Blues 2024

[cliff]

Looks like Caleb tangitau, Taine plumtree and jrk will be leaving the blues

[Tim]

@cliff Tangitau leaving for game time?

[cliff]

Perhaps he could be headed to the landers or canes

[Chris]

This post is deleted!

[Chris]

@Tim

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens Maybe heading to the Crusaders

[Nogusta]

@Tim going back to the 7s program

[KiwiMurph]

But some of it must fall on the head coach. His team were patently unready. Was that a mindset thing? A mental weakness? Are these Blues players still, after all these years, bereft of the sort of steel, fortitude, fabric that is clearly imbued in the Crusaders, and Chiefs for that matter?

It would have been nice to ask MacDonald some of these questions, but,unlike Hurricanes coach Jason Holland, he has gone silent at the end of his time in franchise footy. His organisation has put the shutters up, right when questions about them are at their loudest.

Like why was chief assistant coach Tom Coventry never heard from the entire season? What happened with No 8 Hoskins Sotutu for him to drop completely off the radar of the national selectors? Why did normally cool, collected types like Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Dalton Papalii seem like headless chooks at OT Stadium on Friday?

Stuff

[Tim]

@Nogusta Ah, it's the Olympics next year.

[Stargazer]

There are rumours that Scarlets are interested in Plumtree.

[Canes4life]

@Tim maybe Tangitau to join Laidlaw?

[frugby]

@Chris said in Blues 2023:

@Tim

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens Maybe heading to the Crusaders

My pick was the Chiefs, because I think Shaun Stevenson will either head offshore, join the NRL... or potentially even have a stab at 7s before he leaves? If JRK wants to play 15, that is a massive opening. Has just re-signed with Taranaki for two years, so all will be revealed soon.

@Canes4life said in Blues 2023:

@Tim maybe Tangitau to join Laidlaw?

Hard to imagine the Blues haven't locked up Tanigtau long-term, but once again, I'd be questioning the choices of pretty much any outside back, if they move to another team anywhere other than the Landers (Unless there is a fullback opening at the Chiefs). All the other teams are stacked with established players, and as Lam and JRK have shown, you just end up sitting in the stands.

[Chris]

Crusaders are talking to JRK as FB cover.

[Tim]

45K views · 1.9K reactions | Sending our boys off the only way we...

Sending our boys off the only way we know how 💙 Jokes aside, these men have all contributed immensely not only on the field but off the field to our...

Confirmed leaving: Hodgman, Laulala, Tucker, Plumtree, Robinson, Barrett, Tangitau, JRK.

[frugby]

@Chris Having wasted three years sitting on the Blues bench, I'd have no idea why he'd want to do that - sit behind Will Jordan. If that is the case, Fihaki would surely be leaving.

[Tim]

So we could be looking for as many as three locks, with Edward Annandale presumably one of them. Also could be after three props, which is a lot of turnover for the tight five.

[frugby]

@Tim Could be wrong, but Fusitua, Tu'ungafasi, Lay and Renata are all in theory back, so just three props... though tight five stocks are looking WEAK.

[Tim]

Wonder if we will see this XV at some stage next year:

1 Fusitua
2 Riccitelli
3 Tu'ungufasi
4 Darry
5 Tuipulotu
6 Suafoa
7 Papalii
8 Ioane
9 Nock
10 Perofeta
11 Clarke
12 Evans
13 Ioane
14 Telea
15 Sullivan

[Bones]

Any idea where Plummer is going? Please be highlanders

[Tim]

@Bones Plumtree is leaving, not Plummer.

[Chris]

@frugby
No Fihaki now seen as a wing option after his last few games not FB anymore.
Jordan will not play every game due to AB protocol and always has the Migraine issues to deal with.
JRK would get plenty of game time.
Not confirmed as yet.