NPC 2023
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@Bovidae Yep... funnily enough I actually think he would stand a better chance in Otago, where Jackson is always injured and coming off a lengthy one + the club hookers not all that flash... of course, Strang himself clearly not that sharp according to coaches.
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2023 PIC Steelers squad
Props: Suetena Asomua (Karaka), Lionel Evans (Patumahoe), Kauvaka Kaivelata (Pukekohe), Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Ardmore Marist), Salesi Tuifua (Karaka), Keran van Staden (Pukekohe).
Hookers: Palu Ale (Patumahoe), Ioane Moananu (Manurewa), Zuriel Togiatama (Papakura), Ian West-Stevens (Pukekohe).
Locks: William Furniss (Patumahoe), Jadin Kingi (Pukekohe), Alex McRobbie (Bombay), James Thompson (Patumahoe), Jimmy Tupou (Patumahoe).
Loose forwards: Samuel Slade (Pukekohe), Adam Brash (Bombay), Thor Manase (Manurewa), Alamanda Motuga (Papakura), Leo Ngatai-Tafau (Pukekohe), Dalton Papali’i (Patumahoe), Sean Reidy (Patumahoe), Hoskins Sotutu (Papakura), Ryan Stewart (Patumahoe), Viliami Taulani (Manurewa), Sam Tuifua (Karaka), Maama Vaipulu (Pukekohe).
Halfbacks: Cohen Brady-Leathem (Patumahoe), Liam Daniela (Patumahoe), Kanavale Helu (Pukekohe), Cam Roigard (Onewhero).
First-fives: Riley Hohepa (Patumahoe), Jamie King (Pukekohe), Josh Penney (Karaka).
Midfield backs: AJ Alatimu (Ardmore Marist), Alex Eruera (Patumahoe), Nikolai Foliaki (Karaka), Nua Soti (Patumahoe), Larenz Tupaea-Thomsen (Manurewa).
Wingers: Esau Filimoehala (Karaka), Joshua Gray (Patumahoe), Blake Makiri (Manurewa), Peniasi Malimali (Karaka), Sione Molia (Karaka), Solomone Naiduki (Manurewa), Toni Pulu (Bombay), Rodney Tongotea (Karaka).
Fullbacks: Etene Nanai-Seturo (Karaka), Tevita Ofa (Manurewa), Ahsee Tuala (Manurewa).
Coaching & Management
Coach – Reon Graham
Assistant Coach – Jimmy Maher
Assistant Coach – Paul Wheeler
Scrum Coach – Pauliasi Manu
Head of S&C – Jed Knox
Analyst – Leaha Dickey
Physio – Jarrod Stevenson
Doctor – Sanjeev Krishna
Manager – Craig Notman
Manager – Dale Tucker -
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From earlier this year about Blues U20 prop Salesi Tuifua:
Salesi Tuifua Secures CMRFU Contract
Pakuranga United Rugby Club would like to congratulate Salesi Tuifua on his 2023 contract with Counties Manukau. The...
Pakuranga United Rugby Club would like to congratulate Salesi Tuifua on his 2023 contract with Counties Manukau.
The premier front rower joined the club while still at St Peters, playing premier rugby while in his final year of high school. A member of the Pakuranga Academy, Tuifua was a member of the Blues Under 20s in 2022.
Director of Rugby Grant ‘Boof’ Henson said his resilience and development has been impressive.
“Sale is a special talent. He’s shown a lot of resilience the past two years, so making Auckland Bs in 2022 was a great reward as is picking up this contract.”
“There was overseas interest in Sale, but he wanted to crack the professional pathway in New Zealand – he wasn’t interested in taking the easy route and now he has his foot in the door which we’re really proud of,” said Boof.
While his provincial union development contract sees him move club affiliations to Counties Manukau, Boof said it is important for the club to celebrate success.
“It’s incredibly important for us as a club to be able to provide pathways for our players, regardless of where those pathways lead. While it would be great to have Sale still playing here at the Ranga, this is an awesome step for him in his rugby journey and one we support and back fully,” said Boof.
Damn, he played prems club rugby while at high school.
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Jimmy Tupou
Very cool to see him back for counties. I met him recently as he's been coaching the Tuakau/Onewhero First XV and I'm involved with a team in the same comp, he had them very well oiled and was a nice dude to yarn to, didn't realise who he was until after haha.
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