Blues 2025
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@Machpants said in Blues 2025:
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2025:
Preseason game v Crusaders -
It's in a crop field?
Bold strategy
If you build it they will come.
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This upcoming squad announcement has much more intrigue and unknowns than I expected it would after a successful last season.
Take the confirmed departures -
Tangitau, Vikena, Banks, Akira Ioane.
and the strongly rumored ones -
Perofeta, Riccitelli, Rush, Heem (injury enforced retirement?) Reiko Ioane (sabbatical?).
then other players off contract that have not yet been announced as re-signed -
Laghlan McWhannell
PJ Sheck
James Thompson
Lucas Cashmore
Meihana Grindlay
Jordan LayWhile rumors may not be true and some of the last group could still be re-signed, in total there are potentially up to 15 possible changes including the 3 new signings announced so far -
B. Barrett, Peyton Spencer, Che Clarke.
Tuesday should be interesting.
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From Blues Facebook -
Champs go last
We’ll be the last team to drop our Super Rugby Pacific squad
Tuesday 3pm, mark your calendars -
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2025:
From Blues Facebook -
Champs go last
We’ll be the last team to drop our Super Rugby Pacific squad
Tuesday 3pm, mark your calendarsGot to say I'm feeling a bit pessimistic. Seems like the squad is going to be ravaged.
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from Blues media - as rumored further up the thread -
Some unfortunate news out of Blues HQ, Bryce Heem will miss the entire 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season with a wrist injury 🥲Best of luck on your recovery uncle 💙
Commence 1 full day of sadness before our full squad is announced tomorrow
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A punt from left field -
About 2 weeks ago Blues Insta story posted a random video of Melani Nanai scoring for the Blues off a flukey deflected kick, with the commentary saying "no-one expected that" could it have been a hint at him signing as an experienced mid-field/Wing replacement for Heem? Nanai has been playing in Canada and for Manu Samoa in the Pacific series. May be nothing in it but if it is so 'You heard it here first'.
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Blues Facebook posted this morning -
"We may or may not have 7 new players 👀"
So there may be fewer squad changes than we suspected.
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Blues squad for 2025
Props: Angus Ta’avao, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Marcel Renata, Jordan Lay, Joshua Fusitu’a, PJ Sheck, Ben Ake
Hookers: Kurt Eklund, Ricky Riccitelli, James Mullan
Locks: Laghlan McWhannell, Cameron Christie, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Josh Beehre
Loose forwards: Cameron Suafoa, Adrian Choat, Dalton Papali’i, Anton Segner, Hoskins Sotutu, Che Clark
Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Sam Nock, Taufa Funaki
First five-eighths: Stephen Perofeta, Harry Plummer, Beauden Barrett
Midfielders: Xavi Taele, Corey Evans, Meihana Grindlay, Rieko Ioane
Outside backs: Zarn Sullivan, Mark Tele’a, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Payton Spencer, Reon Paul, Cole ForbesIns: Ben Ake, Cameron Christie, Che Clark, Beauden Barrett, Xavi Taele, Payton Spencer, Reon Paul
Outs: Soane Vikena, James Thompson, Akira Ioane, Rob Rush, Lucas Cashmore, Bryce Heem, Kade Banks, Caleb Tangitau -
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I haven't seen anything of Spencer. Does he warrant a spot now or is he more of a hopeful pick for the future?
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@Crazy-Horse said in Blues 2025:
I haven't seen anything of Spencer. Does he warrant a spot now or is he more of a hopeful pick for the future?
He's been injured almost all year. Had some good moments in the 2023 NPC.. but that was only 3 games
So it is slightly risky
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7 Props and only 6 loosies is a small concern. Especially with Suafoa's health concerns. I imagine Christie may get a run covering 6 occasionally and Trystan Cook is sure to be in the academy/wtg. No Tito-Harris is the other surprise. Must be returning to Sevens. Reon Paul is the biggest surprise but i have liked the small highlights I've seen of him at NPC level.. I know little about Mullen. About fifth ranked Canterbury hooker called up to Super rugby off of 2 starts and 5 bench games over 2 seasons. Someone in the know must rate him. He is only 21 so has time to develop but could be on the bench in some big games..
