Steamers 2016
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<p>whaimotu is in australia i think so most probably not coming back</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11669842'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11669842</a></p>
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<p>good to see kelly back</p>
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<p>Is this guy any good?</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/82131777/scotland-rugby-international-hugh-blake-returns-to-nz-with-bop'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/82131777/scotland-rugby-international-hugh-blake-returns-to-nz-with-bop</a></p>
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<p>I have never heard of him so hopefully someone from the Mafia can give us their opinion of whether he is any good or not. Although he has played an international for Scotland is he capable of making a decent impression at Mitre10 Cup level?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="596652" data-time="1468542525">
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<p>Is this guy any good?</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/82131777/scotland-rugby-international-hugh-blake-returns-to-nz-with-bop'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/82131777/scotland-rugby-international-hugh-blake-returns-to-nz-with-bop</a></p>
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<p>I have never heard of him so hopefully someone from the Mafia can give us their opinion of whether he is any good or not. Although he has played an international for Scotland is he capable of making a decent impression at Mitre10 Cup level?</p>
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<p>No idea Higgins. A quick google says that he played most of his early years for Waikato and then moved to Scotland at a young age but he must have some ability to play at international level. Experience is always good so hopefully a smart signing. With Stowers and Anderson already signed it seems our loose forward stocks are looking good.Actually plenty of speed and experience being recruited in the backs also :-</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11673863'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11673863</a></p>
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<p>Now all we need is some meaty tight forwards. With the team officially announced in the next week or so things are beginning to get interesting.</p> -
<p>I think carl has signed to extend his stint in france, was only a short term, but good on him, hes gone to a good club</p>
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<p>Team named Sunday or Monday this week. Seems like we have signed a heap of 7s exponents - shame that isn't the format we'll be playing! Having said that, forwards hasn't been our issue the last couple of seasons, maybe our backs will look a little more cohesive. Any word on whether Callum Retallick is returning?</p>
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<p>I have added all our fixtures to www.bopmafia.com and also added a new poll for you to vote on. Vote early, vote often ....</p>
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<p>Steamers Squad - the full press release</p>
<p> </p><strong>MEDIA RELEASE: EMBARGO UNTIL 6.00AM SATURDAY 23 JULY</strong> <br><strong>2016 Steamers Team Announced </strong><br><br><span style="font-size:12px;"><strong>July 23, 2016</strong></span><br> <div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:15px;text-align:center;">
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12px;">The Bay of Plenty Steamers management today have named their 2016 squad for the upcoming 2016 Mitre 10 Cup season.<br>
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Head coach Clayton McMillan believes they have assembled a squad with a good blend of enthusiastic debutants and experience, with 24 capped players in the team.<br>
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“We’ve selected an outstanding group of men, hardworking, competitive, and highly motivated to perform.â€<br>
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“The fourteen new faces, will give us an exciting blend of youth and experience and importantly, depth throughout,†said McMillan.<br>
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There are 24 players returning to the Steamers which include Italian international Kelly Haimona and New Zealand All Black sevens player Teddy Stanaway.<br>
