Blues 2020
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@Bones said in Blues 2020:
@sparky said in Blues 2020:
Kane, Beauden and Scott
So passionate though.
Money will trump being a fanboy almost everytime.
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Thanks for the entertainment .Some great youngsters blooded ,and the senior players leading the way.
Congratulations to the whole Blues franchise.Good luck to those who are in the frame for higher honours. -
The Blues have room to squeeze in a marquee signing or two for next year’s Super Rugby, and coach Leon MacDonald doesn’t mind saying he hopes it will be to play in a trans- Ta$man competition..
Chief executive Andrew Hore wasn’t giving much away when he was asked earlier this week about potential signings for 2021. But he did say: “There will be a couple I think who will be a bit of a surprise”.
MacDonald wasn’t naming names at this stage either, but confirmed new additions would be minimal in a group that will stay pretty steady.
“We’ve just got a handful,” he said of openings in his squad. “Most of our spots are taken, and the core of this group is going to stay together which is really exciting. There are some draft spots and a couple of extras to fill in, but not a lot..
Also Parsons is out for the rest of the year for concussion recovery.
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
“There will be a couple I think who will be a bit of a surprise”.
Players returning from overseas, or more players switching SR franchises?
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@Stargazer said in Blues 2020:
@Tim said in Blues 2020:
“There will be a couple I think who will be a bit of a surprise”.
Players returning from overseas, or more players switching SR franchises?
It’s really unlikely but the Tuivasa-Sheck rumour came back to life earlier this week.
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There must be some handy ex international halfbacks floating about? Someone of the ilk of a Danny Care would be useful eh...
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what is TKB upto?
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So what positions might there be recruitment?
Midfield - a replacement for Marchant. Someone that can play 12 & 13 would be useful
Fullback - a replacement for Barrett (there's still plenty of 10's in the squad)
Hooker - improve depth below Eklund. Is Parsons still wanting to play?
Halfback - Christie appears to MacDonalds first choice, Blues need more quality below him
Openside - No issues with the opensides this year but I think the Blues should select a younger option. Dalton is first choice, Lamborn has been a pleasant surprise and Gibson has been good when fit (not often enough)
I would find room for Choat. That would be tough on Lamborn.. A decision that might not pay off in 2021 but a good medium term investment. -
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98 semifinal between the Blues and Highlanders is on Prime.
There were some great players in that 98 team, but my favorite might be Eroni Clarke. He was the complete centre for us.
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@taniwharugby said in Blues 2020:
what is TKB upto?
Playing with Victor Vito and Ihaia West and coached by Ronan O'Gara at La Rochelle. The Top 14 season 2020-1 starts on September 4th.
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@Dice said in Blues 2020:
@Tim What are the chances of us getting Jack Goodhue? He only signed a one year deal with the Crusaders last year. He's one of the few marquee type players off contract. I'd be surprised if he left the Crusaders though.
He needs to go somewhere he can play centre regularly. So not the blues (Ioane) and not the canes (PUJ) and not the Crusaders (the immensely talented centre Ennor).
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@Bones said in Blues 2020:
@Dice said in Blues 2020:
@Tim What are the chances of us getting Jack Goodhue? He only signed a one year deal with the Crusaders last year. He's one of the few marquee type players off contract. I'd be surprised if he left the Crusaders though.
He needs to go somewhere he can play centre regularly. So not the blues (Ioane) and not the canes (PUJ) and not the Crusaders (the immensely talented centre Ennor).
Chiefs it is then!
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@Nepia said in Blues 2020:
@Bones said in Blues 2020:
@Dice said in Blues 2020:
@Tim What are the chances of us getting Jack Goodhue? He only signed a one year deal with the Crusaders last year. He's one of the few marquee type players off contract. I'd be surprised if he left the Crusaders though.
He needs to go somewhere he can play centre regularly. So not the blues (Ioane) and not the canes (PUJ) and not the Crusaders (the immensely talented centre Ennor).
Chiefs it is then!
Yeah on form there's no way he goes past FABMC.
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@Bones you’re fucken joking if u think PUJ would keep Goodhue away from the 13 shirt if he moved 🤣🤣
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@Yeahtheboys said in Blues 2020:
@Bones you’re fucken joking if u think PUJ would keep Goodhue away from the 13 shirt if he moved 🤣🤣
Yeah true, it's only because Ennor is soooooo good that he's not playing there. Not like PUJ is even good enough to lace Ennor's boots eh...
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@Bones said in Blues 2020:
@Dice said in Blues 2020:
@Tim What are the chances of us getting Jack Goodhue? He only signed a one year deal with the Crusaders last year. He's one of the few marquee type players off contract. I'd be surprised if he left the Crusaders though.
He needs to go somewhere he can play centre regularly. So not the blues (Ioane) and not the canes (PUJ) and not the Crusaders (the immensely talented centre Ennor).
Dream on!
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@pakman said in Blues 2020:
@Bones said in Blues 2020:
@Dice said in Blues 2020:
@Tim What are the chances of us getting Jack Goodhue? He only signed a one year deal with the Crusaders last year. He's one of the few marquee type players off contract. I'd be surprised if he left the Crusaders though.
He needs to go somewhere he can play centre regularly. So not the blues (Ioane) and not the canes (PUJ) and not the Crusaders (the immensely talented centre Ennor).
Dream on!
Am I that transparent?
