Blues 2019
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There are going to be some personnel changes, that's just natural, every year there are going to be some. We've got our six or so [leaving], but now we've got a good understanding of where we feel we need to bolster, we can go and attack that area.
Nanai
Moulds
Tupou
Pulu
SBW
Nonu
Scrafton -
@Tim said in Blues 2019:
There are going to be some personnel changes, that's just natural, every year there are going to be some. We've got our six or so [leaving], but now we've got a good understanding of where we feel we need to bolster, we can go and attack that area.
Nanai
Moulds
Tupou
Pulu
SBW
Nonu
ScraftonI hope it's more than those seven
It was a flawed squad and there was a reluctance to use the 2nd tier of players. If the coach doesn't rate those guys they should not get extensions.. we'd be better off with rookies.
Is Apisai's contract up? Surely there needs to be more changes at halfback than just Pulu going?
I know he was barely seen but Jed Brown would be a pointless extension. An older openside who doesn't even offer experience at this level. We'd be better off with Sione Havili or Choat.. guys that may have a high ceiling
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@Duluth Jed Brown was a stupid signing. Injury prone and no better than players we already have in the region. Havili looked very good in the 1 opportunity he got against the Rebels last year but hasn't been sighted since and probably won't be sighted for the Blues again. Wouldn't suprise me if we extended Brown's deal with our track record of keeping dead wood.
Collins should be added to that list along with Duffie. Ruru and Apisai might get extensions due to lack of options out there but I wouldn't care if the were given the flick along with Josh Goodhue.
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@African-Monkey Havili didn't play rugby again until about a month ago. Looking forward to seeing him in the NPC.
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@Machpants said in Blues 2019:
@sparky said in Blues 2019:
When was the last season the Blues didn't finish last in the NZ conference? Perennial underachievers.
2013 I think
Ha ha. That’s gold. All the success and now being mirrored in reverse.
I can’t see the crusaders letting that happen to them.
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@Machpants said in Blues 2019:
@Hooroo The Blues are still second to the Crusaders on most titles won, equal with the Bulls.
Admittedly the last one was a wee while ago!
That’s my point and what I find funny. Blues have had untold success. Now they are a laughing stock of rugby.
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@Hooroo said in Blues 2019:
@Machpants said in Blues 2019:
@sparky said in Blues 2019:
When was the last season the Blues didn't finish last in the NZ conference? Perennial underachievers.
2013 I think
Ha ha. That’s gold. All the success and now being mirrored in reverse.
I can’t see the crusaders letting that happen to them.
That's what people said about the blues too. All it takes is a couple of crap coaches,a dodgy recruiter and poor administration. ..
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@nzzp said in Blues 2019:
@Hooroo said in Blues 2019:
@Machpants said in Blues 2019:
@sparky said in Blues 2019:
When was the last season the Blues didn't finish last in the NZ conference? Perennial underachievers.
2013 I think
Ha ha. That’s gold. All the success and now being mirrored in reverse.
I can’t see the crusaders letting that happen to them.
That's what people said about the blues too. All it takes is a couple of crap coaches,a dodgy recruiter and poor administration. ..
That’s a lot of holes lining up.
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@Hooroo said in Blues 2019:
@nzzp said in Blues 2019:
@Hooroo said in Blues 2019:
@Machpants said in Blues 2019:
@sparky said in Blues 2019:
When was the last season the Blues didn't finish last in the NZ conference? Perennial underachievers.
2013 I think
Ha ha. That’s gold. All the success and now being mirrored in reverse.
I can’t see the crusaders letting that happen to them.
That's what people said about the blues too. All it takes is a couple of crap coaches,a dodgy recruiter and poor administration. ..
That’s a lot of holes lining up.
Just imagine how the canes turn out if Hammett get another couple of years. The destruction would be total
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@African-Monkey said in Blues 2019:
@Tim That's true, but last season he should have been given more of an opportunity, and as @Duluth said, we also have Adrian Choat floating around so there really was no need to sign Jed Brown.
Choat would be a good option because he covers 7&8
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Was thinking yesterday about what the hell we can do to improve the mental strength fo the side. If I was coach (thank fark I'm not, I'd be shit but enthusiastic), I'd be straight onto the phone to Sir Graham.
Think about it - he took the ABs from a flaky mental side, and bedded in a massive culture change that led to back to back world cups. He's done it before, he can help do it again. The Blues have fixable technical deficiencies, but it's the top two inches that smashes us week after week.
He's also had to deal with not just elite NZ players, but also get Wales in the right head space to play their best ... and I think you could see his input last year in the Auckland side. The Blues had numerous offers to help early on when the wheels fell off in the early 2010s, but were too introverted, dysfunctional or arrogant to really engage with it. I think bringing in someone like SGH with a tight focus on mental skills could only be massively beneficial in the changing shed.
So there ya go. It's only one way of tackling it, but a hail mary to Sir Graham is where I'd go
