Magpies 2021

[Stargazer]

@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.

[Duluth]

@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

[Stargazer]

@Duluth What do you mean with "qualified to play for them"?

[Number 10]

He was born in Penrith when his father Gordon was playing rugby league.

[Duluth]

@Stargazer

Born there. Or is he locked into NZ already?

[Higgins]

@Duluth His father and grandfather both played for the NZ Maori team. How could he possibly even consider playing for the Aussies given the status and stature of those two folk?

[Stargazer]

@Higgins I don't think he'll go to Oz because of the pull of the yellow jersey, either.

But if he's offered a SR contract there, and not in NZ, who knows?

[Higgins]

@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.

[Stargazer]

@Higgins Yeah, and don't forget their "Love" for certain schoolboys who are first signed up by the Wellington Academy and then get long-term Hurricanes contracts before they've even proven their worth at M10 Cup level.

[KiwiMurph]

@Stargazer Love isn't the problem. Hickey is.

[Stargazer]

@KiwiMurph I think Hickey is mostly a problem for McClutchie. Love is more a problem for younger guys like Smiler-Ah Kiong.

[Stargazer]

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.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer Don't forget Aidan Morgan. He went down to Welly at the same time as Love, and was probably more highly rated.

[Stargazer]

@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 ....

[taniwharugby]

@Stargazer given Reihana is heading back to Northland next season, Waikato will be looking for a replacement, so makes sense.

[Stargazer]

@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.

[Bovidae]

Blame Canterbury. They took Poihipi and Burke from us!

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Nope. That's not an excuse for poaching from a small province. Anyway, you may get Poihipi back, if he has indeed been signed by the Chiefs?

[Hooroo]

@Stargazer said in Magpies 2021:

@Bovidae Nope. That's not an excuse for poaching from a small province. Anyway, you may get Poihipi back, if he has indeed been signed by the Chiefs?

I agree, the real reason to poach is to strengthen your team.

[Stargazer]

@Hooroo Reason, yes. Excuse, no.

Anyway, in the case of Smiler-Ah Kiong, an additional reason may be the presence of a university in Hamilton. Not much that can be done about that disadvantage for smaller provinces.