Blues 2024

[Stargazer]

@Duluth I wouldn't know where to find the time. I spend far too much time here already!

[Duluth]

Props: Joshua Fusitua, Jordan Lay, Marcel Renata, PJ Sheck, Angus Ta’avao, Ofa Tu’ungafasi.

Hookers: Kurt Eklund, Ricky Riccitelli, Soane Vikena.

Locks: Josh Beehre, Sam Darry, Laghlan McWhannell, James Thompson, Patrick Tuipulotu

Loose forwards: Adrian Choat, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Rob Rush, Anton Segner, Hoskins Sotutu, Cameron Suafoa.

Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Sam Nock, Taufa Funaki.

First-fives: Stephen Perofeta, Lucas Cashmore.

Midfielders: Corey Evans, Rieko Ioane, Bryce Heem, Meihana Grindlay, Harry Plummer.

Outside backs: Kade Banks, Caleb Clarke, Cole Forbes, AJ Lam, Zarn Sullivan, Caleb Tangitau, Mark Telea.

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Major gains: Laghlan McWhannell (Chiefs), Angus Ta’avao (Chiefs), Lucas Cashmore (Bay of Plenty).
Major losses: Beauden Barrett (Toyota Verblitz, Japan), Alex Hodgman (Queensland Reds), Nepo Laulala (Toulouse, France), James Lay (Moana Pasifika), Tom Robinson (Toyota Verblitz, Japan), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (NZ Warriors, NRL).

[Canes4life]

[Duluth]

Anyone have an opinion on James Thompson? Have never watched him closely

[Bovidae]

I thought that Thompson was better than Tupou for CM. The Blues have the former Hautapu locking combo now.

[Duluth]

Good to see Lucas Cashmore selected plus Plummer called a midfielder and Sullivan a fullback

[KiwiMurph]

Pretty happy with that squad - good to see some exciting youth - excited to see what Cotter and O'Halloran can do in a post-Razor Super world.

[Duluth]

@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2024:

Pretty happy with that squad - good to see some exciting youth - excited to see what Cotter and O'Halloran can do in a post-Razor Super world.

Yeah not much complain about. Underwhelmed by Sheck and don't know enough about Thompson but generally they've recruited well.

[Duluth]

A few comments from Cotter here:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/301006074/super-rugby-pacific-vern-cotter-ready-to-finish-blues-job-that-leon-macdonald-started

[Tim]

Will echo comments that squad is good but we may struggle at prop. Should have signed Ahio.

[Tim]

Any videos of James Thompson?

[Bovidae]

Watch the CM-BOP game where Thompson was really good. He's not the tallest lock but has a good workrate, ironically like Tucker. Thompson moved to CM from Waikato this year.

[Duluth]

The Blues website suggests Thompson will be used in the loose forwards:

"is a loose forward who can do a job at lock"

"joins the Blues in a hotly contested area of the park. He will be looking to push for game time with the fellow loose forwards in the squad"

[KiwiMurph]

I like Suafoa named as a loosie - needs more time there

[Tim]

Any mention of who will be training with the squad?

Akira Ioane to be out for a while?

[Tim]

First choice 23?

1 Tu'ungufasi
2 Riccitelli
3 Ta'avao
4 McWhannell
5 Tuipulotu
6 Suafoa
7 Papalii
8 Ioane

9 Christie
10 Perofeta
11 Clarke
12 ?
13 Ioane
14 Telea
15 Sullivan

16 Vikena
17 Fusitu’a
18 ?
19 Beehre/Darry
20 Sotutu/Segner/Choat
21 Nock
22 ?
23 ?

I'd expect Plummer to be in 23. Big year for Vikena. Is Reneta up to the standard required?

[Bones]

@Tim no love for Heem?

[Tim]

@Bones He's getting on, but might be there.

[African Monkey]

@Tim I wouldn't be suprised if Ta'avao is on the bench for the big games with Lay starting at loosehead.

Renata will fill in for the smaller games.

[Billy Tell]

Do Blues fans think Anton Segner will ever make AB grade? The fact the crusaders under SR let him go is not a great portent.