Blues 2022
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2022:
EXCITING YOUNG AUCKLAND TRIO EXTEND CONTRACTS — Blues Rugby
A trio of emerging young Auckland players have extended their time with the Blues for a further two years. Loose forward Adrian Choat, 24, halfback Taufa Funaki, 22 and midfielder Corey Evans, 21 have signed through to 2024, having emerged through the Auckland and Blues development pathway. The tr
A trio of emerging young Auckland players have extended their time with the Blues for a further two years. Loose forward Adrian Choat, 24, halfback Taufa Funaki, 22 and midfielder Corey Evans, 21 have signed through to 2024, having emerged through the Auckland and Blues development pathway. The trio has made over 20 appearances for the Blues between them this year with Choat playing in 12 of the 14 games mostly off the bench, while Funaki has had two starts in his six appearances and Evans four with two starts.Why are two of them doing gang signs?
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@Machpants said in Blues 2022:
Why are two of them doing gang signs?
They aren't gang signs.
Choat is from West Auckland so that's a W and and Funaki is from East Auckland so that's an E.
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@KiwiMurph riiiiight, that originated in East and Westside gangs in USA
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@Machpants said in Blues 2022:
@KiwiMurph riiiiight, that originated in East and Westside gangs in USA
Ok? It's 2022 - those hand signals in 2022 don't mean "gang signs"
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a mate pointed me to this
history to repeat itself?
Semi finals
17 May 2003
19:35
Auckland Blues New Zealand 42 – 21 Australia ACT Brumbies
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 42,000Grand final
Main article: 2003 Super 12 Final
24 May 2003
19:35
Auckland Blues New Zealand 21 – 17 New Zealand Canterbury Crusaders
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 45,000[6] -
Wanted to reflect again on how far we've come.
- 4-12 record. Beat Reds, Lions, Sunwolves and Tahs. Tana was coach.
Then in Feb 2019 the board (who had endorsed Tana for another year) changed, Don MacKinnon stepped up, appointed Leon, and the rest as they say is history.
We were an utter shambles. Losing to the Rebels at home that year was surely the nadir.
Whatever the result this weekend, we're back at the pointy end of the comp, with a talent pipeline and org that means we should be there most years now.
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@nzzp Haha yeah, its funny because a lot of mates and people I associate with these days are Crusaders fans (obviously living in Chch does that), and every week they expect/hope for us to trip up and expect me to have a meltdown if we don't go on to win the comp. All I have to remind them is that it used to take us 3-4 years to win 15 games along with other things such as going years and years at a time without beating NZ opposition and that these days are glory days for us.
Its fair to say that the period from 2004-2019 was a real humbling experience for us Blues fans, so to be in this position right now was a dream in itself only a few years back.
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@African-Monkey said in Blues 2022:
@nzzp Haha yeah, its funny because a lot of mates and people I associate with these days are Crusaders fans (obviously living in Chch does that), and every week they expect/hope for us to trip up and expect me to have a meltdown if we don't go on to win the comp. All I have to remind them is that it used to take us 3-4 years to win 15 games along with other things such as going years and years at a time without beating NZ opposition and that these days are glory days for us.
Its fair to say that the period from 2004-2019 was a real humbling experience for us Blues fans, so to be in this position right now was a dream in itself only a few years back.
Good on you for enjoying the success the Blues are having,As a fan of the Crusaders I remember some shit years,And with Canterbury and that has reared its ugly head again.
Enjoy the success you deserve some after some crap years for the Blues. -
Frontrow selections next year will be interesting.
Two Lay brothers plus Fusitua competing for two spots at loosehead prop.
Renata and Ahio at tighthead prop - may need both to cover for All Black absences.
Anyone better than Riccitelli on the horizon?
I wonder if Ekuasi could convert to hooker?
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@Tim also Valance Yates, former St Kents, NZ age-group Maori and junior Wallabies last year...hooking for Mid Northern, Jordan Olsen playing 8 so he can develop at 2, think he played in trial v NH last week.
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@Tim said in Blues 2022:
Frontrow selections next year will be interesting.
Two Lay brothers plus Fusitua competing for two spots at loosehead prop.
James Lay has a year to go so its down to Jordan Lay and Fusitua. With Jordan being a replacement player and Fusitua coming through the Blues system they're likely to go with the young fulla.
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@nzzp said in Blues 2022:
@Tim Suafoa looks a physical specimen in the game at the weekend.
Great ot have tough decisions for a change!
You'd think that the Canes would be looking.
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@antipodean I think Suafoa may be on the move with Patty T coming back
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He should be on the AB radar for later in the year if he can keep this form up - he's big, physical, sweet feet and recently more involved and accurate.
AJ Lam takes his chance with both hands
Blues wing AJ Lam didn't expect too many opportunities in DHL Super Rugby Pacific this season but was prepared to be ready when chances occurred and could find himself involved in the weekend's final against the Crusaders at Eden Park.
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@KiwiMurph I wonder if his top-end speed is fast enough?
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@Tim said in Blues 2022:
@KiwiMurph I wonder if his top-end speed is fast enough?
Don't know but we'd take him at the Chiefs in a heartbeat.
2003 Super 12 season - Wikipedia
