EOYT 2017
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Haven't watched Northland this season so wondering how Goodhue is going. Is he carrying on with his Crusaders form? Is he taking a leadership role? (I thought he hung back a little with the Crusaders rather than demanding the ball and taking the game by the scruff). A lot of people seem to be picking him for their squads but his name doesn't seem to come up much during Northland game threads. A case of doing his job well but with few highlight plays?
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The drums seem to be beating for Duffie. I have to say I wouldn't be terribly upset if he were selected. The same can be said of Timanivalu. Many others mentioned, such as Li, Faddes, Buckman and Stevenson, are laughable. There is merit in asking "what if?" when it comes to James Lowe. I have to say, if he were still around then Johnny McNicholl could be the first cab off the rank.
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@pakman So let's try and make a list
Prop(6): Ofa, Crockett, Laulala, Hames, +2 newcomers
Hooker(3): Coles, Taylor, Harris
Lock(5): BBBR, Whitelock, Barrett, Romano, Tuipolotu
Loose(7): Read, Cane, Kaino, Squire, Savea, Todd, FifitaHalfback(3) Smith, TJP, TKB (I don't think anyone else is beating down the door yet)
1st5 (2) BB, Sops
Midfield(6): SBW, Crotty, ALB, Laumape, +2 (Ngatai, Goodhue)
Outside backs(5): DMac, Naholo, Havili, Ioane, +1 (Savea, Seta T, Li, A N Other?)They may be thinking very hard about who else may offer a 14/15 fullback/wing option. I don't see too many around.
Thats going to be pretty close i reckon.
Can't comment much on props but we are scraping the barrel a bit there.
Hooker i would love to see Aumua come in for Harris. He has star written all over him.Locks i pretty much agree. Pat T on his last chance?
Loosies im not sure if it is worth taking Todd. Surely getting A Ioane in again for the experience and
to build cover for Read would be a good idea.
It's a cliche but they "know what Todd brings"
and seem happy to swap him in when needed.
If Ardie can't start those lesser games surely he shouldn't be on the bench for the big ones.I wouldn't take TKB. Don't see the point. He is 3rd choice and we need to fill that spot so not having a look at a new on EOYT seems a waste. Not Pulu though.
At 10 it might depend on what they seem DMac's roll as. Mounga next in line if Dmac is needed at 15 or 14.
Midfield is still a puzzle that needs to be solved. I would like them to bring Goodhue and Ngatai along with the current guys. Both of them offer the distribution/organisation the backline is missing IMO.
Back 3 is a bit easier because we know who are the top 6 guys are. Smith, Ioane, Dagg, Jordie, Dmac and Naholo plus Savea is around if needed.
With Havili also there now im not sure we need new guys other than for covering the injuries.
My choice would be between Duffie and Nanai.
But Nanai has had no rugby so would take Duffie. -
@pukunui Nanai? Eh?? I don’t mind him but I don’t see him being close at all. Duffie on the hand has that good mix of brilliance and steady.
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@crazy-horse Goodhue has been on fire, and currently sits on top of the Monkley Medal standings
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The drums seem to be beating for Duffie. I have to say I wouldn't be terribly upset if he were selected. The same can be said of Timanivalu. Many others mentioned, such as Li, Faddes, Buckman and Stevenson, are laughable. There is merit in asking "what if?" when it comes to James Lowe. I have to say, if he were still around then Johnny McNicholl could be the first cab off the rank.
Why is Buckmann laughable?
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@gunner as well as the important Northland TSF motm table 😎
He is all class...has helped Ranger get back into some form and just lifts those about him
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@taniwharugby said in EOYT 2017:
@gunner as well as the important Northland TSF motm table 😎
A better gauge too....
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@rancid-schnitzel because Buckman is basically a poor mans Caleb Ralph as a back 3 player. He is a better midfielder (as was Ralph), but he won’t make it as a midfielder given the players ahead of him.
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@act-crusader said in EOYT 2017:
@rancid-schnitzel because Buckman is basically a poor mans Caleb Ralph as a back 3 player.
That's some harsh criticism.
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@act-crusader given he got the lollies in our game on the weekend from whoever picks rhem (reffing panel?) and he got no votes from Northland fans you might be right there.
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@act-crusader said in EOYT 2017:
@rancid-schnitzel because Buckman is basically a poor mans Caleb Ralph as a back 3 player. He is a better midfielder (as was Ralph), but he won’t make it as a midfielder given the players ahead of him.
Dude, someone has hacked your account!
Can't be you because you're usually measured and sensible.
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@pukunui Plus Milner-Skudder in your back three list.
I think they've basically got seven places for eight good loose forwards. Someone is going to be unlucky unless they go short somewhere else.
For reasons of "politics" I'd be somewhat inclined to take Todd on this tour and let one of Savea or Ioane (or even Fifita) miss out. Todd is an important cog in the wheel - more important than the third choice 6 - and being "the guy who always misses out" isn't a great recipe for keeping him hanging around.
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@chris-b If I remember it correctly, Hansen already indicated when they named the squad for the RC, that Todd would play a bigger role later in the year. I'm quite confident that that means he'll be in the EOYT squad. When is Ardie's partner due to give birth? If in November, it might be a reason for him to stay in NZ?
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@mn5 He's been overtaken by a few like Goodhue and Laumape. He played well I thought when given the opportunity last season but seemed to get injured just as he looked like he was gonna get an extended run in the side.
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@african-monkey said in EOYT 2017:
@mn5 He's been overtaken by a few like Goodhue and Laumape. He played well I thought when given the opportunity last season but seemed to get injured just as he looked like he was gonna get an extended run in the side.
Fair call I just thought he showed far too much upside to be discarded completely.
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@act-crusader said in EOYT 2017:
@pukunui Nanai? Eh?? I don’t mind him but I don’t see him being close at all. Duffie on the hand has that good mix of brilliance and steady.
That was more of a my pick for the future not what i think the selectors will go with. Other than being brought into one of the AB camps a year or two ago i agree he is nowhere near at this stage.
However if he does manage to get some good gametime next year and keeps up his form i can see his as a guy who has the full back/wing skills but in the power winger body of Ioane or Folau.Duffie is very Ben Smithy. I think he would be really good at test level.
