Northland Future Taniwha Team
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The Northland Future Taniwha face the Blues U20s this Saturday 13th March at Pakuranga United Rugby Club. Kick off at 1:00pm. This will be followed by Auckland Development v North Harbour Development at 3:00pm.
Please note if Auckland is at level 2 it will be played under the Covid Level 2 guidelines.Northland Future Taniwha Team:
Front Row
Leka Tu'ungafasi
Kaliopasi Uluilakepa
Marika Baleca
Esile Fono
Craven Martin
Mason HohaiaLocks
Terepai King
Allan CraigLoose Forwards
Robert Rush
Popoai Finau
Sam McNamara
Sage Walters Hansen
Fano Funaki
Isileli Manu
Tom Baker
Zac ShanksHalfbacks
Ilai Arona
Jayden KempFirst Fives
Johnny Cooper
Nikau GrahamMidfield
Kalani Going
Patrick Elia
Brody Tamarua
Kingi HerewiniOutside Backs
Brody Lam
Javarne Porter
Manny Snookes
Romi Levi
Pisi Leilua
Fritz Rayasi -
Looking forward to heading along to check this out ,
This is one of the real positives with all the work that has gone on behind the scenes not just with Northland Rugby , but also with Blues Rugby ..
Some really exciting local talent talent along with 3 players that have come North to give it a shot at making the 2021 Northland Taniwha ..
Leka Tuangafasi who was with the Auckland academy but is stuck behind some decent props has made the trip North along with a couple of boys from Wellington..Kaliopasi Uluilapeka who has played for NZ under 20s and the Wellington senior team , 2 x games in 2018;..a giant of a man at 1.90 145kgs should he pick up a contract with the Taniwha will be a great acquisition..
The player i know the Northland Coaches are most excited about is Fritz Rayasi , younger brother of Salesi ..like his older brother , possesses all the skills ,power and pace ..
From a local piece , some real talent has come through over the last couple of seasons and have been released by the Blues under 20 to run out for the Taniwha Futures.. -
@steven-harris Future Taniwha, is that the Northland academy team or their development team?
By the way, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa was very average for Wellington in 2020.
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@stargazer there’s a lot of young guys in this team , several who played Blues academy along with some boys who were in the under 19s ..only Sam McNamara , Johnny Cooper , Pisi Leilua ,Kalani Going ,Robert Rush ,Fano Funaki and Mason Hohaia have Mitre 10 experience..the later 6 probably have 12 games between them ..
on Kaliopasi he is still a very young guy and had made some adjustments , one thing is for sure , he’s very strong , has already busted a couple of gym records ..Can recall Ofa Tuangafasi at young age having question marks over him, but eventually coming through ..
There’s also some local boys who could come through ..Both Romi Levi and Brody Tamarua are big midfielders , only young , Tamarua has played as a Warriors junior and Levi has been in the Blues academy, built like a brick shithouse ..Jayden Kemp is also an exciting halfback with a great pass and attitude ... -
@steven-harris I look forward to your post match review
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@steven-harris hopefully with the High Performance facility (almost finished) it will assist in retaining/attracting talent.
I see Brady Rush not in there, has he gone to NH or 7s commitments?
@Stargazer I think it is kinda a dev/academy team rolled into 1 with some 'kids' plus some of those already on the fringes of M10 Cup (and a few with a few starting caps too)
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@taniwharugby I think Rush is with the NZ 7's isn't he?
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@stargazer said in Northland Future Taniwha Team:
@steven-harris Future Taniwha, is that the Northland academy team or their development team?
By the way, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa was very average for Wellington in 2020.
Watched him in Club rugby against my mob after Covid19 and he was still carrying heaps of extra weight around the middle and only came on midway through the second half. He certainly looked well short of any decent fitness level at that early stage of the season. Got told he came back at least 15kg heavier, and it looked like it too! Come NPC time he had slimmed down a bit, he needed to. He is a Tongan guy that learned his rugby up in Fiji before coming to NZ so that means he might be struggling with the intricacies of front row technique evident in a lot of Fijian trained props. However being Tongan will mean he is immensely strong so there is a good base to build up from. I guess how he eventually turns out will probably revolve around his own personal desires and getting a good propping coach to guide him.
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Over the years I have often ventured out to watch Northland Development or Under 19 teams play just to get a handle on what’s coming through in my much beloved union and then to find out over half the team pulled out before the campaign started because travel and work commitments and primarily thinking that a prospective pathway to the top side was well and truly blocked once the contracted Mitre 10 Cup team was named.
Heading along yesterday to Bell Park in Pakuranga to watch the future Taniwha’s take on the Blues under 20s has definitely given supporters like myself a huge boost .
