Northland 2021 review
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Inside backs
Sam Nock was once again at the forefront of a lot of Northlands play, sometimes that wasn’t the good stuff either, but he is a classy player, one moment that stood out was the sublime cut-out ball in traffic vs Southland to Ranger, that was reminiscent of Aaron Smith. Has the tools to be a top drawer 9, but needs to do so consistently at the higher level.
Will Grant is an able understudy to Nock, offers a bit more of a threat with ball in hand, didn’t get a lot of chances, but the ones he did, he took.
Rivez Reihana is a player who looks like he has the game to go up the next level, but after a good start to the season, had a couple of less than memorable games, and was shuffled between 10 and 15 and seemed to lose confidence showing only glimpses of his talent. Big work on is defence.
Dan Hawkins, as a player, I am not a fan, he is very limited, and the game plan we seem to play with him out there, is one that requires someone with a lot more pace than he has (this probably goes on the coaching team?) so makes me feel like they arent even getting the best of him.
Something I don’t like is how he sits so deep behind his 9, and with our pedestrian ball movement from there, we are too often caught behind the gainline. On defence, for a little guy, he is fearless, this aspect of his game that is very good. As a person, the interactions I have had with him off the park, and from what I hear about him, sounds like a top bloke, so can see why you’d want a guy like him in the team.Johnny Cooper for me, looks a player with all the tools, but he also looks like he is lacking confidence. Had some very average moments, but also in his brief minutes, showed some nice touches too. IMO he was messed about last year by the coaches, this year not much different.
Mid-field
Rene Ranger our newest centurion. Despite breaking his arm in round one, covid gave him time to get back and he was good this year, showing he still has what it takes, the power, the eye for a gap and always a menace at the breakdown. What I liked about Ranger this year, was he seemed to play with a bit more control, looks like plenty left in the tank to add to his tally next year if he wants it!
Scott Gregory the enigma. After a stellar Super campaign, I had huge hopes of him being a mid-field rock for us, alas, he really struggled. Handling errors, defensive lapses and not his strong self on the carry, then injured and didn’t play any further. I expect this was just a blip, and next year he will be much better.
Tamati Tua, AKA Mr Glass. If this guy can string together games, and then seasons without an injury, he will cement a starting spot here, and push at higher levels. Has all the tools; speed, strength, pass and tackle, although does have lapses sometimes. It is easy to forget he is still only 23, so still a lot of developing to do!
Blake Hohaia is another player I haven’t made a secret of not being a fan of. I think often he simply tries too hard, takes the wrong option or maybe pushes the 50-50 far too often. I have criticised him for always rushing out of the line on defence, but when he isn’t there, Ranger does it, so I am assuming this is part of the game plan, which often seems to have him playing as if he is Laumape type of player.
Kalani Going got limited minutes, looks comfortable enough without setting the world on fire.
Outside Backs
Jone Macilai showing there was plenty of life in him yet! A menace with ball in hand, so strong and well balanced, a bit guilty of some loose carries or pushing passes, but when he got the ball he made metres. For some reason, was subbed early when he was our biggest attacking threat in a few games.
Pisi Leilua probably played the most minutes out of all the backs aside from Sam Nock. Going forward, Pisi is a good runner, strong, elusive and makes some good decisions, but on defence, gee, he looks lost and one time he literally run around in circles! Having seen him play a bit at club level, he does a lot of talking there, so he seems to have the nous, so I wonder if he somehow struggles with the patterns expected of him?
Jordan Hyland didn’t get a lot of time this year, certainly looks to have lost a yard of pace. Noah Cooper is a solid player, will never set the world alight, but I thought he acquitted himself well in his outing earlier, only to be dropped the following week. Renata Roberts-Te Nana got a bit of time, looks to have put on a bit of size and was strong in contact, but didn’t get a lot of time. Brady Rush also spent most of the seaosn watching, still finding his feet at this level, clearly talented and pace given his 7s experience.
Final word
For our backs, one thing that has been noticeable for the past few years, I suspect longer given Konia has been involved for several years now, is how narrow we defend. Our outside back is often 15m in field, we are always offering opposition the width of the park, and they make such easy metres outside on us, it sets us on the back foot so early in phases it is tough to bounce back from.
As mentioned above, we often set up way too deep, and get caught well behind the gain line, which if we are setting targets for our forwards, is likely to not be where they are expecting, meaning that split second adjustment can be the difference between a good cleanout or a turnover.
