Auckland Rugby 2023

[Duluth]

@Nogusta said in Auckland Rugby 2023:

Reds 3rd stringer. Kalani Thomas I think

I don't understand these type of selections.

Pick the three best halfbacks from Auckland club rugby. Although I presume some club rugby halfbacks will be representing other NPC sides (which goes against the idea of a provincial representative competition)

If there is a huge weakness in a particular position, I can see an argument for bring in an experienced overseas player (I would still be against it). However Kalani Thomas is a young developing Aussie player

Do Auckland get paid by Aussie SR sides when they take people like Thomas, Vest, Pugh etc?

[Steven Harris]

@Duluth the Auckland Union have learnt nothing from having 2 Australians in the squad last year , I am definitely with yourself on this one
This is a situation where you knock on the door of your Blues partners Harbour or Northland if you really feel you haven’t got that position covered and check in to see what they have available.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Steven-Harris I agree. The two players who lost out to those Aussie journeymen ended up getting Australian Super gigs and both looked comfortable at that level. (Ekuasi and Kalepu). I will be very grumpy if Riley Williams misses out on the squad. Especially as I already suspect the Japanese HB from Eden may also be in the team. I think maybe they panicked looking for halfbacks after loosing Sam Wye to Hawkes Bay and Manu Paea to the Tongan world cup team. Thomas looks a good player but it's still wrong. NPC's job should be to develop our next group of potential pro players, not Aussies. Next thing we will see the likes of Riley in another super teams academy!

[KiwiMurph]

If Hickey is in the squad I hope it's more as a non-player/bench player. His value at this stage of his career is more on the training paddock. I'm going to be pissed off if he's clogging up minutes at 10 again. Plummer and Zarn should be the 10s with young Byron Smith and/or Jock McKenzie in the wings.

[george33]

Zarn Sullivan 10, Harry plummer 12 and RTS will b 15 for alot of the games as a Senz host has said

[Steven Harris]

This post is deleted!

[Steven Harris]

@Daffy-Jaffy spot with your last coms re the halfbacks

[Duluth]

Photosport has a few of the profile pics

photosport.nz/gallery/230717-Auckland-NPC-Players/G0000SEGzw5al0tw/C00001CrGsILaomM

Confirmation of Kalani Thomas & Edward Annandale

Leka Tu'unagafasi another new addition

Ta'avao
James Lay
Fusitua
Renata
Ahio
L Tu'unagafasi

Vikena

Annandale
Tuipulotu
Dalzell
Beehre

Gibson
Jones
Peita
Ekuasi

Funaki
Thomas

McKenzie

Evans
RTS
Tele'a

Cobb
Rayasi

Sullivan

Probably another ~10 names to be added? (Plummer, Choat, Ioane, Heem, Lam etc)

Also I think previous years they took profile pics of people who were not in the full squad

[george33]

Che Clark, and Caleb Tangitau in squad

[Tim]

[Tim]

Any idea if the club final will be streamed?

[Duluth]

[Daffy Jaffy]

This post is deleted!

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Tim Warning - Check the Edit to my last post.

[Tim]

@Daffy-Jaffy yeah, looks dodgy, and no mention of it on Auckland Rugby social media.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Tim The link is on Varsity Facebook but in the comments. I think i will remove it from here. Auckland facebook has streamed the final the last few seasons but there is no info on their page right now.

[Tim]

Varsity up 7 - 5 at halftime.

[Tim]

Manukau won 20 - 14.

[Tim]

[Tim]