Blues 2019
-
@tim I see Lewis Gjaltema and Mike Tamoaieta there. Does anyone recognise the front row looking guy between Umaga and Mafileo?
-
@daffy-jaffy Looks like Jarred Adams and Marco Fepulea'i might be in there? Be interested if someone could spot Lua Li.
-
@tim I can't pick out Adams or Fepulea'i in the team photo. I have spotted Harrison Groundwater. I think the prop that I could not identify may well be Lua Li as you wondered. Seems to be a lot of 'extra' North Harbour players with the team this week.
-
Players are named here
The 13 current replacement players are Mikey Tamoaieta (North Harbour), Luatangi Li (North Harbour), Danny Drake (North Harbour), Evan Olmstead (Auckland), Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (Auckland), Matt Matich (Northland), Jono Kitto (Northland), Lewis Gjaltema (North Harbour), Jack Heighton (North Harbour), Harrison Groundwater (North Harbour) Hawaii Ahokovi (Auckland), Tomas Aoake ( Ta$man) and Mark Telea (North Harbour). In addition to the replacement group, two young players from the Blues Under-20s who have recently been selected for the New Zealand Under-20 training squad, will join the Blues for 10 weeks fulltime training as part of the Interim Training Contract scheme. They are Rob Cobb (Auckland) and Brad McNaughten (North Harbour). Scott Gregory (Northland) is currently with the NZ Sevens team.
-
This post is deleted!
-
@daffy-jaffy I'd have taken Ross Wright over Tamoaieta, added versatility of playing hooker.
But then I am bias
-
Is there an enforced break after the NZ Maori tour? That might explain Abel and Wright not being there?
Agree that there are a couple of weird Hanks selections though
-
@duluth said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Is there an enforced break after the NZ Maori tour? That might explain Abel and Wright not being there?
Agree that there are a couple of weird Hanks selections though
Does he have a weekly quota?
-
@daffy-jaffy Lua Li overtook Chris Eves and Mayhew at Harbour, so has some potential. Would like to see the Auckland props in there though. Wonder if they are committed to Auckland's February/March tour?
-
@daffy-jaffy Heighton plays 9 and 10, and is in the squad for this month's New Zealand Under 20 development camp. He's been in Blues youth teams, including the colts this year. Plays for ECB.
-
Anyone know what Junior Tonu'u's boy is up to? Apparently he was one of the best at the 2017 NZ U19 tournament. Plays halfback.
-
Tuipulotu and Gibson named as captains.
-
Both co-captains in the forwards, or both injury prone?
-
Good - both players are certain starters and should be.
-
-
@tim didnt both co-captains spend decent chunks of last year on the sidelines too?
-
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Good - both players are certain starters and should be.
And who won't be certain starters...
-
@taniwharugby Yep.
-
@bovidae said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
Good - both players are certain starters and should be.
And who won't be certain starters...
First of Tana’s mistakes rolled back.
-
-
Interesting selection, I wouldn't really have said Gibson is as sure a pick as is thought. Be good to see him stay fit for a change though.
-
@daffy-jaffy from some of the stuff I've seen on social media from the NOrthland lads Tom Robinson seems like the class clown...typical ginger! haha
-
Daffy Jaffyreplied to taniwharugby on 7 Dec 2018, 12:41 last edited by Daffy Jaffy 8 Dec 2018, 09:20
@taniwharugby Every team needs a six/lock, a team clown, a crazy/angry ginga, if he can play guitar and drop goals he is the perfect utility player!
-
@gunner pretty sure the last time the Blues played a RR game in Whangarei, they won the comp...
-
I'm pretty sure the last time Blues played a regular season game in Northland the crowd was about 8k... and then they wonder why they dont play regular season games there anymore...
-
taniwharugbyreplied to KiwiMurph on 10 Dec 2018, 06:24 last edited by taniwharugby 10 Dec 2018, 06:31
@kiwimurph can you blame fans who for so long have never felt part of the franchise?
NOt sure if the same model is used with other franchises, but a good chunk of the costs are paid for by the host, including a 'fee'
TBH I think trying to get an inclusive franchise is one of the only things Tana seems ot have done a decent job with
-
@kiwimurph said in Highlanders 2019 Discussion:
I'm pretty sure the last time Blues played a regular season game in Northland the crowd was about 8k... and then they wonder why they dont play regular season games there anymore...
8k at Northland Events Centre would have a better atmosphere than 8k at Eden Park.
-
@gunner said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
8k at Northland Events Centre would have a better atmosphere than 8k at Eden Park.
I split this conversation from the Highlanders thread..
Anything around 10k at Eden Park is when the team is playing terrible (common over the last few years) and the weather is really bad.
I think you are targeting the wrong thing. The Blues aren't going to move more games from Eden Park . The members and sponsors pay a lot of the bills and they are at Eden Park
Complain about the Albany games. They get a game every year and it tends to be around 9K. Albany and Okara should host games on alternate years. It would probably boost the Albany crowds too
-
@duluth not targeting those games as such, just making a point.
And I agree with you one every other year alternating with Albany would work. And shit who knows, the Blues might even start to win a bit of support from up this way... maybe.
-
Good to see Gibson running freely, after another season ending injury:
-
@tim Gibson has confirmed he is on track to play pre-season footy. Excellent.
Speaking of good news
-
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@tim Gibson has confirmed he is on track to play pre-season footy. Excellent.
Speaking of good news
Good for the Blues and maybe good for the ABs
-
Harbour U19 halfback Brad McNaughten is training with the Blues. Seems he went to Hamilton Boys, and is in the NZ U20 training squad. Was in Blues U20 this year.
-
With the Blues training 4 extra half backs preseason (Kitto, Gjaltema, McNaughten and Jack Heighton, partly as cover for the late returning NZ Maori tourists) the incumbents should be well motivated to step up this season or they will see the future coming. I am certain Pulu will leave at the end of this season and Nock and Ruru are both off contract then I think.
-
@daffy-jaffy pretty sure Nock just re-signed this year, although unsure if it was for more than 1 season
-
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):
@tim Gibson has confirmed he is on track to play pre-season footy. Excellent.
Speaking of good news
And here I was thinking that he is only there because he is Tana's mate......
-
Well he does look slim and in good shape.
Post 1033 of 2005