Chiefs 2022

[Steven Harris]

@bovidae heard the Chiefs have signed Tyrone Thompson who in my opinion is going to be an absolute rock star and at 183kg & 111kgs will be one of the bigger bodies we have seen the hooker position for a very long time.
Also really liked the look of Gideon Wrampling especially in that midfield position for Waikato against Ta$man last friday.
Plenty of depth coming through at 12 & 13 .

[Bovidae]

@steven-harris Yeah, I posted in the Taranaki-Wellington match thread that Ben Castle mentioned during commentary that the Chiefs had signed Thompson.

Is what I was told about Reihana not being re-signed by the Chiefs correct?

[Crucial]

@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:

The forgot to mention that the player feedback at the end of the season probably preferred one over the other.

[Bovidae]

@crucial As I've said before, I don't think the Chiefs were as bad as their record suggested under Gatland or that different under McMillan. At HT at the Caketin you wouldn't have said there had been any improvement from the previous season (a 0-3 start to the season). But a comeback victory and the confidence from that had a flow-on effect.

[Crucial]

@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:

@crucial As I've said before, I don't think the Chiefs were as bad as their record suggested under Gatland or that different under McMillan. At HT at the Caketin you wouldn't have said there had been any improvement from the previous season (a 0-3 start to the season). But a comeback victory and the confidence from that had a flow-on effect.

But was it the coaching culture from McMillan that allowed that to flourish? I just think that he spoke the language of the players better than Gatland.
Bringing in a NH coach (which essentially Gatland is/was) was always going to take some adjustment. Not necessarily in playing style but more so management style and trust.

[Yeetyaah]

Donk feels a bit nicer as a head coach in my opinion. I can't really explain it but it feels like the team culture is better, as a fan I feel a little closer, probably has something to do with the way he holds himself. He's pretty soft spoken and seems humble, Gats not so much.

[Donsteppa]

Gatland brought in a bit of a whinge-fest culture after each of the Super Rugby Aotearoa losses last year. Not disappointed or surprised to see him being moved a step away.

[nostrildamus]

@steven-harris said in Chiefs 2022:

Tyrone Thompson

186cm? https://www.wellingtonlions.co.nz/player/player/Player/show/thompson/

[cgrant]

He looks taller than 183 cm so 186 cm should be his height. Physically, he is the NZ version of Marx, the SA hooker. Samisoni Taukei'aho is stockier and heavier, IMO.

[Bovidae]

Thompson is similar in height to Harris and Slater as a hooker. I always thought he and his brother looked much bigger than the average 1st XV player in their positions when I saw them live.

[Stargazer]

When Tyrone was in his last year at school, the Napier coach already said he was taller than Codie Taylor, and a few kgs lighter. Codie Taylor is 183cm. Ty was already 186cm then. I doubt he's shrunk since then.

[cliff]

We still need a strike weapon out wide and with naholo gone to the saders I wouldn't mind getting vereniki tikoisolomone seems to have some genuine pace and x factor also if tanielu telea is no longer with blues I'd look at him he has the tools to be a game breaker

[bobily2]

What are peoples thoughts on Dawai? Looks a bit flakey on defense, but might at least be a good squadie - with the hope he learns how to tackle.

[Yeetyaah]

@bobily2 same thoughts. Good on attack, average on defence. Should add that I wouldn't mind him in the squad.

[cliff]

Wouldn't mind narawa either

[Yeetyaah]

@cliff I haven't seen a lot of him but from what I have he seems the part.

[Bovidae]

It appears that Narawa has signed for the Chiefs but is he any better than what the Chiefs currently have?

Lowe
ENS
Wainui
Stevenson

I don't think he is a guaranteed starter.

[cliff]

@bovidae I would have narawa and Lowe on either wings with ens off the bench at least narawa provides abit of size and has pace am not so keen on Stevenson or wainui

[Duluth]

@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:

It appears that Narawa has signed for the Chiefs but is he any better than what the Chiefs currently have?

Lowe
ENS
Wainui
Stevenson

I don't think he is a guaranteed starter.

A lot better than Stevenson. Maybe he’s replacing him?

[Bovidae]

Stevenson is signed until 2023.

I'd like ENS to be the fullback but I expect McMillan will favour Trask. Just as long it isn't Tiatia.