Waikato 2024

[Mr Fish]

Couple of (already known) departures from last season such as Rhys Marshall, Simon Parker and Josh Ioane but otherwise a pretty consistent squad.

Gabe Robinson is the only one to have not played a game of provincial rugby but he was involved with the squad last year (think he might have been injured).

Ayden Johnstone's continued selection as captain has really hampered Ollie Norris' development, in my mind.

[Bovidae]

@Mr-Fish Yeah, Robinson was injured so never debuted. He was in the NZ U20s last year so like Mason Tupaea only young.

Johnstone is still only 27 but, I agree, hopefully Filipo shares their workload and both get starts.

[Mr Fish]

@Bovidae said in Waikato 2024:

@Mr-Fish Yeah, Robinson was injured so never debuted. He was in the NZ U20s last year so like Mason Tupaea only young.

Johnstone is still only 27 but, I agree, hopefully Filipo shares their workload and both get starts.

Feels like Johnstone has been around forever. He's a good provincial player but I think Norris has the much higher ceiling and with Johnstone as captain, his minutes are always going to be restricted.

[WillieTheWaiter]

@Yeetyaah said in Waikato 2024:

Aaron Cruden is at Mooloo open day, wonder if he's lacing up again.

Player / Coach

[Bovidae]

Still only 33 players named, and no extras/development players are listed.

[Bovidae]

Training photos confirm that Quintony Ngatai is the replacement halfback.

[Bovidae]

He debuted against the same team in 2016 so a nice little stat.

[Bovidae]

A story about Senita Lauaki, and Sione. Some old photos are part of the article, including Brendon Leonard with hair.

The Post

[Bovidae]

Tucker has his right hand in a cast and Burr is on crutches. Neither will be playing NPC this year.

[Mr Fish]

So, given the tie-break if two teams are equal on competition points is who won the regular season fixture, Waikato could finish as high as fifth (possibly equal on points with BoP but they lost the H2H during the season) or as low as ninth depending on results over the weekend.

They'll likely finish fifth if they win against Canterbury this weekend (unless Hawke's Bay upsets Wellington), seventh if they lose but get a BP, and either eighth or ninth depending how big a wins Harbour and Counties get over Southland and Manawatu.

Could be close! Waikato will go into their match knowing exactly what they need to make the finals because Harbour and Counties play earlier on the Saturday.

[Bovidae]

Wins should be the first tie-breaker but it isn't. CM can't overtake Waikato based on head-to-head but NH can.

[Mr Fish]

@Bovidae said in Waikato 2024:

Wins should be the first tie-breaker but it isn't. CM can't overtake Waikato based on head-to-head but NH can.

If all three have the same number of points then I think it's possible that Waikato would come third of the trio but I not certain...

[Bovidae]

@Mr-Fish said in Waikato 2024:

If all three have the same number of points then I think it's possible that Waikato would come third of the trio but I not certain...

I had a closer look at the NPC Competition rules and regulations, and from what I could find there is a different tie-breaker for two teams finishing on the same points and three teams finishing on the same points.

Where three or more Premier Competition Unions are tied:
i. If all tied Premier Competition Unions have played each other the tied Premier Competition Union with the most competition points in that year against the other tied Premier Competition Unions shall have the higher position (or seeding).

In this instance Waikato would be last of the three, as you say, as they didn't get a losing BP.

Where any two Premier Competition Unions are tied:
i. The winner of any Round Robin match played between the two Premier Competition Unions in that year will have the higher position (or seeding).

Waikato, NH and CM all have a 1-1 record.

Simply put, Waikato need at least a BP against Canterbury to make the QFs.

[Bovidae]

The main winners at the Awards:

Kukri Representative Coach of the Year
Finalists: Sean Botherway, Ross Filipo, James Semple
Winner: James Semple

Hendl & Murray Representative Team of the Year
Finalists: Waikato Under 19s, Waikato NPC, Waikato Group: Waikato Women
Winner: Waikato Under 19s

University of Waikato Emerging Women’s Player of the Year
Winner: Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu

Waitomo Group Farah Palmer Cup Player of the Year
Winner: Grace Houpapa-Barrett

Emerging Men’s Player of the Year
Winner: Malachi Wrampling

Waikato Draught Bunnings NPC Player of the Year
Winner: Bailyn Sullivan

Joe’s Garage People’s Choice Award
Winner: Daniel Sinkinson

Aaron Hopa Memorial Trophy
Recipient: Laghlan McWhannell

Manatiaki Award
Recipient: Chelsea Semple

Hare Puke Memorial Trophy Tainui Waka Maori Player of the Year
Recipient: Reese Anderson

Gallagher Sportsperson of the Year
Finalists: Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima, Kennedy Tukuafu nee Simon
Winner: Cortez Ratima

Ian Clarke Supreme Award
Recipient: Cortez Ratima

2024 SupaPwr Waikato Rugby Awards Evening

Waikato Rugby celebrated their 2024 SupaPwr rugby awards on Tuesday 8 th October, at K aute Pasifika village fale....

[Steven Harris]

@Bovidae I would have made up an award for Ollie Mathis
OMG award ?

[Bovidae]

@Steven-Harris They should have had an age-group award.

[frugby]

Question for Waikato fans, could wing actually be Mathis' best position? Seems like a really good finisher, but on the face of it lakes the size to be world class openside?

[brodean]

How big is Ollie Mathis?

Kwagga Smith is listed as 181cm and 97kg. He plays way above his weight. Mathis would make an interesting bench option for the AB's.

I guess he's only 19 so could put on a bit more size.

[Bovidae]

Here is a more recent photo with Messam and Narawa for comparison. Narawa is listed as 1.84 m.

[ploughboy]

given the age of our team this year .I'm pretty happy with the season