Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022
-
Somewhat late to the thread, but that was a good win, particularly with 14 men. There are a few games this season that in previous years we would have found a way to lose.
What has really stuck in my heed from the last couple of MP games was the Tuesday night drive up the field with 14 players to score and seal the victory. We looked bloody composed, and patient, which are not words you use with the Blues for years.
What's also really impressed me is the depth that has been built. Our squad from about 23-35 used to be liabilities; now they are making a positive difference. The weak spots in teh spine are transformed from 3 years ago; now the 2/8/9/10/15 axis looks solid and good quality.
Finally, Perofeta has done a Nonu and lifted his game mid career. We're so fast to write people off (myself included), and say if you aren't an instant success (particularly at 10) you're toast. It's got some truth, but experience and learning your game is hugely important ... and in Perofeta's case, not being injured!
Feels good; may not be a comp winning year, but the Blues appear to be on teh right trajectory, and have really high quality players coming through the system.
-
@nzzp said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
Somewhat late to the thread, but that was a good win, particularly with 14 men. There are a few games this season that in previous years we would have found a way to lose.
What has really stuck in my heed from the last couple of MP games was the Tuesday night drive up the field with 14 players to score and seal the victory. We looked bloody composed, and patient, which are not words you use with the Blues for years.
What's also really impressed me is the depth that has been built. Our squad from about 23-35 used to be liabilities; now they are making a positive difference. The weak spots in teh spine are transformed from 3 years ago; now the 2/8/9/10/15 axis looks solid and good quality.
Finally, Perofeta has done a Nonu and lifted his game mid career. We're so fast to write people off (myself included), and say if you aren't an instant success (particularly at 10) you're toast. It's got some truth, but experience and learning your game is hugely important ... and in Perofeta's case, not being injured!
Feels good; may not be a comp winning year, but the Blues appear to be on teh right trajectory, and have really high quality players coming through the system.
He's only 25 still too, so if he were brought into the environment and continues to develop, he could be a two WC player (assuming he sticks around that long and maintains form, of course).
Right now, I think he is 3rd or fourth, as I'm sure that Dmac will be. brought straight back into the squad (for better or worse).
-
@gt12 said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
@nzzp said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
Somewhat late to the thread, but that was a good win, particularly with 14 men. There are a few games this season that in previous years we would have found a way to lose.
What has really stuck in my heed from the last couple of MP games was the Tuesday night drive up the field with 14 players to score and seal the victory. We looked bloody composed, and patient, which are not words you use with the Blues for years.
What's also really impressed me is the depth that has been built. Our squad from about 23-35 used to be liabilities; now they are making a positive difference. The weak spots in teh spine are transformed from 3 years ago; now the 2/8/9/10/15 axis looks solid and good quality.
Finally, Perofeta has done a Nonu and lifted his game mid career. We're so fast to write people off (myself included), and say if you aren't an instant success (particularly at 10) you're toast. It's got some truth, but experience and learning your game is hugely important ... and in Perofeta's case, not being injured!
Feels good; may not be a comp winning year, but the Blues appear to be on teh right trajectory, and have really high quality players coming through the system.
He's only 25 still too, so if he were brought into the environment and continues to develop, he could be a two WC player (assuming he sticks around that long and maintains form, of course).
Right now, I think he is 3rd or fourth, as I'm sure that Dmac will be. brought straight back into the squad (for better or worse).
BB is one more head knock away from retirement I reckon. That's a risk I want to see mitigated by bringing someone else through.
The candidates are Perofeta and Ioane. So far I think Perofeta wins that race. -
@crucial said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
@gt12 said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
@nzzp said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
Somewhat late to the thread, but that was a good win, particularly with 14 men. There are a few games this season that in previous years we would have found a way to lose.
What has really stuck in my heed from the last couple of MP games was the Tuesday night drive up the field with 14 players to score and seal the victory. We looked bloody composed, and patient, which are not words you use with the Blues for years.
What's also really impressed me is the depth that has been built. Our squad from about 23-35 used to be liabilities; now they are making a positive difference. The weak spots in teh spine are transformed from 3 years ago; now the 2/8/9/10/15 axis looks solid and good quality.
Finally, Perofeta has done a Nonu and lifted his game mid career. We're so fast to write people off (myself included), and say if you aren't an instant success (particularly at 10) you're toast. It's got some truth, but experience and learning your game is hugely important ... and in Perofeta's case, not being injured!
Feels good; may not be a comp winning year, but the Blues appear to be on teh right trajectory, and have really high quality players coming through the system.
He's only 25 still too, so if he were brought into the environment and continues to develop, he could be a two WC player (assuming he sticks around that long and maintains form, of course).
Right now, I think he is 3rd or fourth, as I'm sure that Dmac will be. brought straight back into the squad (for better or worse).
BB is one more head knock away from retirement I reckon. That's a risk I want to see mitigated by bringing someone else through.
