Blues 2022
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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.
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@daffy-jaffy Tucker from Waikato, apparently Tom Coventry is big fan of the older brother , Wil the younger brother who is 23 i believe has signed with the Highlanders..
Be interesting to know whom the younger lock they are looking at is. -
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@gt12 said in Blues 2022:
I wonder if Segner chose the Blues ahead of the Saders? I'm surprised that they've let him go. Romano is a good squad pick-up to mentor the young lock.
It has been mentioned that Romano does a lot behind the scenes preparing the team each week and in opposing lineout drills. That seemed to be where his role was at the Crusaders.
I wouldn't want to be relying on a 36 yr old (when SR starts) to play each week, particularly one who can concede a lot of penalties.
Happy for Tucker to get another chance and that suggests McWhannell isn't available - good for the Chiefs.
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@gt12 Romano will probably start if the rumors are true as we are very light at lock. Funnily enough I was watching last night's Canterbury v Otago game to see how Darry and Dalzell would go. I guess we could potentially end up with all 3 of Canterburys locks with Josh Goodhue.....
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@bovidae Yes he was awful I thought. I'm not convinced about him yet.
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@african-monkey Darry's set piece work seems sound, but he really lacks physicality around the field. It is not uncommon for young string bean locks to take time to grow into their physicality as they often struggle to put muscle on their frame until they reach 23-24 years old. Hopefully he will develop that side of his game through next season. I am sure the coaches will give him that 'work on'.
I wonder what Segner's signing means for the loosie mix. If he is signed as an openside does that mean Choat misses out or that Hunt is not coming back from his concussion problems (which would be a worry as its been a year since he last played). -
@african-monkey TBH, if Goodhue can keep fit, I think he could really start to realise his potential.
He is a good scrummaging lock, good in the air (although had 1 game for the Blues this year where he was unusually poor) and has great a work rate on both sides of the ball, just needs to do it consistently and stay injury free.
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@taniwharugby Goodhue packing down with Romano's scrumming power behind an All Black front row should be fun to watch.
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@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2022:
@african-monkey Darry's set piece work seems sound, but he really lacks physicality around the field. It is not uncommon for young string bean locks to take time to grow into their physicality as they often struggle to put muscle on their frame until they reach 23-24 years old.
Yeah still plenty of time.
BTW, Darry and Josh Lord were in the same NZ Schools team. Darry started with Tom Martin (who made his debut for Waikato vs Taranaki) and Lord was on the bench.
