Hurricanes 2022
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Strong running midfielder Tei Walden, 28, is heading to the capital after putting pen to paper to join the Hurricanes for the 2022 Super Rugby season.
Walden grew up in Taranaki and was Head Boy at Francis Douglas Memorial College before moving to Dunedin to study.
Making his debut for Otago in 2013, Walden played 47 games for the southern province.
Debuting for the Highlanders in 2016, Walden had to fight for game time until 2018, when he started in the first game of the Investec Super Rugby season against the Blues, scoring two tries. He went on to start all but one game at second five-eighth.
Walden continued playing for the Highlanders until the end of the 2020 season but his provincial heart has seen him return to his home province Taranaki for the NPC since 2018.
Walden made his debut for the Māori All Blacks during the side’s 2017 Northern Tour, coming off the bench against the French Barbarians. He was selected again in 2018, where he started in the number 12 jersey against USA and Brazil, before adding impact off the bench against Chile.
Head coach Jason Holland said that he was delighted to bring Tei into the Hurricanes environment for the 2022 Super Rugby Season.
“Tei is a player we have watched for a while. He has come back in great nick from an Achilles injury and will be a great addition to our group.”
“He has a smart rugby brain and a complete skill set for a midfielder. Tei has played a lot of Super rugby and we think he will be influential on and off the field.”
For Walden, getting the call up for the Hurricanes was a welcome opportunity.
“Growing up in Taranaki I was always a Hurricanes supporter and was fortunate enough to play for the Hurricanes school boys' team as a youngster."
“After being side-lined with an injury last season I am really looking forward to the new challenges ahead and can’t wait to get down to the capital and link up with the boys.”
“It is a pleasure to be joining such an exciting playing group and management team at the Hurricanes. There is a great balance between impressive young talent and experienced players within the team and I hope I can add some value to the environment. I am looking forward to testing myself and growing my own game.”
In 2020, Walden completed a Bachelor of Science, majoring in geography with a minor in Te Reo Māori.
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@yeetyaah smart signing, a centre pairing of Walden and Umaga-Jensen has a nice combative look to it.
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@canes4life great signing for sure. Don't think the coaches are smart enough to use that combo tbh.
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@yeetyaah said in Hurricanes 2022:
Was hoping the Chiefs would snap Walden up.
It will be interesting to see who the Chiefs have signed now. Wrampling would seem to be a necessity despite the Blues rumours. Maybe Poihipi does get a reprieve.
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@canes4life We all know it’s going to be Savea Proctor midfield
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@mikey07 said in Hurricanes 2022:
@canes4life We all know it’s going to be Savea Proctor midfield
You can almost count on that, along with JGB to steer the ship from first five!
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@higgins said in Hurricanes 2022:
@mikey07 said in Hurricanes 2022:
@canes4life We all know it’s going to be Savea Proctor midfield
You can almost count on that, along with JGB to steer the ship from first five!
Ugh
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Anyone have a preference on their best XV?
At this stage I would go with the below with a few positions contestable, and yes I’m leaving out Blackwell and Prinsep because I actually want this team to win.
P.s this could change with the squad still to be announced.
I’ve also picked the probable team that Holland will most likely select based on players signed so far.
My team:
- Numia/Rakete-Stones
- Coles
- Lomax
- Scrafton
- Bird
- Howden (I’m confident he will be picked)
- Savea (c)
- Flanders
- Perenara
- Love
- Rayasi
- Walden
- Umaga-Jensen
- Goosen
- Barrett
- Aumua
- Numia/Rakete-Stones
- Mafileo/Franks
- Walker-Leawere
- Iose
- Booth
- Garden-Bachop (dear I say it)
- Proctor/Sullivan
Holland’s team
- Numia/Rakete-Stones
- Coles
- Lomax
- Blackwell
- Bird
- Prinsep
- Kirifi
- Savea (c)
- Perenara
- Garden-Bachop
- Rayasi
- Umaga-Jensen
- Proctor
- Savea
- Barrett
- Aumua
- Numia/Rakete-Stones
- Fidow
- Scrafton
- Iose
- Booth
- Love
- Walden/Sullivan
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@canes4life Is it certain that Booth will return? I was wondering that, because he played one or two games of club rugby after his injury, but then didn't play for Manawatū.
