Blues 2024
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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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Actually like the new super jersey, does it really matter tho ? Just play the game
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I saw there was a segment about the Blues first day back at HQ on 1news sport tonight. Was looking out for any wider squad members. Some expected names like L Milo-Harris and Shilo Klein but was surprised to see Alex Harford the Canterbury boy making the shift.
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@Trig said in Blues 2024:
surprised to see Alex Harford
Yeah I don't get that. He is 24 and has had 5 starts for Canterbury in 3 seasons. I don't know what he has done to get called up ahead of two local, younger but promising 10's that were already in their system in Jock McKenzie and Byron Smith. It kind of annoys me like the Shek over Ahio decision. Unless he is going to be the next Dan Carter!
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Looks like there will be some competiion for the 10 jersey at the Blues, that can only be good.
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@Trig said in Blues 2024:
I saw there was a segment about the Blues first day back at HQ on 1news sport tonight. Was looking out for any wider squad members. Some expected names like L Milo-Harris and Shilo Klein but was surprised to see Alex Harford the Canterbury boy making the shift.
This link has the video:
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Harford is no Carter that is for sure.
Weird one for me Harford at the Blues,the Crusaders have had him in the WTG for the last 2 years and this year didn’t give him a WTG spot.
Maybe they see something in him that led to them thinking he can’t step up. -
Apart from the extra players already mentioned (Annandale, Harford, Milo-Harris, Klein), some other young players I think I recognized from the One news clip were
Maliu Nuiafe, Ben Ake, Sam Hainsworth - Fa'aofo, Xavi Taele, Xavier Tito - Harris, Leo Gordon. i could be wrong with some as they were from matching brief clips to googled photos (yes a slow night shift), so a hairstyle or facial hair change can make it tricky. There were several others that I could not identify.Can anyone I.D. this young player who was in the news clip and training with the Blues today?
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@Chris said in Blues 2024:
Harford is no Carter that is for sure.
Weird one for me Harford at the Blues,the Crusaders have had him in the WTG for the last 2 years and this year didn’t give him a WTG spot.
Maybe they see something in him that led to them thinking he can’t step up.Interestingly Crusaders also had Cashmore in their set up a couple of years ago but now prefer Kemara. Will be fun to track their progress.
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That looks like Rico Simpson (NZ Schools 1st 5) but it would be strange to have him there ahead of McKenzie and Smith.
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Smith is an Aussie isn't he? Wonder if he has gone back.
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@Daffy-Jaffy I see Jock McKenzie has been called up to the Auckland Aces side, so maybe he's trying his hand at Cricket for the time being?
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2024:
@Chris said in Blues 2024:
Harford is no Carter that is for sure.
Weird one for me Harford at the Blues,the Crusaders have had him in the WTG for the last 2 years and this year didn’t give him a WTG spot.
Maybe they see something in him that led to them thinking he can’t step up.Interestingly Crusaders also had Cashmore in their set up a couple of years ago but now prefer Kemara. Will be fun to track their progress.
Yes Andrew Webb the academy manager was a big driver in Kemera being signed up ahead of Cashmore and Harford.
I am not sure he was right.
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Rico Simpson got a National Development Contract with the Blues
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@Wurzel said in Blues 2024:
Rico Simpson got a National Development Contract with the Blues
If we assume the NDC players are now training with the main squads you might be able to work out who they are before the official announcements.
As I mentioned in the NZ Schools thread I like the look of Simpson after I first saw him playing for the Māori U18s last year. He is a much taller/bigger 1st 5 than the others who have come through the age-group system in recent years. One for the future I believe.
The player that has disappeared is Essendon Tuitupou. Maybe he has a long-term injury or has gone back to basketball.
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I been quite impressed with the Blues, on TV for opening day of training, and stuff like this, keeping their name around the place, it's only good for them and super.
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