Blues 2018
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@Bovidae yeah I know that, and the new contracting model does seem for the most part to be evening things out with less players moving just for a Super contract...I mean despite our shit results of the past 2 seasons, we have our best Super rugby representation since, well probably ever!
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Sounds like Matt Vaega will be with harbour again next year.
As far as his career goes, Vaega is committed to the club for the next year. And while being a humble individual, he is a leader in the team. Given responsibilities within the side, that compliments his rugby-brain and consistency.
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Be interesting to see if Perofeta gets some time at fullback next season. Gives a second playmaker, and could allow an extra forward reserve to beef up the pack in the last 30 mins.
I know I'm a broken record, but we could really do with a slick passing halfback to give the backline that bit more space and time.
Gatland and Mo'unga are the form 1st 5s of the NPC so far. Perofeta and Black are going well too.
Hopefully those frontrow reserves can put some heat on at scrum time.
1 Pauliasi Manu
2 James Parsons
3 Ofa Tu'ungafasi
4 Patrick Tuipulotu
5 Scott Scrafton
6 Jerome Kaino
7 Blake Gibson
8 Akira Ioane9 Augustine Pulu
10 Bryn Gatland/Otere Black
11 Melani Nanai
12 SBW
13 Rieko Ioane
14 Matt Duffie
15 Stephen Perofeta16 Matt Moulds
17 Alex Hodgman
18 Mike Tamoaieta
19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
20 Dalton Papali'i/Kara Pryor
21 Manihera/Liavaa-Moala/Jimmy Tupou22 Sam Nock
23 George Moala/TJ Faiane/Matt Vaega -
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@Stargazer Nope, but he's one of options I suspect will be available to sign. IIRC, Bovidae pointed out that there isn't room for him at the Chiefs.
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@Tim Matich is another that could be an option for the squad, has been in Blues dev system (and Auckland) heard he was very close to nabbing a super contract this year (not with Blues)
I'm a big fan of his, huge motor on him and accurate.
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@Duluth Taramai is gone apparently. Wouldn't be surprised if Nanson misses a lock/loose-forward spot.
Only thing I've seen about Fa'anana-Shultz was in this Australian article, which is hardly conclusive.
Rebels lose young star, Sydney Uni clash
Southern Districts will have to do without the services of Jamason Fa’anana-Shultz for the rest of the season...
The Waratahs decided against taking him on but two New Zealand-based Super Rugby clubs, believed to be the Hurricanes and the Blues, have swooped, with both the Wellington and Auckland-based clubs said to be keen on his services.
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@Duluth I have only watched two Ta$man games so far but I like the look of Shannon Frizzell. His brother plays for the St George Dragons and the Kangaroos I believe. If there is a spot open at the Blues and if he hasn't been picked for another franchise yet, they should look at him. He can play 6,8 and lock which is always useful in a squad make-up.
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Its a travesty when you think of some of the players that have been either playing in Auckland,wether it be at secondary schools or club level or in the case of players that were in the Blues squad.
Solomon Alaimalo who was in the Blues development squad last year,but was offered a wider training squad contract,hence he went to the chiefs..
God I could right a list,Taleni Seu same deal,offered a wider training contract,decided to go to the chiefs,watched him play for G/Tech back in Auckland club rugby back in 2015,you could see he was an outstanding prospect even then.Suia Halanukonuka is another example of a tighthead prop who also played for G/Tech who was told by the Blues he was too fat,and not fit enough,but considered one of the best tighthead scrummaging props in Auckland club rugby.went to the Highlanders via Counties Manukau & Ta$man.
Even Aaron Smith was in the Blues wider training squad in 2010,what a screw up that one was..
This is only a handful of examples from the Blues not having the foresight or ability to select a half decent player if they tried.
Just on the other side of the coin,I can remember when the Blues signed Toby Morland,and for Auckland,an Andy Dalton special..!,Morland was not even the starting halfback at Otago..signed the same year Aaron Smith was in the Blues wider training squad..
And what makes it worse,Ant Strahan was the high performance manager,you would think he would be able to spot a half decent halfback...!
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@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2018:
Its a travesty when you think of some of the players that have been either playing in Auckland,wether it be at secondary schools or club level or in the case of players that were in the Blues squad.
Solomon Alaimalo who was in the Blues development squad last year,but was offered a wider training squad contract,hence he went to the chiefs..
God I could right a list,Taleni Seu same deal,offered a wider training contract,decided to go to the chiefs,watched him play for G/Tech back in Auckland club rugby back in 2015,you could see he was an outstanding prospect even then.Suia Halanukonuka is another example of a tighthead prop who also played for G/Tech who was told by the Blues he was too fat,and not fit enough,but considered one of the best tighthead scrummaging props in Auckland club rugby.went to the Highlanders via Counties Manukau & Ta$man.
Even Aaron Smith was in the Blues wider training squad in 2010,what a screw up that one was..
This is only a handful of examples from the Blues not having the foresight or ability to select a half decent player if they tried.
Just on the other side of the coin,I can remember when the Blues signed Toby Morland,and for Auckland,an Andy Dalton special..!,Morland was not even the starting halfback at Otago..signed the same year Aaron Smith was in the Blues wider training squad..
And what makes it worse,Ant Strahan was the high performance manager,you would think he would be able to spot a half decent halfback...!
So @Steven-Harris do you reckon that selection and pathway issues are the root cause of the Blues problems (and now that has filtered back to Auckland as well?)
Is it poor selection abilities and lack of longer term planning or is it more that they struggle to see the wood for the trees?Edit: Looking at the latest Sec Schools selection I wonder if there are actually any trees as well
The region seems to be in a mess.
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@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2018:
Suia Halanukonuka is another example of a tighthead prop who also played for G/Tech who was told by the Blues he was too fat,and not fit enough,but considered one of the best tighthead scrummaging props in Auckland club rugby.went to the Highlanders via Counties Manukau & Ta$man.
An Auckland scrum with Halanukonuka, Tamoaieta, Hodgman, and Manu as the props would be rather more impressive.
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@Crucial Someone needs to remind all the so called people who have been involved in Blues & Auckland Rugby,that the games still starts up front.
You look at a team like the highlanders,not the biggest pack around,but they work their arses off when they have the ball,and even harder when they are in defence.
Takes a very good selector/coach to work what sort of player he wants,and how he could gel them together..
I suspect both the Blues & Auckland have missed a trick.Dave Rennie in his first year with the chiefs showed what an absolute genius he was picking a squad that had several players or more outside the chiefs franchise..and we all know how that season panned out..!
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@Steven-Harris The other one that gets me recently is having Michael Fatialofa get away to the Canes. The guy came back to Auckland (where he was an age grade star) for the specific reason to crack Super Rugby. Blues were in dire need of locks and this was in the leadup to Tana's first year. A woeful decision was made (I think prior to the NPC) to sign Hoani Matenga (an absolute journeyman who didn't even play NPC and biggest claim to fame involves being involved in Six60) which meant they did not have room to sign Fatialofa. Fatialofa goes on to have an outstanding NPC, look every inch a Super Rugby quality player, and goes on to win Canes rookie of the year honours. What the actual fuck.
