Magpies 2021
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@Bovidae I expect Makene to return to fullback in 2021, with - hopefully - Kurt Baker gone. If good enough, there would be plenty of opportunities for Smiler-Ah Kiong, if he stayed. At first five or fullback.
I think that a possible move to Waikato may have more to do with the presence of a University in Hamilton than with expected game time in M10 Cup. Unless our coaches prefer Jordan Thompson-Dunn (which may be the correct call) ...
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@Hooroo Good poach. One of the best first five-eighth prospects in his age group (19). National Top Four winner with Hastings Boys' in 2019 (and MOTM of that Final).
Waikato reportedly already tried to sign him, last year, but he chose to stay in Hawke's Bay.
IIRC, he played most of his club rugby in 2020 at fullback. Did well at the Ignite7s, too.
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@Bovidae said in Magpies 2021:
He would be a very good addition for Waikato, and will be behind McClutchie and Makene in the pecking order. So if Smiler Ah-Kiong wants to play he probably needs to move.
Tepaea Cook-Savage is the same age if Waikato is looking locally.
We have also got Tiaan Falcon who must be back from Japan soon (maybe not until 2022 season?).
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@Higgins You think he's coming back any time soon? The money may be too good in Japan. I'm not sure he's still dreaming of a SR contract .... If he doesn't, he won't come back.
At the moment, if the rumours about Smiler-Ah Kiong are correct, I'd bet on Thompson-Dunn to make the step up.
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@Stargazer said in Magpies 2021:
@Higgins You think he's coming back any time soon? The money may be too good in Japan. I'm not sure he's still dreaming of a SR contract .... If he doesn't, he won't come back.
I wonder if he’ll have a crack in Aussie at some stage. He’s qualified to play for them
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@Stargazer Well I think we can count out the Hurricanes as an option given we have that world famous (in Wellington anyway) superstar JGB with in a seemingly invinceable hold on the starting position.
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@Stargazer Love isn't the problem. Hickey is.
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@KiwiMurph I think Hickey is mostly a problem for McClutchie. Love is more a problem for younger guys like Smiler-Ah Kiong.
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Anyway, the player-drain from Hawke's Bay to the bigger provinces - or provinces with a university - is extremely frustrating.
Players like Zarn Sullivan, Tyrone Thompson, and now possibly Smiler-Ah Kiong, are a big loss. Julian Goerke, if he ends up playing for Manawatu. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few recent examples.
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@Stargazer Don't forget Aidan Morgan. He went down to Welly at the same time as Love, and was probably more highly rated.
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@Bovidae Yeah, he was the player who was outplayed by Smiler-Ah Kiong in the 2019 Top Four Final. Yet, the Canes have probably been chasing him (resulting in the Wellington signing) instead of a player from their own catchment, who may now go to the Chiefs catchment ....
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@Stargazer given Reihana is heading back to Northland next season, Waikato will be looking for a replacement, so makes sense.
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@taniwharugby Yeah, from Waikato's point of view it does (and I'm happy for Northland). But it sucks big time for us if the Smiler-Ah Kiong rumour is true ....
I can't even say that Waikato should give Bailyn Sullivan back in return, because Bailyn has been a bit disappointing the last few years and we don't really need him.
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