Our set piece worked well this year, but other aspects of our forward play struggled, I think we have good players across the park , but as a whole we don’t seem to play well as a team, and to me, this raises serious questions about the coaching.
So yeah, kinda glad that is over, but as always at the end of a Northland season, look back and wonder at what could have been and what could be…
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As only 1 person voted in our BOP MOTM poll (not me as I didnt watch the whole game) I haven't used the votes.
So final Wash is:
Goodhue 11
Caird 7
Nock 6
Olsen 5
Rush 3
Gregory 3
Ranger 3
Wright 3
Macilai 3
Hallam-Eames 2
Pryor 2 -
@taniwharugby Superb review with a lot of thought put in ,can only but agree with your assessment of most of the players .
In all honesty , there will be several for all intensive purposes should have played their last season in a Taniwha jersey and we wish those players well moving forward . -
@steven-harris yeah when I went through player by player you wouldn't think we did so poorly...
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@taniwharugby said in Northland 2021 review:
@steven-harris yeah when I went through player by player you wouldn't think we did so poorly...
As your key point, I don’t think it is the players that are the real problem
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@machpants said in Northland 2021 review:
@taniwharugby said in Northland 2021 review:
@steven-harris yeah when I went through player by player you wouldn't think we did so poorly...
As your key point, I don’t think it is the players that are the real problem
I thought the review was as positive as it could be. We do have very talented players. But, results were well below expectations again and while I am hoping that we can turn it around next year that won’t happen if we do the same things we did this year. That performance against Wellington to start the season was dreadful. But, unfortunately it indicated exactly where the team was at for 2021. Turning up with an unfit and under prepared side is inexcusable. It’s not like the season is a surprise. Some player changes, but we have to do a lot better with the good players we have.
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NORTHLAND RUGBY 2021 PRIZEGIVING- Bunnings Warehouse NPC
Congratulations to the following winners:
NPC Player of the Year-Sam Caird
NPC Most Improved Back- Pisi Leilua
NPC Most Improved Forward- Allan Craig
NPC Off Field Performance-Tom Robinson
NPC Players Player- Sam Nock
NPC Team Man Award- Coree Te Whata-ColleyNRU Volunteer of the Year- Kylie Harper
A big thanks to Harry Semenoff from Semco Group for presenting the awards.
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@taniwharugby hard luck to Josh Goodhue who would have been my pick. Sam Caird close 2nd.
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@kev yeah Goodhue was my pick, Caird woulda been 2nd.
I think I'd have to go with Pisi in the backs, other backs who played well (Ranger, Macilai) more met expectations rather than improved) but odd Craig would have most improved forward, he played a handful of minutes?
For me it'd be Faukafa or CTWC .
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@taniwharugby said in Northland 2021 review:
@kev yeah Goodhue was my pick, Caird woulda been 2nd.
I think I'd have to go with Pisi in the backs, other backs who played well (Ranger, Macilai) more met expectations rather than improved) but odd Craig would have most improved forward, he played a handful of minutes?
For me it'd be Faukafa or CTWC .
Yeah Faukafa for me too.
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@taniwharugby haha that sounds like a sob piece.
Barely takes any blame.
Why were players not fit. why were the young guys not aware of what it takes. All on the top staff.
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@muddyriver as for the covid excuse, yeah I'm sure it wasnt easy, but look at the other team that was in almost the identical boat as Northland...I see Tui has left, have heard rumours about who they asked to replace him, so we will see...
And what are the past glories? Winning the 2nd Div or the Shield in the 70s?
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@taniwharugby Give me the gossip mate haha? whos the new coach
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@taniwharugby This photo might be better.
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@bovidae haha is that one I posted from a previous year? I saw one with M10 and thought, nope, not that one.
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@taniwharugby That would have been after beating Otago in the Championship final in 2018. You have Stratton, Sweeney and Manihera at the front.
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@muddyriver said in Northland 2021 review:
@taniwharugby haha that sounds like a sob piece.
Barely takes any blame.
Why were players not fit. why were the young guys not aware of what it takes. All on the top staff.
https://www.taniwha.co.nz/newsarticle/109780?newsfeedId=1396425
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@machpants think he resigned through the season...so he takes the blame, or had the blame put on him...TBH I think there was a bit more to it.
