Chiefs 2022
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Injury/availability update
Chiefs co-captain Sam Cane is a day-by-day prospect for his team’s big Super Rugby Pacific match against the Brumbies in Hamilton on Saturday night as baby-watch continues.
Outside backs Emoni Narawa and Etene Nanai-Seturo, who both missed the two-week trip across the ditch, are available this weekend, which could see Quinn Tupaea move back to the midfield following his impressive two-game effort out of position on the left wing.
All Blacks halfback and co-captain Brad Weber – who injured a shoulder/neck against Moana Pasifika a fortnight ago – and one-test first five-eighth Josh Ioane – who got a whack in the ribs against the Hurricanes on April 3 – are also back training and should be available in the next week or so.
The outlook is also surprisingly good for winger Shaun Stevenson, whose knee injury against Moana looked season-ending, but it turning out to be far less serious, with him already back running.Brodie Retallick is also nearing a return from his broken thumb suffered against the Crusaders on March 26. This weekend will mark six weeks since the injury, with the All Blacks lock, who is getting through a heap of individual running work at training, having initially been given a likely timeframe of six to eight weeks on the sideline.
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Mentioned in the article:
McMillan has already had a similar situation this season with Emoni Narawa, who was a late scratching from the round-eight match against the Blues after his first child was born in the early hours of game-day.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs have confirmed prop Sione Mafileo (neck) and loose forward Simon Parker (shoulder) would be joining prop Reuben O’Neill (neck) and midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown (shoulder) in the season-ending injury department.
That is a different injury for Parker.
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A story about Jonah Lowe. He is off-contract this year, and had only signed 1-yr contracts with the Chiefs.
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@Bovidae The Chiefs would be crazy if they didn't offer him a new contract. Even if some of the younger outside backs have a higher ceiling (they still have to prove it), he's certainly the Chiefs' best performing wing. I can see him - longer term - moving back to centre eventually.
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Unfortunately Gideon Wrampling re-injured his knee in the 1st half of his club match today. He bust through a number of tacklers and ended up on the ground just short of the tryline.
If it's serious he might be out for a while. Hopefully we get some good news.
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Ioane is keen to stay at the Chiefs.
This will largely depend on DMac's decision. Gatland still has 1 year left on his contract, while the contract duration of Trask and Reihana is unknown. I don't think you would carry four players who cover 1st 5 (3 of those also fullback) in your squad.
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@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
Ioane is keen to stay at the Chiefs.
This will largely depend on DMac's decision. Gatland still has 1 year left on his contract, while the contract duration of Trask and Reihana is unknown. I don't think you would carry four players who cover 1st 5 (3 of those also fullback) in your squad.
They should cut Trask lose.
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@Bovidae didnt Reihana only re-sign last year and given he hasnt had alot of chances nor kicked on, it would likely have only been for a year.
I thought when Trask signed on, whenever it was, was a long term one, like 5 years?
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@taniwharugby As I said, I haven't seen any official media release on the length of Trask's and Reihana's contracts. Trask first made the Chiefs in 2020, so if he did sign a 5-yr contract he still has 2 years remaining. Reihana has been contracted from 2021 so he might have been on a 1-yr deal, which was extended, or a 2-yr contract.
Trask is a 1st 5 playing fullback, and lacks the top-end speed to be really effective at fullback. We saw that yesterday when Gordon caught him from behind.
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@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
@taniwharugby As I said, I haven't seen any official media release on the length of Trask's and Reihana's contracts. Trask first made the Chiefs in 2020, so if he did sign a 5-yr contract he still has 2 years remaining.
Or 3 years remaining if it was a 6yr contract.. that was the rumoured contract length
Surely there would be out clauses etc
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@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2022:
I'd say cut Trask but he's from BOP so fat chance
as someone who has supported this dumpster fire since day 1
this is a really funny thing to read.
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@Duluth said in Chiefs 2022:
Surely there would be out clauses etc
Sure, we saw that when Laulala and Mafileo swapped places, and the same for Alaimalo in 2021, and Ioane this season.
Trask is only 23 so I doubt the Chiefs would do that after investing in him. Gatland's contract likely won't be renewed after next season when he'll be 28. A move to the NH would suit him.
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@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:
@Duluth said in Chiefs 2022:
Surely there would be out clauses etc
Sure, we saw that when Laulala and Mafileo swapped places, and the same for Alaimalo in 2021, and Ioane this season.
Trask is only 23 so I doubt the Chiefs would do that after investing in him. Gatland's contract likely won't be renewed after next season when he'll be 28. A move to the NH would suit him.
I think the biggest questions are whether Dmac (1) comes back, and (2) wants to play 10.
Assuming that yes is the answer to both of those questions (it's his best chance of playing in an AB jersey, IMO), then we need to be developing/signing our next fullback. I don't see anyone there now good enough or trusted enough..
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@gt12 said in Chiefs 2022:
Assuming that yes is the answer to both of those questions (it's his best chance of playing in an AB jersey, IMO), then we need to be developing/signing our next fullback. I don't see anyone there now good enough or trusted enough..
You know my answer to that.
I'm not sure there is a fullback coming through the Chiefs system who offers something different to the players already in the squad. Let's see who the U20 fullback is for the tournament coming up. We better get in early and sign Payton Spencer.