The game ended up 24 all after Northland had lead 24-7 at halftime
The Blues team had Finlay Christie at halfback ,Nerai Fomai at 12 and Taine Plumtree at lock , he moved into the no 6 jersey in the 2nd period , and Jacob Kneepkins entered the game in the 2nd half , it was fair to say he was the most dangerous back on the paddock , he was a threat every time he had the ball in his hands .Taine Plumtree is an outstanding forward , I am really surprised he was not picked up the canes , looks more of a 6 than a lock ..
The Blues looked much more of a threat when Cory Evans , another former Northland boy from Kaitaia took the field in the 2nd half , this kid has some amazing footwork for a first five , has been out with injury for the last 2 seasons ..2 other Northland boys were running around for the Blues 20s Ryan Nankivell at fullback and Josh Beehre at lockNorthland with Leka Tuangafasi and Kaliopasi Uluilapeka were outstanding at set piece time , ..Uluilapeka who has come from Wellington is a monster with ball hand , proving unstoppable close to the line scoring 2 tries but also constantly getting over the advantage line , from what I was told yesterday, he is a very good listener , has incredible strength , breaking the current Northland Bench press record in his first week in the gym ..
He however is still carrying up 8-10 Kgs which on the plus he still has 3-4 months to address that issue .It was my first look at Allan Craig who Northland signed last year , has all the core skills if not the size .., looks more of a 6 than a lock but I suspect will be more of James Blackwell type player , not a bad thing as mitre 10 cup profile
His looking partner Terepai King is taller and has put 10kgs since last year , could be a bolter for the Mitre 10 cup team ..The player that really put his hand up was Isi Manu, younger brother of Pauliasi Manu, came north last year , but was out of condition.
Was very good with ball hand when he slotted into number 8 and more importantly physical on the tackle .Some boys with Taniwha experience started the game Johnny Cooper,Sam McNamara ,Kalani Going ,Mason Hohaia and Pisi Leilua and Rob Rush but were all pulled at halftime..
The Blues hit back with 2 tries with in 5 minutes of the restart , but this is where I was most pleased , with mostly their Player Union Development contract players on the paddock , they showed a ton heart to get back in the fight but more importantly defend their arses off ..the front row of Fono and Martin who are only young guys with a bit size I must add did very well at set piece and the 2nd half loose forwards ,Sage Hansen,Tom Baker and the 17 year old Zac Shanks who looks special made a lot of tackles and doesn’t mind the contact .
Fritz Rayasi who has made the decision to move up North from Wellington on his own accord looked really good with ball in hand , but will require some conditioning, very big guy
Manny Snooks who is a tall strapping winger is another who I understand the union are investigating heavily in ,is only very young is being likened SBW ..,he certainly has a similar body shape if not the same height .
The Blues I understand are tracking his progress .Rome Levi who marked Jacob Kneepkins did a really good job under the circumstances forcing him back inside on most occasions, but boy is Kneepkins hard to put down ..
Brody Lam on the wing scored a try , but had few opportunities, Like the look of Kingi Herewini when he came on in the midfield , the boy has got some footwork , dazzling at times , but will have to work on his defence ..
Was really impressed with the halfbacks on show Ilai Arona has a slick pass and a very good high kick game and did well up against Finlay Christie and young Jayden Kemp could be one to watch moving forward .
Great too see Nikau Graham back in the North , this kid has a very powerful left foot and an accurate goal kicking game to match .
In summary , talking to the coaching staff , they were very pleased with what they saw as was I .
I have always said if Northland can define clear pathways for the obvious talent that they generate, anything can happen ..!And it’s already got players from one of our next door neighbours knocking on the door , looking at more tangible options as opposed to be player that’s in a group of 45 players that have Player Union Development contracts wondering , Will we ever get an opportunity to play for the top side ..?
On another interesting footnote , the NZRFU has sent a directive to Unions that they can only have 15 PUDC’s signed ..needless to say Auckland are not happy , but to me , this where they need to work with their near neighbours and Blues franchise partners ..
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@steven-harris Brilliant write up.
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@steven-harris Thanks dude, great write-up!
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@kiwimurph would have hung around for the 2nd game between Harbour and Auckland but it was the wife’s birthday , lot of young guys running around for Auckland with a sprinkling of Mitre 10 cup guys ..
Auckland unions coverage is disappointing to say the least -
@steven-harris great news about Brady.
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@steven-harris said in Northland Future Taniwha Team:
It was my first look at Allan Craig who Northland signed last year , has all the core skills if not the size .., looks more of a 6 than a lock
I made that same comment previously after watching him play at schoolboy level. He wasn't as tall as I thought compared to other locks. You can get away with that at 1st XV level but not at senior level.
