection time).
-- with only veteran Josh Goodhue and rookie Sam Darry remaining from their specialist locks in 2021--.
Also Goodhue must love being called a veteran having just turned 26! Goodhue's concussion issues are also an worry. He could be lost to head knocks at any time. -
@daffy-jaffy yep he must be very close to calling it a day due to head knocks.
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Hamish Dalzell may push for one spot if he has a good NPC, having trained with the team all this season. Still only 25 and at 2.01m has the size they will be looking for.
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@tim said in Blues 2022:
I really hope they don't bring him straight back into the ABs after this, from Barrett and Retallick, it's clear Japan is not sufficient prep for test matches
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@daffy-jaffy Josh Goodhue only 26 years old , but already a veteran .😟..the only real problem I see for Josh Goodhue is the amount of head knocks he has taken , Northland are concerned to the point that they are in negotiations with Sam Caird who is returning to NZ.
I actually do like the idea of Tom Robinson used as lock .
