Chiefs 2023

[Bovidae]

@cgrant said in Chiefs 2023:

Punivai is an odd selection as Sinkinson was on hand. But I am not sold on both of them, as I was among those who think that Leroy Carter would have been the best choice.

Punivai gives them some size out wide, which I assume was one of the attractions (1.90 m, 102 kg). The same reason there appeared to be some interest in Nanai.

[Mackerzzzz]

So best 23:?

1. O Norris
2. S Taukei'aho
3. A Taavao
4. J Lord
5. B Retallick
6. T Vaii
7. S Cane
8. L Jacobson
9. B Webber
10. B Gatland
11. E Nanai-Seturo
12. A Nankivell
13. A Lenert-Brown
14. S Stevenson
15. D Mckenzie

16. B Slater
17. A Ross
18. A Moli
19. N Ah Kuoi
20. PG Sowakula
21. C Ratima/ X Roe
22. R Poihipi
23. E Narawa

[Chris]

@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2023:

@cgrant said in Chiefs 2023:

Punivai is an odd selection as Sinkinson was on hand. But I am not sold on both of them, as I was among those who think that Leroy Carter would have been the best choice.

Punivai gives them some size out wide, which I assume was one of the attractions (1.90 m, 102 kg). The same reason there appeared to be some interest in Nanai.

Punivai lacks real pace to be a top wing could be a decent centre though.

[Bovidae]

This is the team I expect:

1 Ross
2 Taukei'aho
3 Ta'avao
4 Retallick
5 Vaa’i
6 Ah Kuoi
7 Cane
8 Jacobson
9 Weber
10 Gatland (McKenzie)
11 Nanai-Seturo/Malimali
12 Nankivell/Poihipi
13 Lienert-Brown
14 Stevenson (Narawa)
15 McKenzie (Stevenson)

16 Thompson
17 Norris
18 Moli/Dyer
19 Selby-Rickit
20 Sowakula
21 Roe
22 Poihipi/Nankivell
23 Narawa (Gatland/Ioane)

[Crazy Horse]

Poihipi is an interesting one. I thought he showed some glimpses of usefulness last Super season, and sparodically for Canterbury this year, but he was part of a pretty poor Canterbury midfield. Time will tell if it was players around him or if he was part of the problem.

[Bovidae]

McMillan explains some of the Chiefs selections, some of which we've discussed on here (e.g., the locks).

[Mackerzzzz]

@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2023:

This is the team I expect:

1 Ross
2 Taukei'aho
3 Ta'avao
4 Retallick
5 Vaa’i
6 Ah Kuoi
7 Cane
8 Jacobson
9 Weber
10 Gatland (McKenzie)
11 Nanai-Seturo/Malimali
12 Nankivell/Poihipi
13 Lienert-Brown
14 Stevenson (Narawa)
15 McKenzie (Stevenson)

16 Thompson
17 Norris
18 Moli/Dyer
19 Sowakula
20 Roe
21 Poihipi/Nankivell
23 Narawa (Gatland/Ioane)

Your missing one?

[Bovidae]

@Mackerzzzz Duh! I will edit.

[Stargazer]

quinntupaea 6 weeks post op and finally out of my brace and back walking. Unreal feeling

[Stargazer]

WTG spot, or is Hamilton home to him?

[Stargazer]

Nankivel on crutches. Hopefully it's not too bad.

[Bones]

@Stargazer it'd be great to see him back - he was the pre-Stevenson Stevenson!

[Bovidae]

Maybe a WTG spot. Staying in NZ must give you a better chance.

Alaimalo will be 27 later in the year so still has plenty of years ahead of him.

[cgrant]

@Stargazer said in Chiefs 2023:

Nankivel on crutches. Hopefully it's not too bad.

Gallagher is a huge man !

[Stargazer]

@cgrant Yep. And at only 21, you'd expect him to still gain some mass.

[Yeetyaah]

Chiefs responded to my Instagram question. Replacement players named on Monday.

[Crucial]

@Yeetyaah

NDC?

[Yeetyaah]

@Crucial no clue what that is.

[Stargazer]

@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:

@Yeetyaah

NDC?

National Development Contract

See this post in the Hurricanes 2023 thread; there are 20 of them in total. So some of the young guns (I assume mostly NZU20/NZU19 players).

[Bovidae]

@Crucial

This year the Chiefs had:

Adam Lennox (Taranaki)
Josh Bartlett (Bay of Plenty)
Mason Tupaea (Waikato)
Nikora Broughton (Bay of Plenty)
Veveni Lasaqa (Bay of Plenty)

Broughton is now with the Highlanders so at least one new player. It could be a new intake every season.