Northland 2024
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Agree.
For the team who won the comp last season, trials mean F all.
But for a team like Northland, they are almost must win games.
If you cant put a good performance in against a team that it is probably not trying 100%, and messing about with combos...
Not lookin good, more of the same...
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Fairly harsh comments.
Auckland fielded a super 15 laden squad. And have a huge depth advantage vs northland and always will.
Northland look like they had 10 caps outside lisati milo-Harris in the backline. I would say, look to have signed too many youngsters in the backs.Northland having 10 starters out and auckland having 10 starters out is not equal.
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@muddyriver yeah I think 10 players made thier debut yesterday?
Several of the Auckland debutants have played national age group recently too, so yep, quality of depth is always an issue.
I like the look of the squad, but will need some players to really step up, particularly the leaders, as you say some very young players, that I guess fits with how McLeod generally prefers to develop players.
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@muddyriver said in Northland 2024:
Northland look like they had 10 caps outside lisati milo-Harris in the backline. I would say, look to have signed too many youngsters in the backs.
So the pack went ok? Was it just bad defence in the backs?
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@Duluth very different packs each half for northland. But for the majority, set pieces were even. Auckland had a scrum advantage with certain front rows. Auckland looked to play the Blues Power game up the middle, which was very effective, but I think teams will just have to learn how to defend it rather than it being a quality issue.
Northland back 3 in particular did not offer very much and starting half back was very club level.
Northland on defense a lot because of bad game management and bad kicking. Alot of aucklands tries just very poor 1v1 defense on the wings.
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@muddyriver Boyd who started at 9, is a good strong player, but his decision making is suspect, has been the last 2 seasons, obviously easier to paper over those at club level (still better than bringing an Aussie over as I heard they were looking at)
Similarly, Duncan on the wing, often he takes contact when he should pass, and then passes when he should gas it, the other wing, Warehau has played midfield all all season...plus I heard heem was in fine form creating stuff creating headaches out wide.
I heard our lineout went well even nabbed.a few off.Auckland but also heard that Auckland did play similar to the Blues, so good to see that happening.
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Not comparing Northland with Auckland, but I think Northland have enough resources to make themselves competitive.
I do compare them with the likes of Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki and Ta$man.
They have been more than just competitive, with similar resouces to Northland, and that comparison hasn’t been good for a long time.I rate Dale MacLeod as a coach and the players have potential.
I'm not talking bout winning the comp, just getting more Ws than Ls.You only have to look at the player who is not there. He finally got a run with a team that wins most of its games, and now he’s got a nice fulltime contract.
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@Duluth said in Northland 2024:
@mohikamo said in Northland 2024:
You only have to look at the player who is not there. He finally got a run with a team that wins most of its games, and now he’s got a nice fulltime contract.
Who is that?
Tua?
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@mohikamo he had an out clause and from what i heard, was always looking further.
Tbf he had done his dash here, never quite lived up to where he could have.
Has all the physical attributes, but had a tendency to miss tackles, particularly going for big hits and glancing off.
Just another in a long line of players that never reached thier ceiling.
@kev here is the team named for the game v NH at Pohe Island today, but weather is shite, been raining the last 24 hours and gonna rain the next 24.
Pack looks close to the best we can run out, backs a few shy of our 1st team, and looking at some of the social media from yesterday, several of the names in the unavailable list look good to go, so being cautious I guess?
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@taniwharugby yeah, hope the players not available are good to go next week. The backline looks young so good they get game time but we also want balance of experience.
Frustrated that Northland aren’t consistent with announcements - 5 options - text, email, instagram, Facebook, website. I tend to look at website but that obviously doesn’t work. Don’t have an instagram account. Avoid Facebook mostly. But if I knew which one they are going to use I could look out for it.
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@kev the posts on FB are replicated on IG, that includes other stuff (training stuff, age group trials, squads etc)
Those platforms usually get updated before the website.
Not sure the game will be upto much today unfortunately, ground will be very wet, rain not massively heavy at moment but has been raining consistently, kids sports cancelled, my golf course closed for the weekend...we are under a heavy rain watch until tomorrow.
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@taniwharugby I haven’t seen a squad announcement? Not even in the news section of the website?
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@taniwharugby said in Northland 2024:
he had an out clause and from what i heard, was always looking further.
Tbf he had done his dash here, never quite lived up to where he could have.
Has all the physical attributes, but had a tendency to miss tackles, particularly going for big hits and glancing off.
Just another in a long line of players that never reached thier ceiling.
Yeah, Tua was good enough to make an NZ SR squad, not quite good enough to get into the 23 regularly. No shame in that.. far better than the vast majority of players.
At the Brumbies his straight running was good but struggled a bit on defence. I'm not sure how much longer he could've lasted there. However he got enough game time to make him interesting to a UK club
Not sure how Northland can be criticised for anything here? He gave SR a decent crack and I'm sure he just got a pay rise
Evans moving to Northland probably made the decision (from both sides) easier too
