Blues 2019
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@muddyriver said in Blues 2019:
A 19 year old doesn't need 100k a year to develop. In Hoskins telea and clarke and others... it is the opportunity cost that hurts most as the blues need immediate results
I agree but its a general problem across all NZ SR sides, not just the Blues
It seems in the last couple of years there has been more of a rush to lock in potential stars before they are poached. All franchises are signing players before they have delivered at NPC level.
Also the type of contracts young guys are getting is changing too - Billy Proctor with a five year deal. There's rumours of an unproven young player getting a six year contract (not for the Blues)The key thing is making the right choices. At the same time Clarke was signed, they also signed Dalton Papali'i. Other franchises were sniffing around.. you can imagine the headlines if he was lost to another franchise. Unfortunately Hanks, Umaga and Kirwan before them have made too many wrong bets
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I am not sure what the answer to locking into the latest current "hotshot schoolboy star" to prevent others latching their mits onto him. If they kid is not ready to put in a full shift at the next level frankly they should not be rewarded for that. We are blessed in NZ with an almost never ending supply of "hotshot schoolboy stars" emerging virtually every year. You might "miss" one one year but there will almost inevitably be another emerge in the not too distant future. Should you sign up a guy to a contract for two or three years you will night have trouble finding a spot for the next up and comer simply because there is nothing to offer them contract wise. They won't hang around waiting and will inevitably take any offer made to them by other NZ Super Teams. Almost a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation if you lose a guy that turns out to be a superstar elsewhere and face the scorn of your supporters for passing on that player. If only we had the ability to see into the future?
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@duluth It's a tough business being a Super coach and especially being the coach of the weakest franchise.
I think this is where the Exodus is hurting us.
If you're looking for talent among the Mitre10 Cup teams, there's virtually no experienced players who are up to Super rugby standard that aren't already signed.
So you're pretty much locked into either a well-timed poach from another franchise, or signing promising youngsters.
That's not all bad. I reckon a well-balanced squad will have 23 starting players - probably another 10 players with good experience as the rotation/injury cover - leaving, say, five spots for development/project players.
One problem with this theory is that there's a heap of derby games that are played at near test match intensity, so the 10 guys as injury cover aren't really enough. So the teams are either having to field their development players in games where they're out of their depth, or they're having to call up guys from outside the squad - as well as "over-using" key guys who remain fit.
Probably seeing this with e.g. Sam Whitelock and Codie Taylor, who look like they're running a bit on fumes to me.
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Watching Micheal Collins yesterday for Otago,he actually looked the slowest of all the Otago outside backs..
Thought even Faddes is deceptively quick...if the Blues can sign Stephenson given that I would imagine Alaimalo and McKenzie will be sharing the fullback duties,I would take SS if the opportunity arose. -
@steven-harris Scotty S. made a comment during the game today that Stevenson's future "was secured down the motorway" so I don't think he will be leaving the cheifs.
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He's a bit of a mixed bag is Stevenson. Has a massive boot though and will get better with age I feel.
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@african-monkey I actually thought Trainor outplayed him today. Trainors pace, positional play and support play are excellent. He gets out muscled occasionally due to being so slight but he is brave enough so this should improve as he continues to mature and bulk up.
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@daffy-jaffy Trainor's clean up work at the back this year has been fantastic so far. He's improved out of sight after he was horrendous for us last season.
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Coventry mentioned after the game yesterday that there's not going to be all that much change to the Blues squad as a lot of players are signed up to contracts already. Can't say I'm surprised.
He did also talk about the opportunity new players might get in preseason on training contracts (whilst the ABs are on their summer break) so it will be interesting to see who is in the mix.
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@kiwimurph The Blues players are playing well for their respective NPC Teams as well as the A.B's. Coventry has a wealth of talent in the Blues Squad and he has more than enough to work with. If he can;t get the forwards working with a good sound game plan then he needs replacing.
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@number9 said in Blues 2019:
@kiwimurph The Blues players are playing well for their respective NPC Teams as well as the A.B's. Coventry has a wealth of talent in the Blues Squad and he has more than enough to work with. If he can;t get the forwards working with a good sound game plan then he needs replacing.
Give the man a break..they have not even played a game yet,let’s not for forget he’s proven himself as the chiefs forward coach that won 2 titles in a row..was the same guy who tried to convince the Blues to take Karl Tu nukuafe ...I think we can trust him,unless you want Jackson back..!
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@number9 said in Blues 2019:
@kiwimurph The Blues players are playing well for their respective NPC Teams as well as the A.B's. Coventry has a wealth of talent in the Blues Squad and he has more than enough to work with. If he can;t get the forwards working with a good sound game plan then he needs replacing.
I generally agree but not entirely - hooker is a real issue.
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Well, the NPC regular season is over, so it must be time for yet another of my "Will the Blues have a decent team next year? Well ... maybe." posts.
Assuming Manu is signed, then there's three big holes to fill: hooker, halfback, and fullback. Nonu as backup centre?
I'm still hoping for Stevenson, but I guess Trainor will be the other option. Still a bit small, IMO.
Halfback is a fucking gamble.
Hopefully that Waikato hooker is available and steps up. Over at Green and Gold Rugby they're saying that Abel isn't actually contracted to the Brumbies. Would be a nice signing - better than any of the 2018 Blues hookers. The Brumbies signed him until end of 2019 in 2017, but they do have three other hookers they've signed too.
Olmsted and Whetton have been big finds, and Marcel Renata has really improved. Mafileo has been pretty good for Harbour. We need a third loosehead, as prop attrition rates are very high now.
I think both Gibson and Papali'i have looked really good in the NPC. Backup number 8 is a big issue. Depth at 6 might be a question too.
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