Imagine how good the country's best centre would look outside the country's 3rd best 8, best halfback and 10th best first five.
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@Bones said in Blues 2020:
@pakman said in Blues 2020:
@Bones said in Blues 2020:
@Dice said in Blues 2020:
@Tim What are the chances of us getting Jack Goodhue? He only signed a one year deal with the Crusaders last year. He's one of the few marquee type players off contract. I'd be surprised if he left the Crusaders though.
He needs to go somewhere he can play centre regularly. So not the blues (Ioane) and not the canes (PUJ) and not the Crusaders (the immensely talented centre Ennor).
Dream on!
Am I that transparent?
Imagine how good the country's best centre would look outside the country's 3rd best 8, best halfback and 10th best first five.
At worst third best 10!
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@pakman said in Blues 2020:
@Bones said in Blues 2020:
@pakman said in Blues 2020:
@Bones said in Blues 2020:
@Dice said in Blues 2020:
@Tim What are the chances of us getting Jack Goodhue? He only signed a one year deal with the Crusaders last year. He's one of the few marquee type players off contract. I'd be surprised if he left the Crusaders though.
He needs to go somewhere he can play centre regularly. So not the blues (Ioane) and not the canes (PUJ) and not the Crusaders (the immensely talented centre Ennor).
Dream on!
Am I that transparent?
Imagine how good the country's best centre would look outside the country's 3rd best 8, best halfback and 10th best first five.
At worst third best 10!
But...Caleb Trask? 😬
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@Bones said in Blues 2020:
@pakman said in Blues 2020:
@Bones said in Blues 2020:
@pakman said in Blues 2020:
@Bones said in Blues 2020:
@Dice said in Blues 2020:
@Tim What are the chances of us getting Jack Goodhue? He only signed a one year deal with the Crusaders last year. He's one of the few marquee type players off contract. I'd be surprised if he left the Crusaders though.
He needs to go somewhere he can play centre regularly. So not the blues (Ioane) and not the canes (PUJ) and not the Crusaders (the immensely talented centre Ennor).
Dream on!
Am I that transparent?
Imagine how good the country's best centre would look outside the country's 3rd best 8, best halfback and 10th best first five.
At worst third best 10!
But...Caleb Trask? 😬
'Best halfback' threw me!
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@Bones said in Blues 2020:
Yeah on form there's no way he goes past FABMC.
Even looks a bit like Corp Klinger. Apparently edible hats are a thing? Who knew? (Well @Kirwan did obviously).
TBF MC has gone pretty well at centre.
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Parsons on a podcast: "There's a number of other guys [than Duffie] not coming back."
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Be interesting to see if Plummer is back next year.
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
Be interesting to see if Plummer is back next year.
He could look elsewhere but I'd assume the Blues would want to re-sign him.
Assuming Perofeta is the fullback, someone needs to be Blacks deputy. The other options are Page & Heighton?MacDonald mentioned most of the squad is sorted for next year. I wonder if the players Parsons is talking about are fringe/injured guys like Tucker, Hyland & Carter?
A semi regular player that might be going is GCT. He didn't make the North Island squad and is 28 years old.. might be time to look for an overseas deal?
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Isn't there speculation Eklund is leaving?
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@Duluth said in Blues 2020:
A semi regular player that might be going is GCT. He didn't make the North Island squad and is 28 years old.. might be time to look for an overseas deal?
Signed for 2021. Although, there was this detail in the press release:
Staying in NZ was a big call for 26-year-old Cowley-Tuioti who had initially looked to take up an option to play in France. Cowley-Tuioti was initially called into the Blues in 2015 as training cover and earned himself a fulltime place in 2016. “Gerard is a player that most teams would love to have,” said Tony Hanks, general manager high performance. “He might be a quiet guy around the club, but he is an outstanding contributor. He does the core roles at set-play well and brings physicality in his general play around the field.
“We know he was targeted by European clubs, and he deserves the opportunity, but we are delighted he has decided to remain with us for a couple more years. He is one of those players that our coaches can rely on to do his job week-in, week-out.”
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
Isn't there speculation Eklund is leaving?
Overseas or another SR side?
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@Duluth said in Blues 2020:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
Isn't there speculation Eklund is leaving?
Overseas or another SR side?
Not sure but I think he might be forced out by numbers with speculation for next year the 3 hookers are Parsons, Nuia and young gun Soane Vikena?
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
Chief executive Andrew Hore wasn’t giving much away when he was asked earlier this week about potential signings for 2021. But he did say: “There will be a couple I think who will be a bit of a surprise”.
Going back to this, Michael Little would be someone who fits that criterion ...
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A couple of things from Parsons:
Akira Ioane is benefiting from the strong squad, as he's not having to do it all himself.
Jacob Pierce is a "beast" in the scrums and loves it.
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Loose forwards that Hall and Parsons suggested for the All Blacks squad:
Cane, Savea, Papalii, Ioane, Sotutu, Boshier. They rate them all, and the first two highly.
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Locks Parsons rates: GCT, Dickson, Scrafton, Strange.
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
Loose forwards that Hall and Parsons suggested for the All Blacks squad:
Cane, Savea, Papalii, Ioane, Sotutu, Boshier. They rate them all, and the first two highly.
Interesting they don't rate Frizzel, especially seeing Boshier in that list...
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@Nogusta Hope not. We have enough at TH prop and we don't need Laulala.
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