Blues 2019
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@taniwharugby At least Romano's an unsigned bench player!
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@tim said in Blues 2019:
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
Riedlinger-Kapa
True, but I honestly think that we have lots of up-and-comers available, but lack that bit of experience.
Great player for the dev squad though.
That's true - but others squads can snap up players that are only offered development/wider squad contracts (think Alaimalo and Taleni Seu).
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A lot to look out for the Mitre 10 Cup now. Really looking forward to scrums between Blues' teams, Counties, and Taranaki.
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taniwharugbyreplied to KiwiMurph on 26 Jul 2018, 02:43 last edited by taniwharugby 26 Jul 2018, 02:44
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
That's true - but others squads can snap up players that are only offered development/wider squad contracts (think Alaimalo and Taleni Seu).
dont think Alaimalo was in a WTG, thought he went straight into Chiefs (had heard they were looking at him before he even signed for Northland)
Problem is, you cannot sign everyone, and this is where they are coming unstuck signing kids for 3 or 4 seasons, and then they do not progress as they are expected (example here would be Nock)
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
That's true - but others squads can snap up players that are only offered development/wider squad contracts (think Alaimalo and Taleni Seu).
dont think Alaimalo was in a WTG, thought he went straight into Chiefs (had heard they were looking at him before he even signed for Northland)
Problem is, you cannot sign everyone, and this is where they are coming unstuck signing kids for 3 or 4 seasons, and then they do not progress as they are expected (example here would be Nock)
I believe Blues only offered Alaimalo a WTG spot - same with Seu.
Agreed about signing youngsters - when I said 'could' be an option - what I meant was could be an option depending on Mitre 10 Cup form. The likes of Alaimalo and Seu showed enough in Mitre 10 Cup that suggested they were more than up to Super standard. Whereas the likes of Nock and Trainor were given contracts without showing anything at Mitre 10 Cup level.
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@kiwimurph We need @Steven-Harris in here to clear this up.
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@kiwimurph ah ok, yeah he wasnt in the WTG, I think you are right in that they had offered him a WTG contract but the Chiefs had been looking at him anyway and offered a full contract (think he may have played for the Crusaders development team before coming to Northland)
@Tim he's in Tahiti!
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https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12095821
It's also believed that there could yet be more arrivals pending at the Blues - signings that have been made possible thanks to the arrival of Coventry, who has is respected nationwide for his ability to get the best out of forwards. It is believed that Akira Ioane committed to the Blues - he was talking to the Hurricanes - once he knew Coventry was on board.
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@tim said in Blues 2019:
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
Riedlinger-Kapa
True, but I honestly think that we have lots of up-and-comers available, but lack that bit of experience.
Great player for the dev squad though.
Luke Romano would be a great signing for next year.
Romano won’t sign, if he doesn’t make the crusaders squad next year I’d expect a move into coaching.
I think your best chance of pinching a lock from us is dunshea. Not sure they rate him that highly now that Quentin Strange has come along.
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@kiwimurph Trainor got signed due to his form with Waikato where he was pretty decent.
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@duluth said in Blues 2019:
@tim Papali'i should be the starting 6. He can move to 7 when Gibson breaks again
One of the first on the teamsheet to me. I think he's our best 6, but he might also be our best 7 too.
It'll be interesting to see where Auckland play Papali'i if Akira is with the All Blacks. He might end up playing 8 this NPC season with Gibson and Havili on the flanks.
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@dice said in Blues 2019:
@kiwimurph Trainor got signed due to his form with Waikato where he was pretty decent.
I'm fairly certain Trainor played about 1 or 2 games for Waikato that year (one was a shield game from memory).
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@kiwimurph He did look good though.
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
@dice said in Blues 2019:
@kiwimurph Trainor got signed due to his form with Waikato where he was pretty decent.
I'm fairly certain Trainor played about 1 or 2 games for Waikato that year (one was a shield game from memory).
He had one game in his first season, which was the shield game you're talking about, but the year after he was the starting fullback for Waikato for majority of the season.
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
@dice and he was signed with the Blues after that first season with 1 game was my understanding?
I can't quite remember, but after the full season he had with Waikato, it didn't seem like that bad a signing for us at the time.