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The fourteen new players who have been selected in the Steamers squad will be expected to make their Mitre 10 Cup debut this season. Including four international sevens players’, Joe Webber, Regan Ware, Isaac Te Aute and Hugh Blake.<br>
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Within the 37 man squad ten of the twelve premier club sides are represented from across the Bay of Plenty.<br>
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“This team represents our region. The quality of club rugby has improved, and as a result, we have a competiton that’s going down to the wire and brought a lot of excitement back to our club scene. The by product of that is more players have been given an opportunity to shine, and this is reflected in the final squadâ€<br>
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“The team understand the demands and challenges ahead, but have prepared accordingly and are ready to meet those challenges head on.<br>
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“We are not a team of household names but are determined to create a legacy of success, bring some mana back to the jersey, and earn the respect of our supporters and stakeholders by playing a brand of rugby synonymous with the Bay of Plenty.â€<br>
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Bay of Plenty Rugby Union’s CEO Mike Rogers said “The Mitre 10 Cup is the toughest provincial rugby competition in the world and every year it throws up some amazing new young talent. The tradition and pride associated with representing your community is hugely important to everyone involved.<br>
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The Bay of Plenty is a fantastic region and we are determined to show the rest of the Country how proud we are of the Bay.â€<br>
<br><strong>2016 Bay of Plenty Steamers Squad:</strong><br><strong>Hookers:</strong><br>
Nathan Harris – Te Puke Sports (26), Liam Polwart* – Greerton Marist, Joseph Royal – Rotoiti (29), Sabastian Siataga – Mount Maunganui (8)<br>
<br><strong>Props:</strong><br>
Siegfried Fisi'ihoi – Rotoiti (18), Jordan Lay* – Whakarewarewa, Aidan Ross – Te Puke Sports (3), Solomona Sakalia – Mount Maunganui (19), Pingi Tala'apitaga – Tauranga Sports (34), Jeff Thwaites – Te Puna (6)<br>
<br><strong>Locks:</strong><br>
Troy Callander – Greerton Marist (7), Shahn Eru – Te Puna (7), Keepa Mewett – Tauranga Sports (17), Culum Retallick – Tauranga Sports (92)<br>
<br><strong>Loose Forwards:</strong><br>
Matty Axtens* – Mount Maunganui, Hugh Blake* – Te Puke Sports, Sam Cane – Tauranga Sports (18), Mitchell Karpik* – Mount Maunganui, Jesse Parete* – Arataki, Henry Stowers* – Arataki, Eru Wano-Smith* – Whakarewarewa, Joe Tupe – Greerton Marist (23)<br>
<br><strong>Half backs:</strong><br>
Luke Campbell* – Te Puke Sports, Ruki Tipuna – Rangataua (12), Te Aihe Toma – Te Puna (25)<br>
<br><strong>First five-eights:</strong><br>
Kelly Haimona – Whakarewarewa (15), Dan Hollinshead – Te Puke Sports (19)<br>
<br><strong>Midfield backs:</strong><br>
Lalakai Foketi – Rangataua (10), Terrence Hepetema – Te Puna (1), Teddy Stanaway – Mount Maunganui (1), Joe Webber* – Te Puke Sports<br>
<br><strong>Outside backs:</strong><br>
Te Rangi Fraser – Whakarewarewa (10), Monty Ioane* – Greerton Marist, Elijah Nicholas – Whakatane Marist (6), Chase Tiatia – Rangataua (11), Isaac Te Aute* – Mount Maunganui, Regan Ware* – Arataki<br>
<br><strong>Injury Cover:</strong><br>
Leigh Hughes* – Mount Maunganui<br>
<br><strong>Steamers Management:</strong><br>
Head Coach: Clayton McMillan<br>
Assistant Coach: Rodney Gibbs<br>
Assistant Coach: David Hill<br>
Manager: Wayne Brill<br>
Strength and Conditioning Trainer: Brad Mayo<br>
Physiotherapist: Damian Banks<br>
Assistant Physiotherapist: Corey Stunell<br>
Doctor: Turuki Tahuri<br>
Video Analyst: Mark Roberts<br>
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*Denotes Steamers debut<br>
() Denotes Steamers caps<br>
<br><strong>Bay of Plenty’s Pre-Season Draw:</strong><br>
Steamers vs. Northland: Rugby Park, Whakatane – Friday 5<sup>th</sup> August, 3.00pm<br>
Steamers vs. Auckland: To be confirmed, Auckland – Friday 13<sup>th</sup> August, to be confirmed<br>
<br><strong>Bay of Plenty’s draw for the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup:</strong><br>
Week 1: Steamers vs Taranaki at Tauranga Domain, Tauranga – Saturday 20 August, 2.35pm<br>
Week 2: Steamers vs Counties Manukau at ECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe – Sunday 28 August, 4.35pm<br>
