Crusaders 2024

[Chris]

@SBW1 said in Crusaders 2024:

Mataele will be a huge injection of pace until Reece works his way back from injury.

Reece is good to go he is running at full pace, and is doing pre season training starting at the beginning of December

[ACT Crusader]

@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:

@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2024:

Will Gualter would be an option to pick up the injury cover slot for Ennor. He was short term cover for the Crusaders last year.

I don't think we need him Reece looks like he will be added MF cover

backs as far as I can see look like
M DRUMMOND,W HEINZ,N HOTHAM
,T KEMERA,R REIHANA,F BURKE
D HAVILLI,D McLEOD
,L AMUA,R CROTTY
M SPRINGER,H MURRAY,
S REECE,M MATAELE,C FIHAKI
W JORDAN,L HALF-PENNY

Fainga’anuku is going to be a big loss and not having Ennor will also hurt.

Based on who is available from game 1, I would go with

9-Drummond
10-Havili
11-Springer
12-McLeod
13-Aumua
14-Reece
15-Jordan

21-Hotham
22-Halfpenny/Kemara
23-Crotty/Mataele

[Chris]

@ACT-Crusader

Yes really close to what they will start with I think.

McLeod and Amua makes a good sized MF.

I think Hotham maybe the starting HB,

[ACT Crusader]

@Chris would love to see Hotham take the reins as starting halfback this season. Just not sure if it will happen from game 1

[Stargazer]

Cridge for lock? He plays for us, but is a local. Had an excellent NPC season.

[MiketheSnow]

@GibbonRib said in Crusaders 2024:

Well this was out of leftfield.

Seems very unlikely they'd use ½p at 10. But he'd be a great guy to have around as a squad player, mentor for younger guys etc.

And I believe he has coaching ambitions, so presumably there'll be some arrangement in place for him to get involved in that side of things.

Plus, after his 3 year stand-down period, he should be eligible for the ABs for the next world cup.

[SBW1]

What exactly has happened to Harford, did he fall by the wayside in the NPC? No Super contract at all, surely he would have been a handy pickup even for the Highlanders.

[junior12]

@SBW1 because Harford is a product of hanging around the Crusaders system. He could easily have left previously for other opportunities but has bided his time. More chance of seeing Cruden named today.

[Chris]

Squad:
Hookers: Codie Taylor, Brodie McAlister, George Bell, Ioane Moananu.
Props: Joe Moody, Finlay Brewis, George Bower, Tamaiti Williams, Fletcher Newell.
Locks: Scott Barrett (capt), Quinten Strange, Tahlor Cahill, Zach Gallagher, Jamie Hannah.
Loose forwards: Ethan Blackadder, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Christian Lio-Willie, Corey Kellow, Dominic Gardiner.
Halfbacks: Noah Hotham, Mitchell Drummond, Willi Heinz.
First fives: Fergus Burke, Taha Kemara, Rivez Reihana.
Midfielders: David Havili, Dallas McLeod, Levi Aumua, Ryan Crotty, Jone Rova.
Outside backs: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Macca Springer, Manasa Mataele, Chay Fihaki, Leigh Halfpenny, Heremaia Murray.

Major gains: Levi Aumua (Moana Pasifika), Ryan Crotty (Kubota), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), Rivez Reihana (Chiefs), Manasa Mataele (Force)
Major losses: Sam Whitelock (Pau), Richie Mo'unga (Toshiba), Jack Goodhue (Castres Olympique), Leicester Fainga'anuku (Toulon), Sione Havili Talitui (Moana Pasifika)

[Chris B.]

That's slightly odd - an extra hooker and an extra midfielder - but a prop and loose forward short - at least IMO.

Where has Ollie Jaeger gone?

I'm pleased to not see Reed Prinsep there - you had me worried!

[Chris]

Taylor on a non playing sabbatical until a couple of rds from Finals. so Moananau contracted

another Prop to be added as Jager has requested an early release to pursue NH contracts

[Chris]

@Chris-B

yeah me too only 6 LFs a worry with injuries probably to make way for a 4th Hooker with Taylors sabbatical

Jager asked for early release to head to NH.another prop to be added.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2024:

Where has Ollie Jaeger gone?

From Stuff -
Moananu is one of 10 newly contracted players in the 2024 Crusaders, although Penney is set to name another prop in the coming weeks due to the unexpected departure of tighthead Oli Jager.

He’s played 51 games for the Crusaders since 2017 and had been chasing his All Blacks dream, but requested a release from his contract in recent days, citing an opportunity to play elsewhere.

“We are in the process of working through that and, ultimately, that will probably be honoured,” Penney said.

“I can’t elaborate too much...you will put two and two together, and he will come out with a release very shortly,” he said when asked if Jager, who hails from Ireland, was returning home.

[Chris B.]

Looks like they may be sticking with the plan of Tamaiti playing tighthead?

[Chris]

@Chris-B

looks that way, Bower can cover both sides.
the prop to be added will be a TH by the look of things.

Seb Calder ?

[Chris B.]

@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:

Seb Calder ?

He'd be my guess, but maybe they'll look further afield.

[Chris]

@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2024:

@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:

Seb Calder ?

He'd be my guess, but maybe they'll look further afield.

Maybe

[ACT Crusader]

@Chris said in Crusaders 2024:

Taylor on a non playing sabbatical until a couple of rds from Finals. so Moananau contracted

Good to hear it’s happening. He’ll be fresher for the rest.

Moananau and Bell are two good young rakes. Exciting times.

[ploughboy]

so crusaders will have 39 contracted players?

[frugby]

@ploughboy said in Crusaders 2024:

so crusaders will have 39 contracted players?

Moananu is the 39th to cover Taylor.