Waikato 2024
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@cgrant said in Waikato 2024:
Isn't Andrew Smith a blind side loose forward ?
Yes, but he played lock in pre-season games last year. Assuming Smith is in the squad, he could play lock or 6.
And Tuivailala a centre ?
More likely to be used on the wing (where Aki debuted last year) than in the midfield I would think with Tupaea, Sullivan, Wrampling etc.
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@Yeetyaah said in Waikato 2024:
Aaron Cruden is at Mooloo open day, wonder if he's lacing up again.
I said he could be a possibility. Neither of the 1st 5s who played for the Harlequins (Logan Allen and Jack Harding) are good enough at this stage.
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A day early. By accident?
Cruden is included. They will need to find other hookers and halfbacks.
2024 Waikato National Provincial Championship Squad Announced
Waikato Rugby are pleased to announce their initial 34-man Bunnings Warehouse National Provinicial Championship (NPC)...
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Josh Moorby joins Waikato for the 2024 Bunnings NPC campaign.
Waikato Rugby is proud to announce the key signing of inform, outside back, Josh Moorby, who has committed to Waikato...
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@Yeetyaah I'm sure most look at the WR SM channels and not the website. Also, the media release says a 34-man squad but only 33 players are listed. Tana Tuhakaraina is missing.
I expect all of the NZ U20 players will be on development contracts and training with the main squad.
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Couple of (already known) departures from last season such as Rhys Marshall, Simon Parker and Josh Ioane but otherwise a pretty consistent squad.
Gabe Robinson is the only one to have not played a game of provincial rugby but he was involved with the squad last year (think he might have been injured).
Ayden Johnstone's continued selection as captain has really hampered Ollie Norris' development, in my mind.
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@Bovidae said in Waikato 2024:
@Mr-Fish Yeah, Robinson was injured so never debuted. He was in the NZ U20s last year so like Mason Tupaea only young.
Johnstone is still only 27 but, I agree, hopefully Filipo shares their workload and both get starts.
Feels like Johnstone has been around forever. He's a good provincial player but I think Norris has the much higher ceiling and with Johnstone as captain, his minutes are always going to be restricted.
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@Yeetyaah said in Waikato 2024:
Aaron Cruden is at Mooloo open day, wonder if he's lacing up again.
Player / Coach
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So, given the tie-break if two teams are equal on competition points is who won the regular season fixture, Waikato could finish as high as fifth (possibly equal on points with BoP but they lost the H2H during the season) or as low as ninth depending on results over the weekend.
They'll likely finish fifth if they win against Canterbury this weekend (unless Hawke's Bay upsets Wellington), seventh if they lose but get a BP, and either eighth or ninth depending how big a wins Harbour and Counties get over Southland and Manawatu.
Could be close! Waikato will go into their match knowing exactly what they need to make the finals because Harbour and Counties play earlier on the Saturday.
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@Bovidae said in Waikato 2024:
Wins should be the first tie-breaker but it isn't. CM can't overtake Waikato based on head-to-head but NH can.
If all three have the same number of points then I think it's possible that Waikato would come third of the trio but I not certain...
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