Blues 2022
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@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2022:
@cliff How did Narawa go today at Centre marking a couple of big units in PU-J and Aso? If he proves he can cover the midfield as well as W,FB he will give himself more chance of getting a bench spot on gamedays.
He was good solid on defence , looked dangerous when he got the ball,Considering he was having his first game at centre for BOP ,he went well.
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Came across on Rich Freemans twitter account
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@steven-harris I thought he might leave but hoped he wouldn't. Only played 9 times in 4 seasons at the Blues, mostly off the bench, due to injury and non-selection. Hard to find 3 unsigned super quality locks about locally. I think they should move Robinson and/or Plumtree to lock then select the likes of Vai and Ekuasi in the loosies. Then either Cridge or Caird would be solid options as the fifth lock. With so much versatility in the backline I might only pick 16 backs in the squad and carry an extra forward (lock/loosie). The forward depth will be challenged early next year with 3 All Black props and 3 loosies being out rested for the first couple of rounds (so I heard somewhere).
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So we might see the following locks from local players:
Goodhue
Darry
Robinson
Cridge/Caird
SuafoaWith an international signing beefing them up, and Plumtree as cover?
It's a real pity that none of the Auckland players got a chance to show their form this year.
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@daffy-jaffy I'll be there again (Covid levels permitting).
Feels good to have a trophy. Could be quite liberating for the boys
Also hope the womens rugby goes well - would be good to see some development there
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Perofeta's having a handy season for Taranaki. Probably been his best NPC season to date.
Not sure what his kicking % is, but he doesn't seem to be missing too many.
I don't think he got selected for any games in SR-TT, but he might be able to work his way onto the bench next season.
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@dice said in Blues 2022:
Perofeta's having a handy season for Taranaki. Probably been his best NPC season to date.
I agree it's his best NPC season. I think that's because he's finally being used as a specialist fullback
This is the first NPC season where he hasn't had a start at 10.
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Ran into Stephen Bates yesterday ( from 2 metres) very quick chat under the circumstances we live in , he let slip the Joshua Fusitua , (loose head pro) younger brother of Davi Fusitua ( NZ Warriors) has been picked up by the Blues .
Asked Bates about Kitiona Vai , super excited about this kid but he’s also being pushed hard to stay with 7s. -
@steven-harris I wouldn't think he was ready for a full contract just yet as he wasn't even selected in the Auckland NPC squad. So I guess Into the the WTG (hopefully along with Ahio). They were dominant together at age group. With our international props likely to start looking overseas after next world cup those two are important to secure. If he does have a full contract maybe they let Lay go to MP with his brother?
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Proven front-rowers Alex Hodgman and Karl Tu’inukuafe will continue to help power the Blues pack after extending their contracts.
This powerful pair form a formidable group of international props at the Blues that includes Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tuungafasi and Marcel Renata.
Hodgman, who made four appearances for the All Blacks in 2020 before being side-lined for much of his injured-hit 2021 season. The 28-year-old has already achieved 50 Super Rugby games, 42 of them for the Blues, although his super debut came in 2014 for the Crusaders going up against the Blues.
The Auckland-raised prop will extend his stay at the Blues until the end of the 2023 season.
Joining him is Tu’inukuafe, currently on the Northern Tour with the All Blacks. The North Harbour player returned home in 2019 to join the Blues after the 2018 season with the Chiefs.
The 27-year-old, who has amassed 49 Super games including 33 for the Blues, played in all 14 matches in 2021. The former Wesley College player has achieved 23 caps for the All Blacks after his meteoric rise, with his debut against Argentina in the 2018 Rugby Championship.
The popular prop has extended his time at the Blues until the end of the 2022 season.
“We are blessed to have a group of quality, hard-working props who are the cornerstone of our set-piece. In turn this is fundamental to our ability to develop front-foot possession for our running weapons wider out,” said Blues coach, Leon MacDonald.
“They are a hard-working group on the grass and in the gym who challenge each other and learn from one another.” -
@daffy-jaffy Didn't he play for Auckland anyway?
Edit: My mistake, that was Ahio.
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This what I have just picked up from a source , the Blues have signed James Tucker from Waikato ,Luke Ramano from Canterbury and Anton Segnar from Ta$man , there’s another young lock they are looking at Lower North Island area..
No room for Sam Caird , unfortunately , but the Chiefs are looking at Caird as All Black cover . -
@steven-harris Do you mean James Tucker from Waikato? Will Tucker plays for Otago.
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@steven-harris I don't mind those signings. I especially like the Segner pick-up - he reminds me of a younger Dalton Papali'i.
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given Rob Rush was in the BLues dev side this year, and also looks a good prospect, tough for him if they go to Segnar, not to mention others from the Blues region who have been locked down and unable to play.
