Blues 2024
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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.
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). -
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Anyone have an opinion on James Thompson? Have never watched him closely
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I thought that Thompson was better than Tupou for CM. The Blues have the former Hautapu locking combo now.
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Good to see Lucas Cashmore selected plus Plummer called a midfielder and Sullivan a fullback
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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.
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@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.
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Will echo comments that squad is good but we may struggle at prop. Should have signed Ahio.
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Any videos of James Thompson?
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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.
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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"
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I like Suafoa named as a loosie - needs more time there
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Any mention of who will be training with the squad?
Akira Ioane to be out for a while?
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First choice 23?
1 Tu'ungufasi
2 Riccitelli
3 Ta'avao
4 McWhannell
5 Tuipulotu
6 Suafoa
7 Papalii
8 Ioane9 Christie
10 Perofeta
11 Clarke
12 ?
13 Ioane
14 Telea
15 Sullivan16 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?
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@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.
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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.
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@Billy-Tell Solid player who can play anywhere in the back row, but at this stage, no. He's probably around the same level as Choat/Christie/Harmon. That could be his ceiling but the jury is still out I feel as to how far he can go.
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Really great depth in the back row. Some super stars in the backs. There’ll be there in the later weeks of the playoffs. Lack of quality at Tight Head Prop, Half Back and Second Five may haunt them in the end. Potential Finalists.
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@Billy-Tell said in Blues 2024:
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.
I do. He's still young (22) and he gets better every year. The problem for him at the moment is the log jam at the Blues in the loosies.
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I hope his work is better quality than this glitchy video. -
Must be a WTG spot?
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@Tim if you good enough then you young enough. Heem was a later developer and probably has a few more good years in him. He still has some toe and made some good line breaks last year. I would be happy with him at 12. Size, pace and some decent distribution skills.
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Can't remember whether this has been posted.
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With the new 'Classic' brand Super Jerseys due out in the shops in two weeks, it must be time soon for some leaks or teasers. The best thing about the new Blues jersey might be that we may be rid of the ugly big green 'nib' box on the front. nib branding seem to have replaced it with this new much cooler logo -
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Good to see Ioane not wearing a moon boot etc.
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While Feek will join the revamped Blues coaching team - working with new head coach Vern Cotter and incoming attack coach Jason O’Halloran - he has signed a fresh contract with NZR, instigated by general manager Chris Lendrum, that features a yet-to-be-determined wider brief expected to extend to assisting other national teams.
Feek’s scrum coaching role with the Blues allows him to blend the best of both worlds by commuting from Christchurch while overseeing his 15- and 17-year-old son’s transitions through Christchurch Boys’ High.
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I wonder where Ben Afeaki is coaching next? Feek is basically taking his job
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@Tim said in Blues 2024:
@Duluth Didn't he move to an MLR team for this year
Yeah google says NY last season. He hasn’t updated his linkedin.
So it seems Tito was the Afeaki replacement. Strange, he was hardly a like for like replacement
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Pretty good coaching team IMO
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I presume Halangahu, McGrath & Tito were all retained? So have I got this list right?
Cotter - Head coach/Forwards
O’Halloran - AttackHalangahu - Skills
McGrath - Defence
Feek - Scrum
Tito - Forwards/Lineout -
@Nogusta said in Blues 2024:
@Duluth I think Halangahu gone as well.
Hes definitely moved on from the NH job and possibly Blues as well.A stuff article just mentioned Halangahu, McGrath & Tito are still there. Maybe he moves on after the SR season?
I presume he's going back to Aussie?
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