Magpies - 2019 Mitre 10 Cup
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There are two ways to look at this. He never made the Wellington Lions squad but has always been involved with the Hurricanes since he arrived in Wellington about three years ago, playing fairly frequently for the Development Team. The fact that he continues to be seIected for that team perhaps indicates he just might be a plant up to the Bay at the request of the WRFU. I hear he was rated very highly by the expert panel when he attended the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand (IRANZ). He is more the dependable solid won't make many mistakes type of player rather than one that will score a brilliant runaway tray from his own goaline beating innumerable players on the way. Kind of the Jason Shoemark sort of player now that I come to think of it.
The HBRFU tend not to trumpet player signings the way some other provices do. Who knows who they may also have up their sleeves all signed and sealed but keeping it undwer wraps as is ther standard modus operandi. As Stargazer knows it is difficult to get their Mitre10 Cup lineups each week and player signings tend to follow the same pathway. -
If the HBRU has signed him, I hope it's only a development contract. I hate it when players from outside the Bay without any experience in NPC (or higher) are signed on full contracts, while local players have to prove themselves in club rugby first.
Also, the last thing I want is another TJ Vaega, Sasa Tofilau and other one- or two year- signings from other provinces that didn't perform.
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From the article that I posted in the club rugby thread:
Magpies head coach Mark Ozich was pleased to hear Latu was back in the Bay. "There is still space in our squad for a midfielder as well as utility space on the wing. "There is a lot of good young talent chasing those spots but the fact Penikolo has been there and done that puts him in good space." -
About McClutchie not making the NZ U20s:
Kereru-Symes, Flanders and Toala were all members of the national title-winning Hastings Boys' High School 1st XV in 2017. A fourth member of that team, Magpies first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie, missed selection for the Oceania Championship where the Baby Blacks will chase a fifth consecutive title. "A lack of versatility may have cost Lincoln a spot. Craig has gone with one specialist first five-eighth in Waikato's Rivez Reihana and there are a couple of versatile players who can play that role," Ozich said. "I have already spoken to Lincoln and he has taken his feedback on board. He needs to lengthen his exiting kicks, hang his re-start kick offs more and increase his physicality on defence. Other than that he drives a good game."https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12220323
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Some bits and pieces from today's HBT article about the weekend's club rugby:
Most significant:
Magpies first five-eighth Lincoln McClutchie, who has been called into the Highlanders squad as injury cover.Trial with Warriors ...
Auto Super Shoppe Hastings Rugby and Sports second five-eighth Neria Fomai scored a hat-trick in the first 25 minutes of this Elwood Park encounter. The former Southland Stags midfield back is displaying the benefits of his summer trials with the Warriors NRL club in Auckland and will be a serious contender for a Magpies Mitre 10 Cup squad berth this season.Has he played at first-five eight before? His versatility may prove to be valuable in the future:
... Hurricanes squad member Danny Toala, who had stints at first five-eighth and fullback, also impressed in the winning backline ... -
If - as discussed in the general Mitre 10 Cup thread - Vince Aso signs with the Magpies, maybe we'll finally see Lowe at centre? I wouldn't be against that change, although Jonah has been good for us on the wing. With Sam McNicoll also set to return, we could have an awesome backline:
9 Weber/Fakatava, 10 McClutchie, 11 Emerson, 12 Toala, 13 Lowe, 14 Aso, 15 McNicoll
If Walker-Leawere comes to the Bay, I wonder whether that means one of the other locks (Allardice, Cridge, Parsons) is moving on, or whether they're going to use Cridge at 6 again. But with both Mikaele-Tu'u and Flanders in the squad (and both should start), that doesn't really make sense to me. If Allardice stays, Parsons may be the victim of this signing.
Possible starting forwards:
1 Farrell/Long, 2 Dixon/Kereru-Symes, 3 May/Rakete-Stones/Tavita-Metcalfe, 4 & 5: Allardice/Cridge/Walker-Leawere, 6 Flanders, 7 Evans, 8 Mikaele-Tu'u.
(I think Mikaele-Tu'u is much better at 8 than at 6)
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@Stargazer I think I'd prefer Buckley to Emerson. Also, I wonder if Aso wants to play centre?
Why do we have so many 8s and no 7s?
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@Nepia Yeah, Emerson maybe faster than Buckley, but Buckley is bigger and stronger.
Aso may want to play centre, yes. I just think he's better on the wing.
@Higgins Evans has played plenty of times in the 7 jersey, but he prefers 8 himself (I think that's his best spot, too).
I think Josh Kaifa is still playing in the Bay? So I assume he'll be back.
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From HBRU Facebook page: Magpies 2019 Wider Training Squad
HB Magpies coaches Mark Ozich and Josh Syms have named the Magpies Wider Training Squad for 2019. This group is an initial squad and the players named have an opportunity to learn and develop, with a view to taking these skills back to their clubs and in turn, into the Hawke’s Bay representative season later in the year. Magpies Head Coach Mark Ozich has emphasized that whist they have named a squad, the door is certainly not closed to other players in club rugby. “We have a number of players involved with super rugby, injured or away with the NZ under 20’s, so competition for spots is healthy. We will however continue to be out watching club games and monitoring the performance of not only the players named in this WTG, but all club players each weekend.” A feature of this year squad is the naming of a number of Development Players. The Magpies and Academy coaching staff are really excited about the youth of this group coming through and what the future looks like for the Magpies. The 2019 WTG has games against Ta$man on 15 May and then Wairarapa Bush on 3 June.
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Yes, that squad is in this morning's Hawke's Bay Today.
Hokianga, Mataira, Gimblett, Faleiva, Sanft, Teddy, and Fabish are all designated as Development Players.
Faleiva played for the Under 19's last year.
Kaifa and Hintz are both named but don't seem to have played for their clubs yet.
Edit: One name missing is Joe Apikitoa who has apparently returned to Wellington.
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Then name of Joe Apikatoa was mentioned in discussions last Saturday night in the HOBM clubbrooms on the Hutt Rec but don't think I got round to asking what he is doing this season. He certainly has not featured in the combined Hutt Old Boys-Marist club's premier team anyway.
In addition can anyone fill us in on the logic behind the selection of Josh Gimblett who has only appeared twice (and only on the bench at that) for the combined College Old Boys-University premier team. There must be something behind that as it would be hard to justify selecting a player unable to command a starting spot in a premier club team as a possible Mitre10 Cup player. -
@Higgins Gimblett is a development player and part of the HB academy. So he probably travels up and down from Wellington to the Bay and back. Not sure whether he is "unable to command a starting spot in a premier club team". Has anyone checked whether he also has a team in the Bay (like Tremain)?
Having seen Apikotoa's posts on instagram, he hasn't been anywhere near the Bay.
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There is mention a a HB (Saracens?) match against someone on Wednesday in the last paragraph of the article about p[ouri Rakete-Stones. Is this the one that is supposed to be against Ta$man somewhere down here in Wellington? If so hopefully there will be a bit of publicity about venue and kick off times as I have got my Magpies jersey out of the draw and ready to go in with tomorrows laundry in readiness.
