Hurricanes 2024
-
@antipodean he hasn’t played this year and the year before that he wasn’t too bad. Had a great campaign for the Lions and then played well for the ABs. Roigard will definitely start for the Canes but TJ is also good enough to make the ABs again if he can get back to his best.
-
@Canes4life I agree the opportunity is there for a lot of players to make up #s 2 & 3 for the squad. But for all their experience, Roigard played better than the rest and I expect him to continue doing so.
-
This explains the Canes omission.
-
@Canes4life I literally posted this is the lions 2023 thread. I reckon it was more of being pushed out then actually the reason why he wasn’t in the squad for this year.
-
@mikey07 not necessarily, I think Bird may have made a last-minute decision to retire at the end of the NPC and because of that we ended up having to sign Ben Grant. Bird would surely have been selected before an MLR player if he was available.
-
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2024:
@mikey07 not necessarily, I think Bird may have made a last-minute decision to retire at the end of the NPC and because of that we ended up having to sign Ben Grant. Bird would surely have been selected before an MLR player if he was available.
Could be wrong, but I think it is more likely the Canes selected Grant over Bird, so he was left considering his options. With the way it is worded, I think he probably had an offer to go to another NZ Super side (Presumably the Highlanders as an injury replacement) and he decided he didn't want to do that, so hung up the boots?
-
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2024:
@frugby I guess we'll never know unless someone can actually confirm. Anyway, I hope he enjoys his retirement, seems like a top bloke.
Absolutely. It was just the way he noted that he didn't want to have a rugby future away from Wellington (or words to that effect)... Canes signing Grant though, might be the most bizarre move in NZ Super Rugby History.
-
-
@cgrant yeah, really odd IMO. Plummer or even Cridge would have been better selections.
Atleast Grant has height and who knows he may surprise us.
Maybe Mafileo sung his praises at Harbour. I know Judd also played with him in the US so he knows a few of the boys.
-
Kemara Hauiti Parapara won the annual Surf to Peak race today going from the pics below.
Super Rugby - Hurricanes Surf To Peak, 20 December 2023 | Dave Lintott Photography
Hurricanes Surf To Peak race from Lyall Bay to Mount Victoria in Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday, 20 December 2023. Photo: Char Lintott / lintottphoto.co.nz
-
-
Anyone know much about Benet Kumeroa?. I understand he's another player who's been training with the Canes.
-
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2024:
Anyone know much about Benet Kumeroa?. I understand he's another player who's been training with the Canes.
This highlights where we're at when you exclude all the players who have signed to play in MLR. Kumeroa wasn't always in the BOP 23. The commentators always talked up his strength as he has a weightlifting background.
-
Full Canes training squad (minus All Blacks) here - https://www.gettyimages.co.nz/editorial-images/sport/event/hurricanes-2024-super-rugby-headshots-session/776072697
-
@Canes4life You can work out the NDC players from those images. Wallace and Coles were reported. Add in Allen, Bason and Newland.
There's also Tuputupu, Viljoen and Ropeti.
-
Love was great for Wellington in 2022. Disappointing in 2023.
-
@Winger how can you call someone disappointing when he missed the whole season? He had a quiet NPC compared to 2022 but he wasnt exactly going to set the house on fire after being on the sidelines for such a long stint.
Hopefully this year he can kick on. He’s probably worked the hardest out of any player this off season, training twice over in Australia when not required by the Canes so is primed for a big year.
-
@Canes4life He was also impressive when he played for NZ A against the Japanese teams.
Benet KUMEROA profile and stats
