Northland Rugby 2022
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Waipu team named for final tomorrow, been raining last few days, but suppose to be fine tomorrow.
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Strong MN side named
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very warm winters day up here, perfect conditions for rugby.
Mid Northern were dead last in 2019, and saved from playing the promo-relegation game due to Mid Western being unable to field a full strength team due to injuries, then losing finalist in 2020 (losing to Waipu) and 2021 (losing to the Sharks) all signs point to them going one better in 2022, much stronger on paper and hitting great form in the past few weeks.
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As expected, Mid Northern were far too strong for Waipu taking the lollies 53-19.
It was a totally dominant performance from the men from Hukerenui, scoring inside the opening minute, and were up 17-0 inside 12 mins.
Star of the show was mid-fielder Kalani Going who scored 4 or might have been 5 tries today, showing pace, power, nice change of pace.
The MN pack was much too strong for Waipu, who tried hard, but MN pushed them off their own ball at scrum time and set the platform for MN to run riot.
Jonah Mau'u the Waipu skipper was the best in a losing side, his brother Deon Mau'u in the mid-field is a big lad, showed some good touches and raw power, Bruce Kauika-Peterson had a good battle with Jordan Olsen (who was playing 6) with them both determined to hit the other hard anytime the other came near.
Valance Yates the MN hooker shows some good promise, I was pleased to see Alan Craig showing some physicality, also showed a nice turn of pace and put through what I thought was a poor option of a kick inside the 22 off his own break, that Kalani Going ended up scoring off.
The MN front row of Davies & Apoua got through some work, as did the Waipu Prop, Mahue Dewes, who while he looks like he is carrying 20kg too much, worked hard all game, even had a 30m carry late in the game.
All in all, Mid Northern deserved winners, built nicely as the seaosn wore on, despite a couple of hiccups earlier in the season and thier last 3 games they scored over 40 points which were against 2nd place, semi final and then the final.
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2nd slide shows Kalani Goings 4 tries.
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@taniwharugby said in Northland Rugby 2022:
As expected, Mid Northern were far too strong for Waipu taking the lollies 53-19.
It was a totally dominant performance from the men from Hukerenui, scoring inside the opening minute, and were up 17-0 inside 12 mins.
Star of the show was mid-fielder Kalani Going who scored 4 or might have been 5 tries today, showing pace, power, nice change of pace.
The MN pack was much too strong for Waipu, who tried hard, but MN pushed them off their own ball at scrum time and set the platform for MN to run riot.
Jonah Mau'u the Waipu skipper was the best in a losing side, his brother Deon Mau'u in the mid-field is a big lad, showed some good touches and raw power, Bruce Kauika-Peterson had a good battle with Jordan Olsen (who was playing 6) with them both determined to hit the other hard anytime the other came near.
Valance Yates the MN hooker shows some good promise, I was pleased to see Alan Craig showing some physicality, also showed a nice turn of pace and put through what I thought was a poor option of a kick inside the 22 off his own break, that Kalani Going ended up scoring off.
The MN front row of Davies & Apoua got through some work, as did the Waipu Prop, Mahue Dewes, who while he looks like he is carrying 20kg too much, worked hard all game, even had a 30m carry late in the game.
All in all, Mid Northern deserved winners, built nicely as the seaosn wore on, despite a couple of hiccups earlier in the season and thier last 3 games they scored over 40 points which were against 2nd place, semi final and then the final.
As long as I can remember Mid Northern have been that team. What is it about teams that make them winners year after year?
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Unsurprisingly, Tom Robinson has been named Captain for the 2022 season.
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@taniwharugby said in Northland Rugby 2022:
Unsurprisingly, Tom Robinson has been named Captain for the 2022 season.
I hpoe that's a training shirt!
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@Machpants yeah there were 2 in the clip (other one is orange) I quite like the one that Matich is wearing, with blue at the top.
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Pretty good preseason side
Some good recruiting too Moorby, Milo-Harris, BKP. Plus the return of Moulds & Matich. Depth building in a few positions
The loss of Gregory is a positive too. He was responsible for so many errors last year
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@Duluth just heard Apoua broke his hand in the club final and is out for several weeks (looking at round 4) and they have bought in experienced Sila Puafisi, who is apparently in good nick, has played for Tonga & in France, so sounds a decent replacement at short notice...the other props form outside the region they were looking at, one was in MLR and the other was trying to play Northland off with NH, so assume he will turn out for NH.
Still Nock, Robinson & Josh Goodhue to come back too, assume Jack Goodhue will be with ABs, so unavailable for most of season.
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@Tim I expect @Steven-Harris will give an update at some point...reckoned it looked like one of the best pre season performances he has seen from Northland.
It's our year 😂😂😂😱😔
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@taniwharugby said in Northland Rugby 2022:
@Tim I expect @Steven-Harris will give an update at some point...reckoned it looked like one of the best pre season performances he has seen from Northland.
It's our year 😂😂😂😱😔
How could you say that…never say that…
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@taniwharugby same…last year was particularly bad. That game against Wellington when they looked so far off the pace.
