Blues 2019
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@steven-harris He's always been a Northcote boy since his dad played there back in day. He only had 1 random year at Pakuranga as he wasn't sure where to go after school and Wayne Pivac convinced him to go there and then signed for North Harbour after that.
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@kiwimurph yep, neither Nock or Ruru did anything to challenge his position, even if he weren't captain.
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2019 unsigned Super Rugby halfbacks (as far as I know):
Jack Stratton, Jonathan Ruru, Sam Nock, Richard Judd, Jamie Booth, Josh Renton.
Leon Fukofuka had time with the Crusaders, but it was interrupted by injury.
Other possible options: Carlos Price, Lewis Gjaltema, Nico Costa, Pele Cowley, Harrison Levien, Jay Renton, Xavier Roe, Jono Kitto.
Fukofuka and Stratton might be the best of that lot.
As posted earlier, it wouldn't be surprising if Jonathan Taumateine (Counties, Chiefs) looks to exit his contract early to get more game time.
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@kiwimurph Jack Stratton played for Ta$man.
Ultimate Rugby claims that he is joining Harbour for this season. Probably bullshit though!
Jack Stratton
Stratton was called into the Crusaders squad for the 2015 pre-season games, as a short term replacement for Willie Heinz. Stratton has been a consistent performer for Canterbury in Mitre Cup, despite being unable to push his way into the Crusaders 2017…
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@tim Isn't Levien going to Harbour with Stratton going to Waikato?
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@african-monkey Yep, that sounds more like it. Levien played for Northcote, and I think that someone here posted about Stratton going to Waikato.
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Discussion of the Blues on Scotty Stevenson's Short Ball podcast today:
Big clean out at the Blues. Entire strength and conditioning team gone. Tony Hanks has done recruitment pretty much by himself in the past, Coventry/MacDonald won't be interested in that, expected to change a lot. According to Mils, Daniel Halangahu (Harbour's assistant coach) is being lined up for skills coach. Coventry doesn't tolerate any shit and might put a rocket up the forwards.
Stevenson claimed that both MacDonald and Coventry are on two yeqr contracts, but it was reported at his signing that MacDonald was on a three year deal.
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@tim havent heard alot of good about Hanks though.
They need to look higher than those support roles for people to kick out as well
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@taniwharugby I got the feeling from the podcast that Hanks is on his way out.
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@tim said in Blues 2019:
Big clean out at the Blues. Entire strength and conditioning team gone. Tony Hanks has done recruitment pretty much by himself in the past, Coventry/MacDonald won't be interested in that, expected to change a lot. According to Mils, Daniel Halangahu (Harbour's assistant coach) is being lined up for skills coach. Coventry doesn't tolerate any shit and might put a rocket up the forwards.
Stevenson claimed that both MacDonald and Coventry are on two yeqr contracts, but it was reported at his signing that MacDonald was on a three year deal.
MacDonald and Coventry getting more and more power and they are appointed for a longer period than the head coach. They should have been brave enough to make a clean split (unless its a stage managed departure..)
Also worth noting that if Halangahu comes in, the North Harbour coaching staff is essentially taking over. Which is a good thing, they earned the promotion. Coventry/Halangahu/Afeaki.
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This is all good news.
Hanks doing the recruitment by himself is fucking ridiculous but entitely believable based on what has happened the last few years.
Also - Blues have not looked fit in recent years and had their fair share of injuries - so i'm also happy at a new S&C approach.
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@tim said in Blues 2019:
@taniwharugby I got the feeling from the podcast that Hanks is on his way out.
Good. He is quoted as saying Michael Collins is one of the better fullbacks in Super Rugby. What a joke.
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
Good. He is quoted as saying Michael Collins is one of the better fullbacks in Super Rugby. What a joke.
I can just see the war room, patting each other on teh back 'can't believe we secured Michael Collins signature without competition. We're going to smash them with communication skills fellas'
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@kiwimurph should have been the first one Gased.
