2016 Northland Mitre 10 Cup Squad.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Steven Harris" data-cid="598700" data-time="1469148173">
<div>
Just remember Tua is very young and Cherrington are both very young,if they were in Auckland,I suspect they would be either in the Auckland colts or their development teams given the log jam, 
On the club comp,I have seen a few games this year,OBM and Mid Northern,even though they have Ben tipped up on the odd occasion,with all their players available are light years ahead of everybody else,Western Sharks and Waipu have been the big improvers ,Sharks,not unexpected with Tom Robinson and Matt Matich, on board,and Mark Wells doing a good job at Waipu,although with so many Fijian boys can be loose at times, 
Wellsford with all the injuries,and unavailable players from last year are not a patch on the 2015 side,but will finally be at full strength for their semi final tomorrow,their coaches have done a great job to get them this far,considering, 
Other sides,like Otamatea and Mid-Western have gone backwards,Otamatea especially,struggling at times to field a quality premier team,hate to keep harking on about it,but if club rugby is not addressed moving forward,there will be bigger issues fielding a quality Taniwha team. 
Just on a final,I have spoken to a couple of referees from Auckland that have officiated games in the southern districts comp,according to these chaps I spoke to,the top reserve grade teams in Auckland would compete favourably in the Southern districts comp,scary thought when you think about it..! 
Also thought I would mention,Tyler Landsdowne has only,as of 2 x weeks ago returned from injury,been out most of the year..!
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I know Tua is very young, just saying that it would be a cool story if he can make the step up so quickly, and obviously a promising sign.

taniwharugby

bit of an oddly worded article with a couple of comments, specifically the first bolded ones.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503448&objectid=11679309'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503448&objectid=11679309</a>
 
Rugby: Super players bolster squad
 
Northland won't be relying on their Super Rugby players, but are hoping they'll contribute to a successful Mitre 10 Cup season.
Northland have named a 36-strong squad, with eight Super players in the mix.
They are hooker Matt Moulds, prop Namatahi Wa'a, loose forwards Dan Pryor, Kara Pryor and Jack Ram, NZ under-20 halfback Sam Nock, first-five Dan Hawkins and wing Jone Macilai.
Coach Richie Harris said while it's great to have the experience of those players, they won't be answering an S.O.S. call.
"They come in on their own terms and add to the group," he said.
"Last year they came to save us on the field, but the goal is for the team to effectively function without the Super players."
Northland will contest for the Championship after a disappointing 2015 campaign where they went winless in 10 games.
However Harris feels the side is in a far better position this year.
<div> </div>
"We are way further in our development than last year in terms of what our players and coaching staff know," he said.
"Now we know what the players are about and what the Mitre 10 Cup is all about."
Northland have three pre-season hit outs before the season starts, beginning with North Harbour next Friday.
They then take on Bay of Plenty on August 5 before battling it out in the 'Game of Three Halves' against Counties-Manukau and the All Blacks.
 
They have definitive goals they want to achieve during the pre-season.
Harris is hoping his side makes a decent fist of the season.
"Ideally, we'll make the finals of the Championship. To get there though, it's all about getting our processes right."
Five academy players have been included in order to further develop and to provide cover for injured players, returning Super players and players involved in club finals through the pre-season window.
Of note among those academy players is prop Sesimani Tupou, fresh out of St Kentigern College, where he played in an unprecedented five 1A finals.
The Taniwha open their Championship campaign on August 19 against the Manawatu Turbos in Whangarei.
 
Northland 2016 Mitre 10 Cup Squad:
Forwards: Chris Apoua, Phil Kite, Howard Sililoto, Matt Talaese, Namatahi Wa'a (Blues), Sesimani Tupou (Academy), Matt Moulds (Blues), Jordan Olsen, Ross Wright, Josh Goodhue, Shane Neville, Tom Robinson, Sean Sweetman, Josh Larsen (Academy), Michael Faleafa, Matt Matich, Dan Pryor (Highlanders), Kara Pryor (Blues), Jack Ram (Blues), Aorangi Stokes, Epineri Uluviti (Academy).
Backs: Matty Markwick, Malcolm McLeod, Sam Nock (Blues), Peter Breen, Dan Hawkins (Rebels), Warren Dunn, Troy Gilbert, Jordan Hyland, Tamati Tua, James Cherrington (Academy), Solomon Alaimalo, Monty Lama, Waisea Lawebuka, Jone Macilai (Crusaders), Levi Clark (Academy).
- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/'>Northern Advocate</a>

taniwharugby

new jersey, would prefer a slightly darker shade of blue, but otherwise like it
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.taniwha.co.nz/merchandise/attachment/2016-northland-rugby-merchandise/'><img height="800" src="http://www.taniwha.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/2016-Northland-Rugby-Merchandise.jpg" width="554" alt="2016-Northland-Rugby-Merchandise.jpg"></a>

