Magpies 2023

Stargazer

Many of us already knew this; now, it's officially confirmed by the HBRU:

hbmagpies Magpie #1608, Jason Long, is calling it time on his career.

JLo has given everything to the Black and White jersey, both on and off the field.

Debut against Otago in 2014 (Ranfurley Shield Challenge win)

63 Caps

9 Tries

3 Ranfurley Sheild riegns

417 niggles at the bottom of a ruck

NZ Marist (2014, 2016)

Here's to one of Hastings Rugby and Sports Clubs finest!

Thank you, Jason.

Number 10

Others not returning apparently are Gareth Evans, Namatahi Waa and Will Tremain.

Stargazer

@Number-10 Are they goring somewhere else, or retiring? I could understand Tremain - still young - trying to get a spot somewhere else, as he doesn't get much game time. Syms' infatuation with Sam Smith has made that worse. Gareth, hanging up the boots, or going to earn some coin overseas? Waa, retiring?

Stargazer

Interview with Harry Godfrey (29 September 2022).

Stargazer

Interview with Joel Hintz (6 September 2022)

Number 10

Hawke's Bay RU AGM tonight.

Profit of $1,078,178 declared. Take out the $1,000,000 received, as one of the 14 Premier Unions, from the Silver Lake deal and still would have made a profit. That Silver Lake money is tagged - it cannot be spent on Operational activity - and is currently invested.

Reserves now $3.6 million.

Five new staff positions created - 2 more RDO's, 1 Girls Junior Rugby manager, 1 club administration officer and 1 Coach Development manager. The Coach Development manager is George Konia.

New President is Mavis Mullins - first female president of the HBRU.

Higgins

@Number-10 That's really good news but with the Shield I would have expected the surplus to have been a bit more (even allowing for the Silver Lake money). With the recent devastating weather we have suffered I hope the HBRFU have taken that into account when it comes to budgeting for the upcoming season. I expect there will be a reasonable chunk of money missing from the loyal rural supporters/sponsors that might have fronted up with a few thousand here and there that they simply won't be able to afford for the next few years.

Nepia

@Number-10 said in Magpies 2023:

Mavis Mullins

A Paewai as president of the Magpies seems fitting.

Number 10

@Higgins said in Magpies 2023:

@Number-10 That's really good news but with the Shield I would have expected the surplus to have been a bit more (even allowing for the Silver Lake money). With the recent devastating weather we have suffered I hope the HBRFU have taken that into account when it comes to budgeting for the upcoming season. I expect there will be a reasonable chunk of money missing from the loyal rural supporters/sponsors that might have fronted up with a few thousand here and there that they simply won't be able to afford for the next few years.

They had budgeted 2022 to be a $20,000 loss, so taking out the Silver Lake $ it is a better than expected result.

The possible negative effect of Cyclone Gabrielle on sponsorship money for this year was mentioned at the AGM.

Stargazer

Although 2023 will probably be a struggle year, with so many players likely to be unavailable due to the RWC, I can't wait for the NPC.

Stargazer

Keep them on, Bailyn!

Stargazer

2023 Magpies draw:

Date	Time	Home	Away	Venue/Town
Sat 5 August	5:05pm	Magpies	North Harbour	McLean Park, Napier
Fri 11 August	7:05pm	Counties Manukau	Magpies	Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
Wed 16 August	7:05pm	Magpies	Waikato	McLean Park, Napier
Sun 20 August	2:05pm	Magpies	Otago	McLean Park, Napier
Sat 26 August	2:05pm	Auckland	Magpies	Eden Park, Auckland
Fri 1 September	7:05pm	Northland	Magpies	Semenoff Stadium, Whangārei
Sat 9 September	4:35pm	Magpies	Bay of Plenty	McLean Park, Napier
Fri 15 September	7:05pm	Magpies	Manawatū	McLean Park, Napier
Sat 23 September	2:05pm	Southland	Magpies	Rugby Park, Invercargill
Sat 30 September	2:05pm	Wellington (RS)	Magpies	Sky Stadium, Wellington
6 - 8 October		Quarter-finals
13-14 October		Semi-Finals
w/end 21 Oct		Final

Higgins

Will Wellington still have the Shield then?
Assuming they get past the likes of South Canterbury and East Coast they have these on the menu
19 August v Southland
23 August v Ta$man
2 September v Counties Manakau
24 September v North Harbour
9 October v Hawkes Bay

Games of the season take place on Sept 9 (BoP) and Sept 15 (The 'Poo), thankfully both of them at home at long last

Stargazer

I've been wondering where we may need fresh blood in the Magpies squad, so I've gone throught the list of 2022:

2022 squad: players confirmed for 2023 are bolded (but there aren't many)

Prop
Joe Apikotoa (TH) - possibly at RWC with Tonga
Mark Braidwood (LH)
Lolani Faleiva (LH)
Joel Hintz (TH)
~~Jason Long~~ (LH, retired)
Pouri Rakete-Stones (LH & TH)
~~Namatahi Waa~~ (TH, injured in 2022) - retired (not publicly confirmed?)

