Chiefs 2022
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Someone will still need to take over as the forwards coach, replacing Barnes.
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@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 . -
@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?
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@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.
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@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.
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@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. -
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.
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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.
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@steven-harris said in Chiefs 2022:
Tyrone Thompson
186cm? https://www.wellingtonlions.co.nz/player/player/Player/show/thompson/
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Wouldn't mind narawa either
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It appears that Narawa has signed for the Chiefs but is he any better than what the Chiefs currently have?
Lowe
ENS
Wainui
StevensonI don't think he is a guaranteed starter.
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@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
StevensonI don't think he is a guaranteed starter.
A lot better than Stevenson. Maybe he’s replacing him?
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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.
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@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
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.
I wonder if we’ll get a surprise?
There was the rumor in the Blues thread about Fihaki - if that happened I’d be stoked as he looks really good and could challenge for a wing spot.
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@gt12 said in Chiefs 2022:
@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
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.
I wonder if we’ll get a surprise?
There was the rumor in the Blues thread about Fihaki - if that happened I’d be stoked as he looks really good and could challenge for a wing spot.
No Mate false rumour that one.
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@chris said in Chiefs 2022:
@gt12 said in Chiefs 2022:
@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
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.
I wonder if we’ll get a surprise?
There was the rumor in the Blues thread about Fihaki - if that happened I’d be stoked as he looks really good and could challenge for a wing spot.
No Mate false rumour that one.
Dammit. I reckon that kid could wear a black shirt - I’m not sure why they wanted Kini.
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@gt12 said in Chiefs 2022:
@chris said in Chiefs 2022:
@gt12 said in Chiefs 2022:
@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
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.
I wonder if we’ll get a surprise?
There was the rumor in the Blues thread about Fihaki - if that happened I’d be stoked as he looks really good and could challenge for a wing spot.
No Mate false rumour that one.
Dammit. I reckon that kid could wear a black shirt - I’m not sure why they wanted Kini.
To replace Matale, Fihaki being lined a up as a FB.
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@yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2022:
@gt12 was there? I didn't see anything about that. Might be wrong but isn't he a 10 and also quite small?
Fihaki is a FB/ Wing. 6ft 4,100kg
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@yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2022:
@gt12 was there? I didn't see anything about that. Might be wrong but isn't he a 10 and also quite small?
He’s big.
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Narawa is fast but he isn't that big either. Similar height and weight to Lowe and ENS.
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I think Narawa has the potential to end up premier wing for Chiefs next year. Wainui the best currently.
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So what is the Chiefs starting backline looking like now?
9 Weber
10 Ioane
11 Wainui/ENS
12 Tupaea
13 ALB
14 Lowe/Narawa
15 Trask/ENS/Stevenson -
@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
So what is the Chiefs starting backline looking like now?
9 Weber
10 Ioane
11 Wainui/ENS
12 Tupaea
13 ALB
14 Lowe/Narawa
15 Trask/ENS/StevensonThere's a fair bit of love for Wainui among the coaches. I seem to remember them commenting on his professional approach and experience. Something they will value.
I would like to see ENS at 15 but even Counties won't/don't give him a shot there. Maybe a bench spot in the 'top' setup?
They like a kicking option at 15 so Trask will likely get the nod. Stevenson has a massive boot but only seems to use it as last option under pressure. Would like to see him develop and start using that kick to better effect turning teams around/50/22s etc. -
@crucial That is who I think McMillan will select, not my own preferences. Wainui is one of the leaders so I expect him to be on the left wing. 5 tries in his last game there.
I'm not sold on Trask under the high ball from fullback. ENS would give you some of the x-factor we will miss from DMac on the counter-attack.
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@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
@crucial That is who I think McMillan will select, not my own preferences. Wainui is one of the leaders so I expect him to be on the left wing. 5 tries in his last game there.
I'm not sold on Trask under the high ball from fullback. ENS would give you some of the x-factor we will miss from DMac on the counter-attack.
Agree. ENS naturally looks for space which means that as a winger he cuts in a bit too much. I'd love to see him get developed as a 15.
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@tim said in Chiefs 2022:
So what's your game day pack looking like? Assuming Moli isn't available, something like this?
1 Ross
2 Taukei'aho
3 Mafileo
4 Retallick
5 Vaa'i
6 Finau
7 Cane
8 Jacobson16 Slater
17 O'Neill
18 Ta'avao
19 Ah Kuoi
20 SowakulaLord may have just moved past Ah Kuoi in the pecking order.
We never have our locking stocks at full strength but that's 4 good options now.
The whole pack and depth is pretty good really. -
Ah Kuoi is also a no-show in the NPC so far. I wouldn't read too much into it. Good to have some options and Lord is a 2m+ lock.
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@crucial said in Chiefs 2022:
@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
So what is the Chiefs starting backline looking like now?
9 Weber
10 Ioane
11 Wainui/ENS
12 Tupaea
13 ALB
14 Lowe/Narawa
15 Trask/ENS/StevensonThere's a fair bit of love for Wainui among the coaches. I seem to remember them commenting on his professional approach and experience. Something they will value.
I would like to see ENS at 15 but even Counties won't/don't give him a shot there. Maybe a bench spot in the 'top' setup?
They like a kicking option at 15 so Trask will likely get the nod. Stevenson has a massive boot but only seems to use it as last option under pressure. Would like to see him develop and start using that kick to better effect turning teams around/50/22s etc.He plays mostly at fullback for Counties. He's only ever had two starts on the wing for Counties.
He sometimes finishes games on the wing though, usually when Laulala comes off the bench.
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@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
StevensonI don't think he is a guaranteed starter.
Interesting the Blues never re signed him.
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@dice said in Chiefs 2022:
@crucial said in Chiefs 2022:
@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
So what is the Chiefs starting backline looking like now?
9 Weber
10 Ioane
11 Wainui/ENS
12 Tupaea
13 ALB
14 Lowe/Narawa
15 Trask/ENS/StevensonThere's a fair bit of love for Wainui among the coaches. I seem to remember them commenting on his professional approach and experience. Something they will value.
I would like to see ENS at 15 but even Counties won't/don't give him a shot there. Maybe a bench spot in the 'top' setup?
They like a kicking option at 15 so Trask will likely get the nod. Stevenson has a massive boot but only seems to use it as last option under pressure. Would like to see him develop and start using that kick to better effect turning teams around/50/22s etc.He plays mostly at fullback for Counties. He's only ever had two starts on the wing for Counties.
He sometimes finishes games on the wing though, usually when Laulala comes off the bench.
You're right. I don't know why I was under the impression he wasn't getting starts at 15.Must be my old-timers.
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