Otago 2023
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@Kiwiwomble I would... you can't fight size - probably stuck with him until the rest of the season, but he just hasn't shown anything in these first three games that makes me think there is something worth persisting with.
Someone suggested he should go the 7s route, and I think that would be a great option.
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Cam Millar out for the season.
Here's hoping Faleafaga gets the first opportunity in the 10 jersey. It would seem silly to give it to Leslie.
'Huge loss': Ankle injury ends Millar’s season
Cameron Millar’s season is over. The Otago first five was supposed to have a breakthrough NPC campaign in preparation for an even bigger assignment...
Millar’s season-ending ankle injury ‘huge loss’
Cameron Millar’s season is over.
The Otago first five was supposed to have a breakthrough NPC campaign in preparation for an even bigger assignment with the Highlanders next year.That script will need a serious rewrite.
The 21-year-old’s troublesome ankle injury has resurfaced in an unwanted plot twist.
He was assisted from the field during the heartbreaking 33-32 loss to Hawke’s Bay in Napier on Sunday.
It looked bad at the time and assistant coach Ryan Bambry confirmed those fears in an interview with the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
"He’s done," Bambry said.
"It is really frustrating for him. He has just had one of those years that a lot of professional players go through.
"He seems to be going through that this year. He won’t be playing.
"It is the same ankle he did for the Highlanders."
The team doctor was not available, but Millar will require surgery and is expected to be sidelined for four to five months.
Bambry said it was a "huge" loss for the team.
"This was the campaign where we felt we were going to get Cam Millar going and get him into the saddle to drive our game for us. Unfortunately, we won’t get that now.
"We’ll have to crack on and bring other boys up to speed who also deserve to be there."
Bambry said Millar was dealing with the setback as best as he could.
"I caught up with him this morning and he is obviously pretty disappointed. But he’s got character and he knows this is just part and parcel of being a professional player.
"He’ll no doubt show the sort of resilience that he has in the past and be ready to go next year."
Millar was not the only casualty from the game. Winger Jona Nareki and fullback Sam Gilbert picked up hamstring injuries and lock Will Tucker has a tailbone complaint.
Bambry said those injuries were still being assessed, but Gilbert needed assistance to leave the field and was probably the most in doubt for Saturday’s derby against the Southland Stags in Dunedin.
Gilbert filled in at first five during Otago’s opening two games when Millar was unavailable. Taking him out of the mix will further reduce Otago’s options.
There is still ample talent, however. Fullback Finn Hurley played first five at school and Ajay Faleafaga is another solid option. But perhaps Jack Leslie will get the nod.
He has been covering the midfield and fullback and has impressed in the opportunities he has had so far.
Leslie helped guild Southern to the Dunedin premier club title in 2022 from first five and has all the skills to succeed at the next level.
"Obviously the young backs in our environment will get a real big opportunity ... and we’re excited for this young wave of players coming through."
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Leslie looks a tidy player. But, we have invested heavily in Faleafaga.
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im just concerned they'll do the same thing with leslie that they did to gilbert...he's a good player so we'll stick him at 10 rather than where we obviously though he was better placed
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@SouthernMann said in Otago 2023:
Leslie looks a tidy player. But, we have invested heavily in Faleafaga.
I think the Highlanders have invested heavily in Faleafaga, but so far this year, he has been ranked below Finn Hurley, Jack Leslie, Josh Whaanga & Jeremiah Asi despite seemingly not being injured.
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@frugby said in Otago 2023:
@SouthernMann said in Otago 2023:
Leslie looks a tidy player. But, we have invested heavily in Faleafaga.
I think the Highlanders have invested heavily in Faleafaga, but so far this year, he has been ranked below Finn Hurley, Jack Leslie, Josh Whaanga & Jeremiah Asi despite seemingly not being injured.
Considering he's a 10/12. I think it is rough to say he is rated below all those players. Probably just Leslie. Not the wingers, centres and fullbacks.
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@SouthernMann said in Otago 2023:
@frugby said in Otago 2023:
@SouthernMann said in Otago 2023:
Leslie looks a tidy player. But, we have invested heavily in Faleafaga.
I think the Highlanders have invested heavily in Faleafaga, but so far this year, he has been ranked below Finn Hurley, Jack Leslie, Josh Whaanga & Jeremiah Asi despite seemingly not being injured.
Considering he's a 10/12. I think it is rough to say he is rated below all those players. Probably just Leslie. Not the wingers, centres and fullbacks.
