Steamers 2018
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Looks like we will be having three pre season games. Two weeks before the above game there is the Manawatu/Wanganui/BOP game in Taihape. I'm assuming there will be another in the intervening week.
Incidentally did anyone get to the BOP-Waikato Wasps/Harliquins game at Matamata a few weeks back? The BOP side featured several current Steamers, a few new contracted players and many from the Academy . I hear The Bay team won.
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I see that the squad will be announced on the 20th of July.
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Okay, this image was posted on the BOP Rugby facebook page a couple of days back. I assume these guys will be in this years Steamers team. I'm pretty sure I can name them all apart from the guy in the front left. Any body know his name ?
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Whoops. It seems the image isn't posting. Can anyone post it correctly ?
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@snollygoster Maybe the file was too large? Try resizing it before posting.
Is it the photo from the F45 gym?
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@snollygoster said in Steamers 2018:
Whoops. It seems the image isn't posting. Can anyone post it correctly ?
Was this it?
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Yes, Thanks for that
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Its been bought to my attention that the unknown guy may have been an instructor and not a Steamer. As a side note check out the size of their arms...good to see the gym work paying dividends.
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And Lats is back.
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3 seasons will be enough for him to get past the 100 - always hoped he would come back to the Bay.
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Okay the Bay team is announced this week and I'm sure the details of it are already known in rugby circles. Given what has been posted on social media and some guess work, here is my selection. Remember... it is only my guess and I'm more often than not wrong..
Hookers :- Harris, Polwart, Siataga and Meachen.
Props :- Ross, Thwaites, Sakalia, McHugh, Mafileo and Frost.
Locks :- Wardlow, Leaupepe and Morris.
Loose forwards :- Cane, Latimer, Mua, Blake, Karpik, Ardron and Axtens
Halfbacks :- Judd and Campbell.
First Five :- Delany, Robertson and Trask.
Midfield :- Hepetema, Fuatai and Steel,
Outside backs :- Garland, Simonson, Webber, Collier and Te Aute
I'm not sure what the injury situation is with Ross and Webber or the availability of Parete and Tiatia and possibly one more lock is needed. Do any Mafia members have any inside knowledge of selections?
Anyway I look forward to seeing who is actually selected. Does anyone know of the availability of players for club finals given the Steamers pre season camp and games ?
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@snollygoster I don't have as much insight as you so I cannot comment on who's being picked - but appreciate you laying that squad out.
With comparative riches in the loose forwards and the dearth of experienced locks, what about moving Ardron there permanently - he's certainly done a job for the Chiefs and his mobility will be handy.
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@kiwipie Thanks Kiwipie. Your comments about me having more "insight" were hilarious. Many of my selections were based purely on the people in that photo I posted earlier in this thread and and the makeup of the team which played against that Waikato selection. I don't know (or pretend to know ) anymore about whats going on than you guys.
My selections for lock are based on part logic and part bias.....Wardlow is presently involved with the Chiefs and Leaupepe and Morris both play for my home team (Te Puke). Having said that , Leaupepe played for Wellington a couple of seasons back and Morris was contracted to the Steamers two years ago but missed the entire season with injury. I haven't seen Ardron play since last year but I hear he has been playing well so maybe should get a permanent locking position.
Its nice to see someone else commenting on this forum.
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I was... very surprised... when Ardron was picked at lock for the Chiefs, but he's done a great job there for them this season. I'm thinking he's a definite for the Steamers at lock with Franklin gone plus the other options that we have in the loose forwards.
It's a shame Parete is showing up as Taranaki, he has a lot of promise.
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@donsteppa said in Steamers 2018:
It's a shame Parete is showing up as Taranaki, he has a lot of promise.
It was always likely to happen - he only came to us because he couldn't get a sniff in the Naki. Getting Super game time means he'll be in demand
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@snollygoster Add Hoani Matenga in to the locks.
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@trooa Thanks for that. There have been a few recent pictures of the Steamers on instagram and I was wondering who he was. It seems that several of my selections earlier were wrong (predictably). The full team (minus those involved in the super semis and club finals ) are presently in camp in Waiuru ahead of Fridays preseason against Wanganui and Manawatu.
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Here's my updated picks for what its worth. I'm not 100% sure on Axtens or who Mr X and Mr Y are....there are a few options.
Hookers :- Harris, Polwart, Siataga and Meachen.
Props :- Ross, Thwaites, Sakalia, McHugh, Mafileo and Lay.
Locks :- Wardlow, Leaupepe and Matenga.
Loose forwards :- Cane, Latimer, Mua, Blake, Karpik, Ardron and Axtens
Halfbacks :- Judd and Campbell.
First Five :- Delany, Robertson and Trask.
Midfield :- Hepetema, Fuatai and Steel.
Outside backs :- Garland, Simonson, Mr X, Mr Y and Joass.Whoever gets picked it looks like a fairly capable team...plenty of experience (especially in the forwards), a few new faces and some emerging talent. Whether we have enough x factor in the backs is yet to be seen.