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
It's also believed that there could yet be more arrivals pending at the Blues - signings that have been made possible thanks to the arrival of Coventry, who has is respected nationwide for his ability to get the best out of forwards.
Come on Shaun Stevenson, you know you want to.
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What's the deal with Etene Nanai? Has he signed with the Chiefs?
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@dice Haven't seen anything.
Do you know much about young fullback Lemeki Namoa (Sacred Heart 2017)? Looked very slick in the Pakuranga game I watched.
Rugbypass has some footage of him from the Condor Sevens:
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Well done Blues for getting something right.
Apart from SBW, I can’t remember the last time a current All Black signed with the Blues. Come to think of it he wasn’t current was he - he was coming out of the NRL. In any case he could be counted as such as he was never going to miss out on selection. -
@tim yeah, he played like 3 or 4 years in the 1st XV. He started off on the wing, but moved to centre in his last year. Not too bad a player. He's signed with Auckland on an academy contract I think.
Here's another outside back who is about the same age as him but I'm unsure if he's signed with Auckland,
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There's also that teenage winger the Blues signed about a year ago - who is still a teenager and carved up a domestic 7s comp? - Siave Togoiu.
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@kiwimurph He's gone back to league. He's playing for the Junior Warriors now.
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Shit shit shit blody Blues poaching b@stards
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Bloody good signing. The big holes are still at 2, 9 and 13. All crucial positions unfortunately.
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@kev yep, a good coach will make an average plyer look good, but a poor coach can make a good one look average, or worse once confidence goes too.
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Man, the comments on Stuff! This from the KT link:
First up, the Blues aren't a club and incapable of signing anyone. Secondly this is a NZRUGBY signing with the player obviously wanting to play professional rugby in Auckland. What i would like to know is why does NZ media continue to make out that the 5 NZRUGBY franchises actually sign players when clearly they do not......
uh, yeah, righto. THat dude needs to come on the Fern, he'd be awesome
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@sammyc said in Blues 2019:
@tim said in Blues 2019:
@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
Riedlinger-Kapa
True, but I honestly think that we have lots of up-and-comers available, but lack that bit of experience.
Great player for the dev squad though.
Luke Romano would be a great signing for next year.
Romano won’t sign, if he doesn’t make the crusaders squad next year I’d expect a move into coaching.
I think your best chance of pinching a lock from us is dunshea. Not sure they rate him that highly now that Quentin Strange has come along.
Would be a waste. He's got a few years left yet. Hate to see him chuck it. Yes he's behind Barrett now but still next in line IMO.
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@number9 said in Blues 2019:
@sammyc You must be joking? Kearney did not sack his assistants, the Board did. The Warriors in 7th Place is fantastic considering where they were previously placed. Mate, have you ever competed in anything? That is a ridiculous statement.
I was in a team that won one game all season to winning the comp the next, losing only one game by a score against the previous champions.
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Sounds like Pulu is gone.
Pulu hinted at his departure with a cryptic Instagram caption last month, posting “One last ride with @jeromekaino and my @bluesrugbyteam” on after the Blues’ final match of the season. Though Pulu’s caption may have been alluding to the departure of flanker Jerome Kaino, who is joining French club Toulouse, it now seems likely that it was indeed the halfback’s last ride with the team.
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I guess Jack Stratton and Leon Fukofuka have their shot now.
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One crappy Counties player gone, how many more left to jettison?
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@kirwan said in Blues 2019:
One crappy Counties player gone, how many more left to jettison?
Oh, the thoughts of a bitter and twisted Blues fan......
The shit at the Blues started long time before the current regime. Plenty of crap Auckland players that need the boot too.
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A non crap Counties player I don't mind the Blues having is Jonathan Taumateine.
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Im glad we are moving on from Pulu. He gave it everything but he just doesn't suit today's game.
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
Im glad we are moving on from Pulu. He gave it everything but he just doesn't suit today's game.
Agreed. I think this will end up being a positive for the Blues. He wasn't thetype of 9 they need. He definitely wasn't the captain they need either.
Are there any decent non contracted 9s floating around or will they be relying on a rookie?