Blues 2021
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Blues 2021 squad:
Hookers: Ray Niuia ( Ta$man), James Parsons (North Harbour), Soane Vikena (Auckland).
Props: Alex Hodgman (Auckland), Nepo Laulala (Counties Manukau), James Lay (Auckland), Marcel Renata (Auckland), Karl Tu’inukuafe (North Harbour), Ofa Tuungafasi (Auckland).
Locks: Gerard Cowley-Tuioti (North Harbour), Sam Darry (Canterbury), Josh Goodhue (Northland), Jacob Pierce (North Harbour), Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland).
Loose forwards: Blake Gibson (Auckland), Dillon Hunt (North Harbour), Akira Ioane (Auckland), Dalton Papalii (Counties Manukau), Taine Plumtree (Wellington), Tom Robinson (Northland), Hoskins Sotutu (Auckland).
Halfbacks: Finlay Christie ( Ta$man), Sam Nock (Northland), Jonathan Ruru (Auckland).
Inside backs: Otere Black (Bay of Plenty), Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki), Harry Plummer (Auckland).
Midfield: TJ Faiane (Auckland), Rieko Ioane (Auckland), Tanielu Tele’a (Auckland).
Outside backs: Caleb Clarke (Auckland), AJ Lam (Auckland), Jone Macilai-Tori (Northland), Emoni Narawa (Bay of Plenty), Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Taranaki), Zarn Sullivan (Auckland), Mark Telea ( Ta$man).
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Blues development player of the year and New Zealand under-20 hooker Vikena (signed for four years) was injured in the Mitre-10 Cup, which means the well-performed Kurt Eklund returns as injury cover. Eklund (Bay of Plenty) has signed a two-year deal with the Blues that kicks in from 2022.
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From the media release:
There is one further player to be named in a 38-strong squad.
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I know this signing was announced a few weeks ago but the Blues have scored a bit of a coup stealing Darry from Crusader land.
Decent prospect by all accounts, just that the locking queue in red and black is a bit long.
His mum is the nutritionist on the weetbix ads and his dad was a North Otago rep and good mates with Steve Hansen -
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@Crucial yeah, but it's not just him. Our fringe players are a huge step up on last year, and the year before that.
Every team has stars, but it's the squad depth that often makes a difference when injuries start to kick in. That's where the recruitment is so effective, and where Canterbury have had an edge for so long. I think you're starting to see talented up and comping players moving from other regions into Auckland because they want to - the outside back from Naki (JRK), Hunt coming home. Hell, even Nepo coming back over the hill wouldn't have happened in the past.
Anyway, our traditional (of the last few years) weaknesses of 2/9/10/15 are still there, but they have moved from 'yawning chasm of pain' to 'solid, but not world class'. I'll take that, and there is plenty of upside out there too.
