Blues 2025

[Mr Fish]

At least give us the position!

[Chris]

@Mr-Fish said in Blues 2025:

At least give us the position!

Hooker

[Trig]

Would have to imagine its James Mullan since McAlister and Taylor already announced as signings and Bell being very unlikely to be lost

[cliff]

Or the counties Manukau hooker I think his name was moanonu

[Mr Fish]

@Trig said in Blues 2025:

Would have to imagine its James Mullan since McAlister and Taylor already announced as signings and Bell being very unlikely to be lost

Would make sense. Need a young guy to replace Vikena as the future at hooker.

[SBW1]

Any idea what is happening the 10 from Canterbury, who was on the Blues roster this year. Not sure if he got any game time or not.

[Trig]

@SBW1 Alex Harford, was named in the Auckland NPC and played round 1 but picked up an injury, hasn't featured since

[Bovidae]

Hopefully this means that Kolose has been signed by the Chiefs, as he would have been another target.

[frugby]

@Bovidae said in Blues 2025:

Hopefully this means that Kolose has been signed by the Chiefs, as he would have been another target.

I think you'll find it is more likely Kolose is signed by nobody. Contracts these days are largely locked in before the NPC starts, particularly in positions where there isn't a lot of depth.

Be fascinating to see which hooker it is, I mean you'd assume it is Moananu... unless he is going to be the Crusaders third choice, and McAllister has taken an early release to go to the Blues.

[taniwharugby]

@frugby I have heard it is James Mullan, as @Trig mentions above.

[Chris]

@frugby
James Mullan

[SBW1]

@Trig Really surprised the Saders haven't picked him up for next year, looks like they may sign James Oconnor.

[frugby]

@Chris said in Blues 2025:

@frugby
James Mullan

Seems a bizarre move. How good is he?

[Chris]

@frugby said in Blues 2025:

@Chris said in Blues 2025:

@frugby
James Mullan

Seems a bizarre move. How good is he?

@frugby said in Blues 2025:

@Chris said in Blues 2025:

@frugby
James Mullan

Seems a bizarre move. How good is he?

Big unit but has had recurring concussion and shoulder problems over the last couple of seasons.
If he stays fit he could be ok.

[African Monkey]

Well we do have 2 aging hooked so there is a chance for him to be our main hooker in a year or 2.

Barely seen him play, but clearly they have an eye to the future with this signing.

[Bovidae]

Mullan did make the NZ Schools team in 2020 - a team that never played.

[Duluth]

From the Canes thread about Banks leaving the Blues

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Hurricanes 2025:

I was hoping he would stay with the Blues as he offers something different from the 'power athlete' backs that we tend to produce. Now we wonder who replaces him (maybe Tito- Harris or start Taele on the wing to learn the level before moving him infield when Heem retires. Unless they see Spencer as an outside back?). We will soon see.

How many spots in the backs are there? We've lost Banks and Tangitau but Barrett is back and we signed Spencer

Who else might not have signed? Cashmore and/or Grindlay?

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Duluth There is a rumour out there that Cashmore is Canes bound. I did not think we would have room for him with Barrett returning.

We could see the backs lineup as
Christie, Nock, Funaki
Barrett, Perofeta, Plummer
Evans, Heem, Ioane, Teale,
Clarke, Lam, Telea, Tito-Harris, Forbes, Sullivan Spencer .

That sees Grindlay miss out to Taele's promise.
Sofai Maka cold be another wing option.
There is lots of versatility in this backline e.g Forbes played a lot on the wing at Glasgow.

[Bovidae]

@Daffy-Jaffy

Spencer is a fullback. He used to be a 1st 5 early in his school rugby career.

[Duluth]

@Daffy-Jaffy

That's basically what I am expecting too.

Do we know if Tanielu Teleʻa is definitely back with the Highlanders? He would go well in Cotter's side. However I assume Auckland shifted him around because the Blues were interested in looking at other players