Hooker
Jacob Devery (injured in 2022)
Kianu Kereru Symes
Gene Syminton
Tyrone Thompson

Lock
~~Bryn Evans~~ (retired)
Frank Lochore
Tom Parsons - retired?
Brodie Retallick - likely to be with ABs; then to Kobe. Has he already played his last game in black & white hoops?
Isaia Walker-Leawere

Lock/loosie
Sione Tuipulotu
Tiaki Fabish - still playing in Spain; no idea whether or when he'll be back

Loose forward
Gareth Evans (8, also 7 & 6; injured in 2022) - retired?
Devan Flanders (8/6)
Solomone Funaki (7 & 6) - likely to be at RWC with Tonga
Josh Gimblett (6)
Josh Kaifa (7, also 6 & 8))
Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (8/6)
Sam Smith (7)
Will Tremain (7) - leaving? retired?

Halfback
Ere Enari - off-contract, likely to be at RWC with Samoa
Folau Fakatava - possibly be with ABs
Connor McLeod
Brad Weber - possibly with ABs, if not, will he be available (if he goes overseas)?

First five-eighth
Harry Godfrey
Caleb Makene
Lincoln McClutchie

Midfielder
Nick Grigg - left for France on injury replacement contract; now back in NZ for family reasons; will he be back?
Kienan Higgins
Stacey Ili (has been used at 10) - likely to be at RWC with Samoa
Ollie Sapsford (wing, also midfield)
Danny Toala (12, 15, has been used at 10) - likely to be at RWC with Samoa

Outside back
Neria Fomai (13) - likely to be at RWC with Samoa
Jonah Lowe (wing, also 13)
Dennon Robinson-Bartlett
Anzelo Tuitavuki (wing) - likely to be at RWC with Tonga
Lolagi Visinia
Chase Tiatia

Apprentices
Lewis Bush (TH)
Tupou Ma'afu-Afungia (8)
Paoraian Manuel-Harman (wing)
Zac Simpson (midfielder)

We've lost two LH props to retirement and will possibly lose one TH to the RWC. Personally, I think Lewis Bush is too small for NPC. Who else will come up through club rugby? Or external signings? If Cracker Braidwood doesn't crack the squad, we'll be missing 3 THs. I wonder how Jayden Walker is going? Can Tim Farrell be convinced to wear black & white again? Is Konradd Newland ready? He still seems so green; is this his first year out of school?
No problems whatsoever at hooker, if they stay healthy.
Lock is another problem with one certain and one possible retirement, and one at the RWC. If Fabish returns, he may be used at lock. Tuipulotu is either injured or can't crack the MP squad. His one and only outing for the Magpies, last year, wasn't a success. I assume Hunter Morrison will make the squad. He was good for the Hurricanes U20s, is in our Academy squad. Looks proming, but is very green. Same with Matt Monaghan. Tom Allen is probably too young.
Loosies: if G. Evans has retired, then Tupou Ma'afu-Afungia will likely get his spot. He's going well in the MLR and gets lots of game time. I'm not a fan of Sam Smith, but with Funaki most likely at the RWC, he may be in the squad again. It will be interesting to see how Liam Udy-Johns goes in club rugby. He only played two games for Southland in 2021; was he injured in 2022? Definitely one to watch. I also wonder whether they'll sign Cooper Flanders for Tremain's spot? He's the same age as Devan when he first made the squad. He and Tino Savea will definitely be on the fringes.
Halfback, another problem area. We may only have McLeod. They can maybe replace one of our test players with a club rugby player, but not more. By the way, Isaac Bracewell has returned to Wellington, so it won't be him. Not keen on Sheridan Rangihuna, who doesn't even play halfback for Tech, does he? There may not be much choice though. Too bad Brad Campbell is based in Dunedin.
First five: all available if healthy.
Midfielders: a big problem. Two, most likely three spots to fill. Ollie Sapsford will probably get the 12 jersey, but Kienan Higgins hasn't convinced. I hope Bailyn Sullivan signs with the Magpies, but we need more than one player. They'll be looking at the apprentice midfielder Zach Simpson, but maybe Bethel Malasi is another one from the Academy/Hurricanes U20 who may get a spot. Meni Manase may be too young?
Wingers: One, possibly two players at the RWC. Robinson-Bartlett didn't even play, last year and will have to fight for a spot (club form will be important). Lowe is the only experienced winger that will be available, if he can stay in one piece. They'll be looking at Paoraian Manuel-Harman and, also for this spot, Bethel Malasia. Maybe Ezra Malo.
Fullback: I don't really want Tiatia back, but - I can't believe I'm writing this - we may actually need him. Not sure what's up with Visinia, who didn't get much game time last year and also hasn't been spotted at MP, despite being in their squad. I'd beg Zarn Sullivan on my bare knees to come home. That also gives more room to use Makene on the wing.

All in all, I'm a bit worried about this year's NPC, considering the holes our test players are leaving in the squad and the retirement of some other experienced players. We'll either have a lot of talented, but very green rookies; inexperienced (at this level) club players, or rejects from elsewhere. Unless they've done some strong recruiting (either poaching from other provinces, or signing players from overseas, maybe Fijian Drua).

I think trying to bring the Sullivans home should be a priority. Who else is there? Any returnees from overseas? Thinking of Tiaan Falcon, or players who are close to retirement, like Richard Buckman. What are Mark Abbott or Michael Allardice up to after the Top League One season? For the future we have a lot of talent coming through; it's just for this year that we might need some of these older guys.

Our head coach coming back late from the MLR may be problematic in this respect. I doubt the recruiting can wait until his return, so who is making signing decisions in his place?