The candidates are Perofeta and Ioane. So far I think Perofeta wins that race.He's a better FB than Ioane too, which could help when deciding who to take for a potential bench role.
I'd put Perofeta ahead right now, and the AB coaches were interested in him before his injury a few years ago.
-
@gt12 said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
@crucial said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
@gt12 said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
@nzzp said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
Somewhat late to the thread, but that was a good win, particularly with 14 men. There are a few games this season that in previous years we would have found a way to lose.
What has really stuck in my heed from the last couple of MP games was the Tuesday night drive up the field with 14 players to score and seal the victory. We looked bloody composed, and patient, which are not words you use with the Blues for years.
What's also really impressed me is the depth that has been built. Our squad from about 23-35 used to be liabilities; now they are making a positive difference. The weak spots in teh spine are transformed from 3 years ago; now the 2/8/9/10/15 axis looks solid and good quality.
Finally, Perofeta has done a Nonu and lifted his game mid career. We're so fast to write people off (myself included), and say if you aren't an instant success (particularly at 10) you're toast. It's got some truth, but experience and learning your game is hugely important ... and in Perofeta's case, not being injured!
Feels good; may not be a comp winning year, but the Blues appear to be on teh right trajectory, and have really high quality players coming through the system.
He's only 25 still too, so if he were brought into the environment and continues to develop, he could be a two WC player (assuming he sticks around that long and maintains form, of course).
Right now, I think he is 3rd or fourth, as I'm sure that Dmac will be. brought straight back into the squad (for better or worse).
BB is one more head knock away from retirement I reckon. That's a risk I want to see mitigated by bringing someone else through.
The candidates are Perofeta and Ioane. So far I think Perofeta wins that race.He's a better FB than Ioane too, which could help when deciding who to take for a potential bench role.
I'd put Perofeta ahead right now, and the AB coaches were interested in him before his injury a few years ago.
Reckon NPC was important for him too - played himself into form
-
-
@kiwimurph said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
@nzzp said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
Feels good; may not be a comp winning year,
I don't see why not - there doesn't seem to be a standout team this year - it looks like there are 5 or 6 teams that could win it.
Didn't want to get ahead of myself! We're a starters chance, got to be a contendor, but definitely didn't want to jinx it.
What is impressive is we are building depth that means we should be contending every year.
-
@nzzp said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
@kiwimurph said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
@nzzp said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
Feels good; may not be a comp winning year,
I don't see why not - there doesn't seem to be a standout team this year - it looks like there are 5 or 6 teams that could win it.
Didn't want to get ahead of myself! We're a starters chance, got to be a contendor, but definitely didn't want to jinx it.
What is impressive is we are building depth that means we should be contending every year.
The Next 2 games for the Blues may make a statement either way, beat the Chiefs and Crusaders and you will be sitting as the top NZ side, maybe sitting 2nd or first on the table, with Byes for Reds and Brumbies during that time heading into the Aussie games.
Lose both and maybe drift back to 6th at worst.Same scenario for the Crusaders beat Canes and Blue maybe sitting first.Lose both slip to 5th.
-
@nzzp said in Blues vs Moana Pasifika 2022:
What's also really impressed me is the depth that has been built. Our squad from about 23-35 used to be liabilities; now they are making a positive difference. The weak spots in the spine are transformed from 3 years ago; now the 2/8/9/10/15 axis looks solid and good quality.
Finally, Perofeta has done a Nonu and lifted his game mid career. We're so fast to write people off (myself included), and say if you aren't an instant success (particularly at 10) you're toast. It's got some truth, but experience and learning your game is hugely important ... and in Perofeta's case, not being injured!
Good point. The positive of the injuries and Covid situation is Mr Conservative McDonald has had his hand forced into playing guys who otherwise mightn't have got much of a run. JRK, Funaki, Suafoa, Evans, Tua, Tele'a etc would all just be holding the hit shields at training. The WTG players won't have had a cap next to their name as well - Vaiolini, McKenzie, Fusitua.
Perofeta mightve only been a benchwarmer and getting the odd minutes at fullback if not for the injuries/Covid in the squad. He has certainly shown the benefit of getting time in the saddle - really looking comfortable at 10 at SR level. Imagine if he (and some other players) was given the same opportunity as say Harry Plummer who seems to have been given every chance (almost 50 consecutive games) to play and find his feet at this level seemingly without consequence.
Not knocking Plummer - I am a fan of his from his high school playing days and believe we've not seen anywhere near his best yet but he does appear to have a much longer leash than other 'non established' players. in the squad. -
@nogusta In all fairness to Plummer though, he's only started about 10-15 matches in that time and a lot of those were at 12 where he had to learn the position on the job. He's been chucked around a fair bit too in all honesty where he's barely played 2 games in a row in the same position.
The only reason why he played so many games consecutively was because he could cover both 10 and 12 and a fair few of those games would have been 10-15 minute cameos.
