Chiefs 2023

[Bovidae]

@cliff As the Blues squad is named first we'll know if JRK is still in their squad, or on the move.

[Bovidae]

I was just watching the Aotearoa Rugby Pod and they were talking as if Malimali will be in the Chiefs squad.

[Daffy Jaffy]

This post is deleted!

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Bovidae The big power winger they have been lacking. A back three of McKenzie, Malimali and Stevenson or Stevenson, Malimali and Narawa should be exciting.

[Bovidae]

Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is still with the Blues.

[Bovidae]

Even if Malimali is a new signing there should still be room for one more new outside back.

[ARHS]

@Bovidae good

[Bovidae]

@ARHS But if Ioane is still in the squad, and DMac is listed as a fullback, maybe not.

[Canes4life]

Chiefs 2023 squad.

[Yeetyaah]

Punivai is a bit if a surprise eh. Not too many changes. I haven't watched enough Counties games to guage whether Malimali is a good signing or not. Dyer is a great signing.

[Bovidae]

Moli can count himself to be very lucky.

IN:
George Dyer
Jared Proffit
Manaaki Selby-Rickit
Damian McKenzie
Peniasi Malimali
Ngantungane Punivai

OUT:
Sione Mafileo
Reuben O’Neill
Mitchell Brown
Jonah Lowe
Chase Tiatia
Kaleb Trask

[Bovidae]

Some comments from McMillan.

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/gallagher-chiefs-squad-announced-for-2023

[Canes4life]

@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2023:

Punivai is a bit if a surprise eh. Not too many changes. I haven't watched enough Counties games to guage whether Malimali is a good signing or not. Dyer is a great signing.

He looks like one of those flying Fijians who can destroy teams with a little bit of space. An exciting signing but whether he gets any game time is another question.

[Crucial]

Malimali is potentially a game breaker

DMac listed as an outside back. Good luck picking a backline there, so many options everywhere.
Who is 15? DMac, Stevenson or ENS?
Almost too much competition.
Same with locks but there’s always injuries there.

[Bovidae]

They will have to name an injury replacement for Tupaea. I hope Wrampling is fit to go. Underwhelmed with Punivai's selection given who else was in the region but signed elsewhere.

[ploughboy]

reasonably happy with squad. would have been happy to have moved ioane and find punivai signing puzzling .

[Crucial]

It is a 'problem' that is nice to have but given the options available through the squad it will take careful planning to establish a 1st 23 and have them firing together at the right point of the season.
This is the bit about Super that the Crusaders do so well. You don't often see their best team roll out until the finals (yet they still place highly) while everyone else tries to get their strongest on all the time. Blues last year got it wrong. Caught up in doing so well on the table and forgot to turn up when it mattered.
If I can be bothered I will look at the draw and see how well paced it is.
BBBR and Cane will be managed and I expect they will dip in and out of the schedule to keep match fit but not overworked. Same to a lesser extent for Sami T. He has a big year as well.

Edit: Here is the draw

[Steven Harris]

Very powerful squad , if they can beat the injury curse they are my pick to win the title ..
Can’t wait to check out the TAB odds , worth a tip

[Crucial]

Draw isn't too bad for pacing.

"Big" games at rounds 1,6,8,10,13,14
A four match run to get the squad members going and chances to shine. (2,3,4,5)
A middle stanza that goes Blues, Bye, Canes, Drua, Crusaders which is about as good as you could ask for.
A building last stretch to get the A team going with a 'warm down' last game.

Dreams are free.

[Bovidae]

Match 23 selection was a problem this year, so needs to be better in 2023. I'll be interested to see which bench loose forward is chosen as the starting trio looks locked in now (Ah Kuoi, Cane, Jacobson). Will PGS play a big role? I am still concerned that there is no specialist no.7 if Cane isn't available or rested.

The same with the back three, and particularly who starts at fullback. That will be dependent on who starts at 1st 5. And Thompson needs to be played more than Slater.