I really like your backrow, but am afraid you're right about Holland's probable picks, which calls for a fan revolt!
Unless he wants Flanders to leave (his contract expires in 2022), he'll have to put Flanders at 8, or at least somewhere in his 23.Not sure about the Scrafton/Bird combo; I find them a bit too similar, but it may be the best the Canes can field. You're right about Holland likely to pick Blackwell.
I know you like Love, but I've yet to be convinced; he'll definitely get better than JGB though and that's only possible with plenty of game time, so no problem with him starting.
Rayasi has a lot to prove IMO and he needs to do it in 2022. He can go totally missing sometimes, but has the skill set. Is a mental thing, I think. I'd be happy to see him start.
I'd put Sullivan on the right wing instead of Goosen, if only because of his size. Goosen didn't have a great 2021; needs to get better in 2022, or he'll probably be dropped alltogether. Sullivan definitely ahead of Proctor if it's about a bench spot. For Holland, they'll probably both only be injury cover.
I keep on wondering whether there'll still be some surprise signings we don't know about (good or bad). -
@stargazer yeah I’m not too sure about Booth. Missing a full Super season and then the NPC will put him well short of a gallop. Already losing Roigard could put us in a bit of a hole. I wonder if they’ve signed Richard Judd or someone with a little more experience.
On Flanders, hopefully the Canes start him at 8 but there is always that need to start Savea at 8 because he plays there for the All Blacks, therefore we might see him more at 6.
It will be interesting to see who they sign for those remaining positions. Hopefully we can pick up an exciting wing because Goosen has been a little bit and cold over the last couple years. He’s had some blinders but has also gone missing in a few games.
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@stargazer said in Hurricanes 2022:
Is it certain that Booth will return?
Next year halfback Jamie Booth and Tyler Laubscher are expected back from injuries, Booth also with the Hurricanes.
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The (not yet confirmed) signing news Hurricanes fans have been waiting for....
Josh Moorby
He will join Stags lock Mike McKee in the Moana Pasifka squad. **It’s understood Josh Moorby has also signed with the Hurricanes**, while Ethan de Groot, Marty Banks, and Solomon Alaimalo will be part of the Highlanders. -
@bobily2 said in Hurricanes 2022:
The (not yet confirmed) signing news Hurricanes fans have been waiting for....
Josh Moorby
He will join Stags lock Mike McKee in the Moana Pasifka squad. **It’s understood Josh Moorby has also signed with the Hurricanes**, while Ethan de Groot, Marty Banks, and Solomon Alaimalo will be part of the Highlanders.Thats an interesting signing FB/Wing.
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@bobily2 said in Hurricanes 2022:
The (not yet confirmed) signing news Hurricanes fans have been waiting for....
Josh Moorby
He will join Stags lock Mike McKee in the Moana Pasifka squad. **It’s understood Josh Moorby has also signed with the Hurricanes**, while Ethan de Groot, Marty Banks, and Solomon Alaimalo will be part of the Highlanders.Who?
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@nepia said in Hurricanes 2022:
@bobily2 said in Hurricanes 2022:
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Who the fuck is Josh Moorby? Why on earth are the Canes looking to Southland for players. Why on earth am I asking that question, they're idiots.
Suprising he didn't always start for Southland
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@nepia said in Hurricanes 2022:
@bobily2 said in Hurricanes 2022:
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Who the fuck is Josh Moorby? Why on earth are the Canes looking to Southland for players. Why on earth am I asking that question, they're idiots.
All the other Wellington wings already play for the Canes that’s why 😂
Midfielder Teihorangi Walden Signs With The Hurricanes for 2022