Game One (Think he may have been injured)
- Gilbert played 10, not his preferred role, with Hurley at 15. Whaanga started 13, with Te Hiwi at 12 (The latter generally a 13) so I think you could argue these guys were picked over him
Game Two
- Hurley again at 15
Game Three
- Leslie in at 12, and Hurley and Asi both on the bench despite both being outside backs. Faleafaga should have been on there to cover 10 + the midfield, probably for Hurley.
Faleafaga can also most certainly play 15.
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I've never seen him listed at 15 since moving to Dunedin.
I'm not really too phased about the why or why not. I'm just keen to see the kid get a go.
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@SouthernMann said in Otago 2023:
I've never seen him listed at 15 since moving to Dunedin.
I'm not really too phased about the why or why not. I'm just keen to see the kid get a go.
Yep, so am I. I'm not disagreeing in that sense, I just can't understand how he hasn't played in the first three games.
I've heard Whaanga is battling a shoulder and Hurley a hamstring. Believe Whaanga is going to play v the Stags, but Hurley very 50/50, so seems highly likely Faleafaga gets a run... also seems likely that Caleb 'Autumn (apparently that his nickname)' Leef will be back on the bench.
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As it is team naming Thursday, here is the side I'd like to see this weekend:
- Pole
- Bell
- Ainsley
- Dickson
- Holland
- Sanders
- Withy
- Lio-Willie
- Hastie
- Faleafaga
- Nareki/Asi
- Leslie
- Umaga-Jensen
- Whaanga
- Pepe
- Jackson
- Wingham
- Ma'u
- Tucker
- Fischli
- Arscott/McClea
- Hurley
- Whichever fit back we can find.
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another week without seeing Ajay would be concerning
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From what I saw running around at training today
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Rohan Wingham
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Henry Bell
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Jermaine Ainsley
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Fabian Holland
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Will Tucker
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Josh Dickson
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Sean Withy
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Christian Lio-Willie
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James Arscott
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Ajay Faleafaga
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Jona Nareki
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Jack Leslie
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Thomas Umaga-Jensen
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Josh Whaanga
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Finn Hurley
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Ricky Jackson
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Abraham Pole
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Saula Ma'u
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Josh Hill
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Sam Fischli
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Nathan Hastie
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Jake Te Hiwi
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Maybe John Tapueluelu from what I saw or Jeremiah Asi
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After the way he played on the weekend I'd be disappointed if Asi didn't get another go. Thought he was outstanding.
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I was pretty close. Take out Te Hiwi and both Asi and Tapueluelu who are both wings which is a bit concerning. Then Tucker out and Sanders into 6
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Some improvements again yesterday, the forward pack went well for the second week running - which is to be expected with their quality, but it wasn't happening those first couple of games.
Halfbacks looked good, how McClea was rated above Hastie I'll never know. I suppose you'd just about go unchanged for the next game because of injuries, but once again I am really not seeing it with Hurley.
Felt he kicked away a lot of good possession yesterday, and that drop-kicking was just a nonsense. Dermody was a row in front of me with Dillon, and I think I heard him mutter WTF are you doing lol.
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Our season is basically dead. Donnelly not the man as head coach I'm afraid.
Thought Hurley took some better options for the most part in the last game, but overall there will still too many of those dumb dinky kicks when on attack. We were stuffing BOP in the forwards when we had the ball, but couldn't make the most of it.
Taking Nareki off with 7 to go was ludicrous.
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In the NZR review thread, I was discussing the idea of an amateur NPC model, where teams would play more of a World Cup style format, and teams would thereby be made up almost entirely of players playing for their home province... you'd have to see some rules on it, obviously, but thought it would be interesting to look at an Otago side made up of guys only from Otago, (with no All Blacks, not that this affects us):
Props:
Abraham Pole
Rohan Wingham
Jermaine Ainsley
Jackson DempsterHookers:
George Bell
Henry Bell
Ricky JacksonLocks:
Josh Dickson
Josh Hill
?Loose Forwards:
Oli Haig
Sam Fischli
Slade McDowell
Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa
?Halfbacks:
James Arscott
Nathan Hastie
Bob MartinFirst Fives:
Cam MillarMidfielders:
Jake Te Hiwi
Josh Timu
Matt Whaanga
Josh Whaanga
Jack LeslieOutside Backs:
Finn Hurley
Michael Manson
?We really do need the imports
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Both Hurley and Millar are Southlanders.
I don't think it is realistic to have players be tagged to their province of origin. While we want our best guys to stick around people will always move.