Duluth

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="600606" data-time="1469589933">
<div>
new jersey, would prefer a slightly darker shade of blue, but otherwise like it
</div>
</blockquote>
Yay! No silly cartoon on the front

kev

Bugger picked up a jersey last year (I think) with the cartoon on the front which is damn fine. I now have 3 versions so not inclined to purchase a 4th unless we have a damn fine season! Ok with the colour.

Gunner

Not a huge fan of the colour, it's a bit 'beige', but I do like the design.
 
What's wrong with proper Cambridge blue?

Chiefy

I like it. Only thing I would change is putting the two white strips on either side of the Toll logo rather than both underneath. I like the white trim again.
 
A flash new jersey isn't going to count for much if we play like last season...

taniwharugby

provided we don't get ravaged by injury, we wont play like last year, only way is up!
 
Tough start to the comp though, and that is always key, get down on confidence early makes it tougher to climb out!

taniwharugby

a rookie side was destroyed by NH in the pre-season game, which featured players fromoutside the squad, with those involved in the finals tomorrow being unavailable.
 
Starting team for Northland was Alaimalo,Taquea,Landsdowne,Tua,Hyland,Paraki,Subritsky,Matich,Robinson,Faleafa,Sweetman,,Neville,Talaese,Tou,Topou

Steven Harris

Popped along to North Harbour stadium today
Very much an understrength Northland team,with up to 18 x players unavailable because of club final tomorrow,and not to mention several super rugby players missing, 
very much a learning experience for many of the players that took the field in what looked like a thrown together team,whilst the scoreline was'nt flattering. 
Harbour had a decent sprinkling of their Mitre10 Cup players running around,whilst defensively,you could understand there were some issues,there were some individuals that really impressed, 
starting in the pack,Shane Neville put himself about defensively,and always carried hard,taking it to the Harbour pack,Matt Matich who ended up on the wing in the 2nd half,has a massive engine, 
and along with Tom Robinson was was always close to the action,in the backs,Jordon Hyland was superb,running at that line really hard,making a very good line break and offload which 
lead to Northlands only try. 
Hylands defensive work was also very good,several punishing shots,at fullback,Solomon Alaimalo looks player with a ton of potential,he made a very good fist of fullback,would have loved to see him with more space,as he has superb footwork and good strength. 
just a bit conerning we had a few injuries in the first 20 minutes,Sean Sweetman,Micheal Faleafa and Sesimani Topou all left the field early,hopefully all are not to serious, 
.Just wanted to also mention a couple of players from the far north,Dane Subritsky at halfback deserves a mention,having to deal with some messy ball with Harbour forwards pouring through the ruck, 
though he did very well and cleared the compatently,also my first look at Epineri Uluviti,was quite impressed with his ability with ball in hand,certainly got the size to progress into a very good 
player,and finally just a shame we could',nt get a bit more ball out to Isimeli Taqea,looked dangerous when he had the ball,finished off Northlands only try with superb run from 50 metres out 
after some excellent lead up work from Hyland,Tua and Alaimalo.
 Tamati Tua looked good at times,but will need to work on his defence,got a little caught out at times,one thing that did look promising in the first 20 minutes until players started leaving the field,was the scrum,although once all the changes started to ring,we were pushed around in the 2nd half.final score North Harbour 56 Northland 5,halftime 26-5.

kev

Thanks Steven - put a line through it and move on to the next one.