Week 3: Steamers vs Otago at Tauranga Domain, Tauranga – Sunday 4 September, 2.35pm<br>
Week 4: Steamers vs Northland at Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua – Friday 9 September, 5.45pm<br>
Week 5: Steamers vs Wellington at Westpac Stadium, Wellington – Friday 16 September, 7.35pm<br>
Week 6: Steamers vs Southland at Rugby Park, Invercargill – Wednesday 21 September, 7.35pm<br>
Week 6: Steamers vs Auckland at Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua – Sunday 25 September, 4.35pm<br>
Week 7: Steamers vs North Harbour at QBE Stadium, Albany – Saturday 1 October, 2.35pm<br>
Week 8: Steamers vs Manawatu at Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua – Sunday 9 October, 4.35pm<br>
Week 9: Steamers vs Hawkes Bay at McLean Park, Napier – Saturday 15 October, 5.35pm<br>
Semifinals: Friday 21 October – Sunday 23 October<br>
Finals: Friday 28 October and Saturday 29 October<br>
<br><strong>Ticketing:</strong><br><strong>Pre-Season:</strong><br>
Adults $15<br>
Children Under 14: $5<br>
Children Under 5: Free<br>
<br><strong>Mitre 10 Cup:</strong><br>
Adults: $20<br>
Children Under 14: $5<br>
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*Note: Additional Booking fees apply for all ticket purchases.<br>
<br><strong>Purchase:</strong><br>
Bay of Plenty Rugby Union<br>
52 Miro Street<br>
Mount Maunganui<br>
<br>
Rotorua Convention Centre<br>
1170 Fenton St<br>
Rotorua</span></p>
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<p>Wow ! Some big surprises there for sure.</p>
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<p>No Nemani or Bardoul ! Easily our best players from last year not returning ! I'm assuming there's an obvious reason but I would have thought they would have been the first to be selected. No Hohneck, Hall and Evemy either.</p>
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<p>The return of 33 year old Ruki Tipuna. If my memory serves me right he was in the 04 shield challenge. Retalleck's return less surprising although one wonders how long his creaky old body will last.</p>
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<p>Four hookers (and one as injury cover) seems a bit of an overkill. I would have thought we need more injury cover at lock.</p>
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<p>All in all though, there's plenty of familiar faces and plenty of added speed in the backs so lets wait and see.</p> -
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<p>The return of 33 year old Ruki Tipuna. If my memory serves me right he was in the 04 shield challenge. Retalleck's return less surprising although one wonders how long his creaky old body will last.</p>
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<p>He wasn't in the XV that won it (Senio was) but was definitely playing when they lost it to Canterbury.</p> -
<p>so whos gone from last year.tim bond,zak hohneck,.craig clare,mike kainga, johan bardoul.,whaimotu craft chemis,tino nemani.caleb hall,carl axtens,nick evenmy,papa wharewere.jono kitto,leroy van dam,bryn uriarau and <cough> Brodie rettalick<cough>.</p>
<p>any1 else</p>
<p>oh and keith Roberts?</p> -
<p>That looks about right Cpt Kumara. It does seem a lot of departures from a squad of 35-36 but its in line with the culling that went on last year.</p>
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<p>On paper it looks a pretty inexperienced outfit when you look at the number of Super 15 players and the number of BOP caps but I rate some of the new faces so I'm hoping for (at least) an improvement from last year...... </p> -
<p>Isn't Nemani still in France? I believe Bardoul is Japan bound.</p>
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<p>Squad looks good - a lot of hookers, but I assume now that Coles is injured, Harris will be required for the ABs (would have been anyway). Very light on locks, but only Retallick was involved in Super - and that was very sparingly. Maybe the loosies can cover somewhat - but I don't see a lot of height anywhere there.</p>
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<p>Young backline, but if we have some intent, we'll go well. Lacking perhaps a General, but maybe Haimona will take this role. I didn't see it when he played for Italy, but Parisse tended to hog everything. Would have liked to see Evemy in the centres somewhere...</p>
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<p>Bring on the season!</p> -
D Duluth moved this topic from BOP Mafia on
