Auckland Rugby 2023

[Tim]

Potentially Auckland will have Ioane and Tuipulotu, though I'd much prefer both to be in the ABs.

Questions:

Will Angus Ta'avao be available after his injuries?

Will Tanielu Tele'a have recovered from his?

Is Felix Kalapu sticking with Harbour, or even staying in Perth during the NPC?

Is Vaiolini Ekuasi coming back for the NPC, or is he staying in Melbourne?

Will Hamdahn Tuipulotu be around? How about Blake Gibson?

Any young players ready for a break through year? Maybe Terrell Peita?

[Tim]

Will expect quite a few squad changes, with departure of some of Ieremea's favourites, and the Aussies. Che Clark and should be in the squad, probably Leo Gordon too. Byron Smith is another possibility (10/15), and Edward Annandale (lock) has been confirmed. Tuitupou and Tangitau to get more game time. Quinton Nichols a chance in the midfield? I'd like to see Ahio and Fusitua get some solid game time.

Last year's players:

Charlie Abel REP [a] - Ieremea pick that will go?
Sione Ahio
Josh Fusitua
Alex Hodgman - France
James Lay
Jordan Lay - Samoa
Sam Lester REP [b]
Marcel Renata
Angus Taʻavao - injured?
Hamdahn Tuipulotu - still in Auckland?

Robbie Abel - Ieremea pick that will go?
Leni Apisai
Te Ariki Te Puni REP [c]
Soane Vikena

Josh Beehre REP [a]
Hamish Dalzell - still in Auckland?
Felix Kalapu - Harbour/Force?
Jamie Lane
Patrick Tuipulotu - may still go to ABs
Connor Vest - Australia

Adrian Choat
Vaiolini Ekuasi - Rebels?
Blake Gibson - Hawkes Bay/Japan?
Sam Hainsworth-Fa'aofo REP [a]
Akira Ioane - may still go to ABs
Niko Jones
Terell Peita
Jackson Pugh - Australia

Taufa Funaki
Manu Paea - Tonga
Sam Wye - Hawkes Bay

Simon Hickey - is he still playing?
Jock McKenzie
Harry Plummer (c)

Pasqualle Dunn REP [a]
Corey Evans
Bryce Heem
Rieko Ioane - ABs
Tanielu Teleʻa - injured?
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Essendon Tuitupou

Tomas Aoake - still in Auckland?
Caleb Clarke - ABs
Joel Cobb - has he played this year in Auckland?
AJ Lam
Sofai Maka REP [a]
Salesi Rayasi - injured?
Zarn Sullivan
Jordan Trainor - Northland
Caleb Tangitau

[Tim]

Possible XXIII for the playoffs:

1 Fusitua
2 Vikena
3 Ta'avao
4 Beehre
5 Tuipulotu
6 Ekuasi
7 Choat
8 Ioane

9 Funaki
10 Plummer
11 Rayasi
12 RTS
13 Heem
14 Lam
15 Sullivan

16 Apisai
17 Lay
18 Renata
19 Annandale
20 Peita
21 Wye
22 Evans
23 Tele'a

[Tim]

There's also the question of new squad members from club rugby. Maybe some from Manukau Rovers.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Its Jordan Lay, not James that is in the Samoa squad. I've not heard anything official about the makeup of the coaching group. I wonder if Bates and Hickey are still invilved. I hope they keep Census Johntson as scrum coach. He turned it into a weapon last season.

[KiwiMurph]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Auckland Rugby 2023:

I hope they keep Census Johntson as scrum coach. He turned it into a weapon last season

Just need a no. 8 that can take advantage (i.e. not Pugh)

[george33]

@Tim I did here in an interview Angus will b available for Auckland that was probably 2 months ago

[Kiwidom]

@Tim Joel cobb had been playing club rugby in Sydney this year

[Duluth]

@Tim said in Auckland Rugby 2023:

Hamdahn Tuipulotu - still in Auckland?

Looks like he’s been playing club rugby in Perth

[Tim]

@Duluth Interesting. He and Aleks Dabek played club rugby in Sydney last year. Tuitupou returned for the NPC.

[Tim]

@Kiwidom Cheers!

[Tim]

Joel Cobb is back playing for Ponsonby this weekend.

[Tim]

Ta$man and MP player Mahonri Ngakuru playing lock for University this week.

[Steven Harris]

@Tim a few weeks ago i thought it was Manukau Rovers title to lose , but all the top 4 teams are suddenly being bolstered returning players

[Steven Harris]

List of players who will be pushing for Auckland selection outside the contracted players , all on development contracts

Interesting to see Edward Annandale on this list ,wonder if this confirms his Blues selection
Great to see some Manukau representation Faletoi Peni especially also hooker Oneone Faafou who is a beast
Although all the Manukau guys have not signed

[george33]

King Maxwell

[Steven Harris]

@george33 kids got game , he’s a mix of Rico Gear, Bruce Reihana and Charlie Ngatai all rolled up into one ..makes rugby look easy

[george33]

Yes looks real class maybe still a year away? And Payton Spencer ?

[KiwiMurph]

@Steven-Harris the word that comes to mind with Gear, Reihana and Ngatai's games is smooth.

[Bovidae]

I talked up King Maxwell last year after seeing him play for the Māori U18 team. Like Gear and Ngatai he went to Gisborne BHS.