Chiefy

Thanks Steve, good to get a bit of a run down. When I saw the team it did look very much like a Northland B team. Definitely some handy players in reserve this year!

taniwharugby

Northland vs Bay of Plenty (Pre-Season Game)
Friday 5th August 2016
Whakatane â€“ Kick Off 3:00pm
 
Northland Squad to face Bay of Plenty
<ol><li>Chris Apoua</li>
<li>Jordan Olsen</li>
<li>Phil Kite</li>
<li>Josh Goodhue</li>
<li>Shane Neville</li>
<li>Josh Larsen</li>
<li>Jack Ram</li>
<li>Matt Matich</li>
<li>Malcolm MacLeod</li>
<li>Peter Breen</li>
<li>Monty Lama</li>
<li>Tamati Tua</li>
<li>Warren Dunn</li>
<li>Waisea Lawebuka</li>
<li>Solomon Alaimalo</li>
<li>Matt Moulds</li>
<li>Namatahi Waa</li>
<li>Epineri Uluiviti</li>
<li>Matt Talaese</li>
<li>Kara Pryor</li>
<li>Sam Nock</li>
<li>Matty Marwick</li>
<li>Jordan Hyland</li>
<li>Levi Clark</li>
<li>James Cherrington</li>
</ol>Unavailable for selection:
Aorangi Stokes 
Dan Hawkins 
Sesimani Tupou 
Sean Sweetman 
Dan Pryor 
Jone Macilai 
Troy Gilbert 
Howard Sililoto 
Tom Robinson 
Michael Faleafa 
Ross Wright

taniwharugby

another beating 49-26 (BOP may have even hit 40 by HT?)....I know it is just pre-season and 99% of the time, it means jack (one year we had 2/3 wins IIRC and then came dead last) but this aint good for getting players into a bit of form and confidence as we build to the season proper, and it wont endear fans to get out and support them either.
 
I dont wanna start pointing fingers so soon, but you gotta look at the guys running the show if we start so poorly again...last year I was forgiving because new coaching team in at short notice, new systems etc, but theyve had the whole last year, the off-season and able to select the players they want who they think will suit thier systems....
 
I hope I'm not getting De ja vu again from that period where we had a pretty long consecutive run of losses...

kev

Comments on Facebook say that the Bay finals are this weekend so the presumption is they didn't have their full squad - and yet the half time score was 42 - 12. So one presumes they gave their C team a run and we scored some points. 
So I think this result is a disaster. After last season we needed to have started firing in these games to build confidence. Something is wrong and now is the time to sort it....

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kev" data-cid="603215" data-time="1470379289">
<div>
Comments on Facebook say that the Bay finals are this weekend so the presumption is they didn't have their full squad - and yet the half time score was 42 - 12. So one presumes they gave their C team a run and we scored some points. 
So I think this result is a disaster. After last season we needed to have started firing in these games to build confidence. Something is wrong and now is the time to sort it....
</div>
</blockquote>
 
conceding nigh on 100 points, me thinks defence :(

kev

Yes defence, attack and everything else by the look of it. Re your comments above, the pressure on these coaches is building to get the team playing like a team. Just not good enough. I am very worried now about the rest of the season.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kev" data-cid="603218" data-time="1470380177">
<div>
Yes defence, attack and everything else by the look of it. Re your comments above, the pressure on these coaches is building to get the team playing like a team. Just not good enough. I am very worried now about the rest of the season.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
yep, you hope that the injection of our full compliment of Super players will help hugely, but if the other half of the players out there cant play, it wont help much, more so when you take the line Harris said in that odd article a couple of weeks back saying they wont be relying on the super players....well, turns out now, we will be, or if not, well, I, like you am starting to dread the season before it has begun

kev

The good teams these days play a high tempo game with players working really hard off the ball on attack and in defence. Just wonder if we are working so hard on fitness and set pieces we haven't got "a game" going. They need to turn this around quickly. 
I note the Hurricanes started their season with a thrashing by the Brumbies and their coach started by Coaching Wellington down to the Championship. 
So maybe I am over reacting. Still not happy though.

Snollygoster

I actually went to the game and you guys shouldn't be to disheartened. You actually won the second half and this was a full strength Bay side with no Bay players from tomorrows club finals actually allowed to play in the those games.
 
These preseason games are something of a lottery at the best of times. I will admit though early on it looked like you were in for a hiding so well done for turning it around.

The Silver Fern

2016 Northland Mitre 10 Cup Squad.