Northland 2021
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Have heard Tom Robinson could be gone for the season after his ginger missile on Zarn Sullivan yesterday. Bloody disappointing for the big guy, hope he recovers well.
I know it’s the way he plays and everyone in an opposition jersey is fair game, but really in a pre-season game that means nothing you’d think you’d just get through the game. Viewing the hit from a good vantage point yesterday I believe it was a bit unnecessary, he had Sullivan lined up and could have easily completed a conventional tackle..but as I say, Tom is Tom and that’s how he goes!
I think minus Tom we still have the team to give it a good nudge again this year, especially if we use most of the side that started against Auckland yesterday. Rivez Reihana was outstanding and needs to mortgage that 10 jersey. I’d be inclined to use one of the Coopers at 15. I make no apologies when I say Hawkins time is done in a blue jersey. Great dude and fearless defender etc, but really he’s had his day and shouldn’t feature this season barring injury to the others.
I must say also I was really impressed with Fritz Rayasi in the B game, he would have to be knocking on some doors.
Up front we may have to switch Hallam-Eames into 6, he was very good again yesterday. I’d probably be on the phone to Matt Matich now, he’d be my pick to come in to the squad.
If we have to put out the side that closed the game yesterday we are in for a world of hurt unfortunately.
My staring team for Wellington ( not taking into account Sam Caird, if he’s there he starts)
15: Noah Cooper
14: Jordan Hyland
13: Tamati Tua
12: Scott Gregory
11: Jone Macilai
10: Rivez Reihana
9: Sam Nock
8: Sam McNamara
7: Rob Rush
6: Isi Manu
5: Josh Goodhue
4: Liam Hallam-Eames
3: Coree Te Whata-Colley
2: Jordan Olsen
1: Leka Tuungafasi/Kaliopasi Uluilakepa (injured??)Bench.. not sure yet.
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@j77 could swap McNamara and Manu too.
Yea I still can't get my head around how they can make a call like that on Tom so soon...obviously his health is priority 1, 2 and 3 so guess we will hear more this week.
Yeah Rayasi and Vatuinaruku looked like they have some spark and more importantly, gas.
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@taniwharugby actually yeah, swap those two. Manu is a natural 8 I think.
Well all we can do is hope for a miracle with Robinson, but it looked quite bad and he had the space cadet look going on afterwards when he was walking around.
It’s hard to gauge how long he will be gone for, I think everyone is basing it off how big the collision was and not what’s actually going on inside his head, only a specialist will be able to figure that out this week.
Yep Rayasi and the other dude looked sharp, albeit against a very average NPEC team..
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@j77 which makes the fact Auckland left Sullivan out there even more baffling, he should at least have gone for HIA, it was just pre season!
Hope he is OK too, but gee if he shows any concussion symptoms this week, someone needs to be held accountable
The fact Tom was up walking.and talking to people was positive, but need to plan to be without him for at least a few weeks...other shame is he must have been close to next cab off the ranks in black too!
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@taniwharugby yeah that was ridiculous, he was decked out for almost the same time as Robinson. Hopefully Sullivan is ok and doesn’t start exhibiting the slow onset signs, because yeah as you say some heads might roll.
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@stargazer you mean the squad or team for the weekend?
I think the one that was done a few weeks ago was it?
I typed it out above https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/topic/4405/northland-2021/53
@Machpants I like it, getting a bit closer to some of our old school ones.
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@taniwharugby I'm not looking for the squad list itself, but an article or media release about it. (Yes, squad, not team for the first game.)
Some provincial unions (not referring to Northland in particular) are terrible at updating their own website. If you can post a squad list on Facebook, why not a simple news item on your site?
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@stargazer I think the FB stuff you referred to was the extent of it, they dont even have it on the Website.
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@taniwharugby Yeah, that's why I was hoping for an article in the media, but I also can't find it in the Northern Advocate. I'm not aware of the existence of other Nortland papers online though (if any). I was hoping one of you guys had seen one.
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Northland are dropping the ball with their online stuff again. We had improved for a while now it seems we’re sliding back down again. Prior to the Harbour preseason game there were no team lists published at all, I was still wondering who was who after the game had finished.
Northland manager needs to up his game maybe?
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@stargazer Northern advocate is pretty poor, wasn't even a write up about the game on Saturday (in the Monday edition)
No updates on Tom, I have heard the team for this weekend and unsurprisingly he isn't in it.
In other news
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Northland Players players that won’t be available for the Wellington game.
Brady Rush (injured)
Johnny Macilai (injured)
Ross Wright (injured)
Cory Taylor (injured)
Fano Funaki (injured)
Tom Robinson (injured HIA)Unavailable for selection
Sam Caird (MIQ)
Kara Pryor ( Under Suspension for 3 weeks) received in MRL for striking -
@stargazer said in Northland 2021:
@taniwharugby I'm not looking for the squad list itself, but an article or media release about it. (Yes, squad, not team for the first game.)
Some provincial unions (not referring to Northland in particular) are terrible at updating their own website. If you can post a squad list on Facebook, why not a simple news item on your site?
The official NPC site has all the squads now
Championship Squads: Bunnings NPC 2021
We’re just a couple of days away from the start of the Bunnings NPC, where our best domestic rugby talent will again be on display. It all kicks off on Friday 6 August.
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@kiwimurph correct, was informed about this yesterday..will start this weekend if Nock is not 100%
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@kiwimurph I was surprised he wasn't picked for Auckland and thought he must be injured. I guess Auckland selectors must have rated Sam Wye higher? Paea trained with the Blues as an apprentice this season so they will be pleased to see him get experience at NPC level.
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@daffy-jaffy sounds like an example of Blues and Blues provinces working well together.
