Magpies 2022
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@Higgins Yep, I agree, he's behind Solomone Funaki, Gareth Evans and Josh Kaifa for that 7 spot. Even if those players have to move to another position in case of multiple injuries, then I think they'll still prefer to play Gimblett at 6 over Smith at 7 (and therefore not move Gareth or Josh if Marino or Devan gets injured).
I think you're right about the RS game against Poverty Bay though, although he might have to take place on the bench, this time, with Gareth, Devan and Marino taking the loosie starting spots. I think Kaifa got injured against South Canterbury and I'm not sure he's back yet.
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I also wonder why Smith moved from Wellington to the Bay. Was he asked by Syms? Smith played 9 games (225 minutes) for Wellington, last year (8 from the bench for the last 15 - 20 minutes), with his only start in a non-competition game. So, no doubt, his reason is to get more game time. But, unless Syms rates him very highly for some reason, he's more likely to get fewer minutes game time for the Magpies than for Wellington. He goes from being stuck behind Kirifi, to being stuck behind Funaki and others.
His profile on the Wellington Rugby website:
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The next signing is Tiaki Fabish. Would really like to know whether they see him as a lock of a loosie, but I assume he takes Cridge's spot?
Edited to add that - in addition to at least five players from the 2017 Hastings Boys' Top 4 champions team (Flanders, Kereru-Symes, McClutchie, Toala and Fakatava, six if Robinson-Bartlett makes the squad) - we now also have four players from the 2018 Napier Boys' Top 4 runners-up team: Thompson, Gimblett, Lochore and Fabish. (Another player from that team has been signed by Manawatū, Kegan Christian-Goss.)
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Surprise signing: Sione Tuipulotu. Another one from Moana Pasifika.
I'd seen Mark Braidwood on photos of training, so I'm less surprised to see him in the list.
Nick Grigg is indeed in the squad.
Gareth Evans out with injury. I wonder whether we've seen the las tof him on the field?
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@Stargazer said in Magpies 2022:
The Magpies squad for 2022:
It'd be a choke if HB don't win the comp with this squad
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@Dice The numbers above are probably a bit deceiving in so far as who are actually full contracted and those that will be first port of call in case of any injury replacements required ie might train a couple of mornings a week with the contracted squad to keep them up to date with games plans etc but otherwise working at their normal jobs during the week.
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Media release:
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@Higgins Yeah, I assume Mark Braidwood, Gene Syminton and Sam Smith are on injury replacement contracts. And lots of inexperienced rookies, such as Faleiva, Lochore, Fabish, Gimblett, Higgins and Godfrey (I think all are on full contracts now). I love how all that 1st XV talent is finding its way into the squad though.
Cracker Braidwood may add a bit to the average age of the squad, but Dixon's departure will offset that. There are at least 14 players of 23 years or younger, Godfrey being the youngest at 19.
Tuipulotu was the most surprising addition, replacing Geoff Cridge.
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@Stargazer So we get two Scottish internationals in Grigg (Scottish grandfather) and Tuipulotu (Scottish grandmother). That seems to be a travesty when we need to have two backs from Scotland of all places to fill out our roster. Are we that short of backline talent in NZ?
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@Higgins said in Magpies 2022:
@Stargazer So we get two Scottish internationals in Grigg (Scottish grandfather) and Tuipulotu (Scottish grandmother). That seems to be a travesty when we need to have two backs from Scotland of all places to fill out our roster. Are we that short of backline talent in NZ?
Be thankful a couple of Scots are giving back to one of the lesser nations.
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@MN5 said in Magpies 2022:
@Higgins said in Magpies 2022:
@Stargazer So we get two Scottish internationals in Grigg (Scottish grandfather) and Tuipulotu (Scottish grandmother). That seems to be a travesty when we need to have two backs from Scotland of all places to fill out our roster. Are we that short of backline talent in NZ?
Be thankful a couple of Scots are giving back to one of the lesser nations.
A true Scot never gives anything away...
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@Pepe said in Magpies 2022:
@MN5 said in Magpies 2022:
@Higgins said in Magpies 2022:
@Stargazer So we get two Scottish internationals in Grigg (Scottish grandfather) and Tuipulotu (Scottish grandmother). That seems to be a travesty when we need to have two backs from Scotland of all places to fill out our roster. Are we that short of backline talent in NZ?
Be thankful a couple of Scots are giving back to one of the lesser nations.
A true Scot never gives anything away...
Damn right
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@Higgins said in Magpies 2022:
@Stargazer So we get two Scottish internationals in Grigg (Scottish grandfather) and Tuipulotu (Scottish grandmother). That seems to be a travesty when we need to have two backs from Scotland of all places to fill out our roster. Are we that short of backline talent in NZ?
No, wrong Sione Tuipulotu. The Scottish international Sione Tuipulotu plays for Glasgow Warriors. Our Sione Tuipulotu played for Moana Pasifika, this year, and is a Tongan international. And he's a lock/loose forward, not a back.
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