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Halftime 14-12 NorthlandPlayed on the outer ground at North Harbour Stadium ,
Northland did not use skipper Tom Robinson ,Josh Goodhue and Sam Nock and Moana Pacifika Prop Chris Apoua as previously said picking up an injury in the Northland cub final 2 weeks ago , from all reports he will be back Rounds 4-5 .Harbour had several super rugby players on deck that I could see ,Mark Telea,Shaun Stephenson,Tevita Li ,Cameron Suafua ,Alex Fidow and Michael Curry ,Henry Taefu ,Lotu and Fine Inisi from Moana Pacifika
Some other players I recognised were Harrison Mataele ,Siaosi Nginingini ,(halfback)Chlayton Frans from the Blues 20s ,Jack Heighton and Leturu Tolai ,they were however missing Jamie Booth ,Bryn Gatland and 3 front rowers Nic Mayhew , new signing Kalolo Tuiloma and Karl Tu’nukuafe who has a minuscule problem which unfortunately hasn’t been reported in the news which makes it look that he’s been dropped from the All Blacks , had a good chat with Dr John Mayhew about it ,he should never have been selected by Foster and co with this injury he has had since the end of the super season ..Despite Harbour being under powered up front , this was a good hit for both teams with the visitors looking focused in the opening stages holding the ball for long periods .
Liam Hallam Eames would be first to score on the 13m mark after some sustained carrying from the Taniwha forwards .
Dan Hawkins adding the extrasHarbour however would hit back immediately after a mistake from Northland Fullback Pisi Leilua after dropping the ball at the kick off off recieve the turnover ball moved quickly to Jack Heighton who found a massive whole in the Northland defence line .
Try converted from close range .The next points would not come until around the 33rd minute , after again some excellent forward play which got Northland inside the 22,an accurate cross kick ( Johnny Cooper..?) picking out the impressive Heremaia Murray who would step inside the last tackler to touch down
Cooper adding the extras .
Just before halftime,Harbour put together some magic of their own with a very slick backline move which put the right winger over in the corner .the try unconverted , but move had backline coach Daniel Halangahu’s finger prints all over it .Northland changed virtually their entire starting XV in the 2nd Half , Harbour also making several changes ,bringing on Shaun Stephenson who made real difference especially with his kicking game however it would be the visitors who would hit the ground running the quickest
From a lineout drive from a penalty to the corner
Sam McNamara showing excellent strength and good body position driving over from 5metres out .Cooper adding the extrasHarbour like they had done in the first half would hit back straight away ,Tevita Li breaking the tackle of Jone Macilai before sending impressive flanker Jed Melvin away ,try converted .
21-19 NorthlandA few minutes later from another powerful Taniwha surge Jone Macilai would position himself in the right place to leap over the top of a ruck to touch down in amongst a group of Harbour forwards
Try uncoverted 26-19 NorthlandThe next try would be the try of the game , Josh Moorby who looks a great aquistion to the Taniwha fielding a kick in his own half beating his marker on the outside before flicking an inside pass to Tama Anderson who put the jets on before putting a kick over the top for Moorby to win the touchdown
Tevita li would score after finding some space from an inside ball which was converted , however Northland would lift the intensity again , once again off a strong lineout drive ,Brett Kauika Peterson would pick up the try after strong forward rumble .,Rivers Reihana adding the extras to complete the scoring .
The 2022 Taniwha whilst only preseason has a complete different look about it ,the HP work which has been in progress over the last 8 months has got the team looking very fit , in fact fitter that i have ever seen a Northland team and with that fitness you can actually see shape and what they are trying to achieve .
The forward pack is very mobile , and has a ton of depth at lock especially in fact across the whole squad.
I was really impressed with lock Terepai King who has added bulk to his already tall frame , really impressive lineout target ,also Trent Hape who has come North from Hawkes Bay , his kicking game is very impressive , hes gets so much distance and height in his kicks Northland were able to flood the recievers area which forced mistakes
Late signing Tongan International prop Sila Puafisi who has played in France was excellent at scrumtime and will be very handy with Apoua out for the first 4-5 Rounds ..
Heremaia Murray ,Josh Moorby ,Dan Hawkins and Johnny Cooper all looked in good touch
In the forwards Matt Moulds was physical ,as was Kauika Peterson ,plenty of mobility in the middle row with ,Hallam Eames ,Allen Craig and Sam Caird especially .
Loosefowards lead by Matt Matich in the first were full of work ,Jacob Matiu back in a Tani jersey after a few years away was just a full on work horse ,McNamara and Rush busy .For Harbour Jed Melvin impressed in the forwards ,alson Cameron Suafua when he came on the man is one big human being , as did backs Shaun Stephenson ,Tevita Li and Mark Telea who just so hard to hold , hes one slippery rooster .
The best comment came from a Taniwha player who was in the squad last year , ‘its the same team as last year ,buts it like its got a completely different feel to it’
Northland ,Harbour and BOP meet in a game of 3 halves next Saturday at ECB Rugby Club
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Thanks for the write up @Steven-Harris always good to get your thoughts on these games that most of us don't make it to.
Surprised we've signed a prop from outside Northland when we have Justin Davies ready to go.
I'm really looking forward to watching Northland this year. I think we've got a well balanced squad and Moorby is going to add a bit of extra attacking threat we were missing last year.
I see Renata Robert's TeNana is in the East Coast squad for the Heartland Champs - he's going to cause absolute chaos in that comp!
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@Chiefy07 for some reason I thought Davies had been signed, but yeah, think he had earnt another shot!
Only saw yesterday about Roberts-Te Nana, shame as he did look a player with a bit of upside, but then looking over the outside backs, who do they drop for him?
