Otago 2024
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The strategy for the backs had seemed like pass it to TUJ and hope he makes the gainline, or hiff it out the back to Hurley expecting a rabbit out of the hat. Millar has shown more attacking capability than I thought he had. Josh Whaanga on the wing has never really worked. If he is what we wanted out of a winger. We didn't use him properly. He is taller than most in the comp. He should have been an aerial target. Not an end of the line guy. The forwards have generally been good. Holland would have been handy as a ball carrier. My only complaint up front has been using Fischli as a bloody lock. The Wellington game still pisses me off. That was a great opportunity to show they were a developing bunch of players ahead of guys a couple of years behind them. Wellington turned up and embarrassed them. Plenty of talent coming out of the Hutt and Porirua though. Much more than Kaikorai and Taieri as breeding grounds
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Jamie MckIntosh getting named as defensive coach for the ABs XV also goes to show how poorly Otago manages its personnel. Has done a great job at the Canes as well. How did they let him slip away
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Whoppa was a bit of a complex situation. Missed out on the Highlanders forward coaching role, because they wanted a lineout specialist as Dermody already had the ability to run the scrum (In hindsight, I think Dermody would have just focused on being head honcho).
Missing out to Donnelly for the Otago head coaching job was just straight dumb though.
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Pleased to end with a win. Would be stunned if results go our way, but even then that is only delaying the inevitable. The shape of the squad next year will be interesting... particularly as I'm hearing the new coach is likely to come from outside the current staff (if they can get a capable candidate)
Props: Should hopefully be unchanged here... Bower could be touch in go as almost certainly heading offshore. As he is capped, his Japan options might be limited which could force him right up north
Hookers: Should be unchanged here also
Locks: I expect a new coach will get more use out of Ale Aho. Holland will be in for one final ride before he kicks on to be a 80+ test All Black. Whatever happens, we actually need to play two of them next season (or at least two in a matchday squad!)
Loose Forwards: Have a whole battery of them, who all went well. Haig with a big super season could be in the ABs mix (ditto Lio-Willie, though that ship seems to be sailing). I guess Lio-Willie will be at a crossroads as he is off-contract with the Saders. Obviously we love our young local boys, but probably my Otago forward of the year tbf.
Halfbacks: Pledger will be in, and under a new coach I expect him to quickly establish himself as the number one. Arscott and Hastie to still be around
First Five: Unless he kicks onto the ABs, Millar will be back. Faleafaga may look to head somewhere else, guess it depends on the terms of his contract
Midfielders: We've got to make some decisions here. Can't really carry Gilbert, Umaga-Jensen, Te Hiwi, Whaanga, Leslie, Timu and Creighton and expect to have a functional squad. Latter two unlikely to be back anyway, and Gilbert/TUJ potential candidates to head offshore, so might work itself out.
Outside Backs: Barring Hurley, could be a clean slate to work from if Nareki heads North. Rangitutia was very raw, but hopefully improves. If we have any ambition, you'd enquire to see if JRK or Tangitau was interested in relocating permanently... even Tele'a.
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@KiwiInLondon apologies that’s highlanders Otago
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The season went, give or take how I expected it would. Probably would have had us beating Wellington (with the squad it played), and we should habe beaten Southland, they were up for it though. It that had happened it would habe been a sixth place finish. It would have been judged a success. Last year we won three games. This year five. It is an improvement. Injuries hammered us a bit. The right players stepped up. Still a bit of a reliance on throw it to certain players and hope they do something special. I don't want to see us try and recruit players from outside, such as starting Highlanders. If it is just to sinply build the capability of Otago. Those days are gone. Lucas Casey was under utilised. I thought he was our best 7. Pack was strong generally. Next season will see the majority of the squad in year 3/4 of their provincial careers. It is moving year. When we should stop looking like men v boys like what we saw against Counties. That game was very embarrassing
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@SouthernMann I think that is why it is disappointing though, is we didn't win those games. Our attack structure wasn't good enough, and it let us down. We had a pretty soft draw, and failed to make the most of it... even in beating Manawatu and Northland, I wouldn't say we did that well. Ta$man game was nearly a botch up too!
I wish Donnelly the best, but feel like we have squandered the best playing group we've had in 20 years.
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i'll take winning the last 3 games, hopefully the guys hanging around next year will go into preseason with their tails up a little, give the new coach something to work with
I was really happy hurley proved me wrong, think he played wit a lot more smarts than we saw in super rugby, less hitting it up like he was a foot taller and 30kg heavier, more hitting gaps and kicking for territory
also really glad to see millar shake off some of hit questionable form and string several good/solid games together, once again playing to his strengths with a little variety sprinkled in
dont know what the deal with Faleafaga is, once again not sure we've done him any favours sitting out the first half of the season then dropping him in and expecting him to fire, just seems made to come off the bench, get a little experience, provide a spark in the final 20
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Who is Mark Brown and what is his background?
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@KiwiInLondon said in Otago 2024:
Who is Mark Brown and what is his background?
Former Otago B player, North Harbour player. Coached the Canterbury system. Co-coached Canterbury with Reuben Thorne 20-21. Originally from Dunedin.
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@SouthernMann so hasn’t coached since 2021?
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ok, so context for those who havent seen it i guess, Mark Brown has signed a two year deal to Otago head coach
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@KiwiInLondon said in Otago 2024:
@SouthernMann so hasn’t coached since 2022?
Article says he has mainly focused on his business over the last few years.
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@SouthernMann any idea if he was based in otago? involved with a local club etc?
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@Kiwiwomble
He was poor for Canterbury as assistant, Canterbury had a bad run with that coaching team. -
@Chris if im honest...i dont think i care....if he's shit and he still got the job then he's either learnt some stuff and managed to show that....or there werent any better options...beggers cant be choosers etc, im just kind of curious how familar he is with the current club scene
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@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2024:
@SouthernMann any idea if he was based in otago? involved with a local club etc?
Article states he won't be moving permenantly until the lead into the season. During the club season he will be Chch during the week, and Dunedin on the weekend for club footy.
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@SouthernMann not ideal IMO but as i say, it is what it is
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@Kiwiwomble said in Otago 2024:
@SouthernMann not ideal IMO but as i say, it is what it is
It is more or less a part-time job. Is a hard sell.
