2023 Hawke's Bay Club Rugby
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@Number-10 Not sure. Was too busy catching up with acquaintances that I had not seen since the end of last season and completely forgot to ask about that. Pretty sure he was only a semi regular last season as well so he might sort of be an "available if required but not permanent" player but don't take that as gospel. Will endeavour to get an answer for you next Saturday where I know Bethel Malasia should be back plus another midfield player that is new to the district (name unknown at this stage. Will also make enquiries about Jayden Stok as he was not in the squad yesterday and neither did I notice him amongst the crowd. He was a solid and dependable player last year so hopefully he is still lacing up his boots this season.
There are a couple of other guys from last season, younger ones too, that have not yet committed to playing, perhaps lacking motivation and/or desire to play but that might change in the next few weeks.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable day out at Clive where it is a nice ground to watch from and always a welcome from the local supporters at the ground and in the Clubrooms afterward, or at least for me anyway! Mercifully they somehow managed to avoid any flooding damage when their position right close to the river would suggest they would be sitting ducks for it. -
@Billsy111 Some guy up from Christchurch (?) but have forgotten his christian name so he will remain as Mr. Popoalii to me at this stage. Looked quite threatening with a good number of tackle breaks as well as pretty good feeding of his outsides. Will probably get a truer indication of his playing strengths when Napier Old Boys and Hastings are the opposition in rounds three and four.
Rumur has it there will be another newcomer run out next week but was given no indication as to who he was other than he was also from out of town. -
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@Billsy111 Would be good if it is but aren't the Sullivan boys from a Pirates family? My inkling was that the Tech arrival might also be out of Christchurch but guess we will all have to wait and see until all might be revealed in the not too distant future if the whisperings are true.
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@Billsy111 Isn't the Pirates slogan "Once a Pirate, always a Pirate"? Anyway fingers really crossed if they do come home as that will give us a massive number of quality backs in our squad. Maybe some of the regulars from the last few seasons that are currently attached to Super teams might be heading up North and the gaps need filling? Then again Mr. Sims has either decided that the Sullivan brothers are better players than the incumbents and chased them or might simply have been handed a massive gift as Baylin has stated that he will return home at some stage and has decided now is that time.
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@Billsy111 said in 2023 Hawke's Bay Club Rugby:
@Higgins Any names given
Sadly no but will probably be capable of performing at a more than decent standard in premier club rugby. Like you, I am in the dark as to who it might be, other than an intuitive guess he is probably out of Christchurch.
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@Number-10 said in 2023 Hawke's Bay Club Rugby:
What has happened to Ted Walters, a stalwart of the Tech midfield for about the last 10 years?
He played for Poverty Bay in the Heartland competition, last year? Maybe he'll play his club rugby overthere? Just guessing.
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@Higgins The name of the new midfielder is Falealii Popoalii. He played for Sydenham in the Canterbury Metro Premier Division 1, last year. He was in the Canterbury B squad, last year.
He's mentioned in the round 1 report from the HBT.
Hawke’s Bay club rugby: Tech click on opening day
Napier Tech Old Boys lost just one match last year. They started with 10 tries.
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@Stargazer Ah, that explains why he looked to be a more than decent player. We have a good record of turning Canterbury B players into anything from All Blacks (Brodie Retallick was a Canty B Player wasn't he?) through to NZ Maori Captains onto Super Rugby Players and a number of guys easily footing it at NPC level. There were few others that didn't quite make it as well too but the positives outscored the negatives.
Where is Mr. Philpott these days? -
If, and it's a big if at this stage, one or both of the Sullivan brothers return home, I can't see them with any other club than Pirates. One of them (I can't remember which brother) even posted his support for the club on his instagram page not too long ago. Unfortunately, in his instagram stories, so it has disappeared, but I noticed it.
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@Higgins I just saw this post from Tech on their instagram page:
napier_technical L o a d i n g ⏳
Gibson Popoalii, Midfield
Liam Udy Johns, Loose forward
Nathaniel Hauiti, Prop
Waitangi Tuisuga, MidfieldIs the fourth name the other new midfielder you were talking about?
I googled him and he played for Mid-Canterbury in last year's Heartland Competition, but was on loan from Canterbury, where he played club rugby for Sumner.
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@Stargazer Y0ur powers of discovery continue to amaze me! All I know was when I was talking to Team officials in the Nest at Whitmore Park after returning from Clive about Mr. Popoalii and remarking that I was thankful that I did not have to try and tackle him was the comment along the lines of "wait until you see his mate who is coming to play and should be here very soon" or words to that effect. AS I said I did not enquire as to what his name was but you seem to have probably provided the answer anyway. Well done.
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