NPC - news, injuries etc

[African Monkey]

@duluth Interesting, as we barely have anyone at hooker ourselves.

[Crucial]

@mikedogz said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

Counties Squad

Haven't seen a written down squad yet so Highlights are:

Nepo Laulala named
No Augy Pulu at Half back
Luteru Laulala at first five
Etene Nanai-Seturu named in his first NPC squad
Glen Fisiiahi in wider training squad, I thought he had left.

Etene Nanai-Seturo is my favourite as star of the competition.

Not a bad squad. As always injuries can decimate the best laid plans but there is a very good 23 to be selected from that squad.
I see Jarod Firth is listed in the WTG. He went to France so I am guessing is going to be a late arrival that they haven't been able to assess fully. Before he left, he was playing really well and unlucky not to get a Super contract.

Edit: For Blues fans, you may recall that Tana was very vocal about Firth not getting a Super opportunity. May be interesting to see where that goes.

[Crucial]

Just did some googling and I don't know if Firth has been injured but it looks like he went to Glasgow, played one game, was released early and signed with Grenoble who don't even list him in their squad.

Edit: Looks like he may have had visa issues with Glasgow, was only able to play at lower levels. Was a 'medical joker' at Grenoble which is a short term replacement 'gun for hire' type job. Lists himself on Twitter as an Ex-pro rugby player and amateur punter.

Looks like someone may have convinced him to pull the boots out and give things a crack through the WTG (maybe his ex coach? )

[Duluth]

@african-monkey said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

@duluth Interesting, as we barely have anyone at hooker ourselves.

Yes, it looks like we'll probably have 2 out of 3 hookers being rookies. I've heard a rumour about a super rugby journeyman signing to cover for Eklunds injury (gutted for Eklund he looked ready to break through this year)

It was mentioned on a commentary that GPT was leaving the Highlanders so I had a google. On social media he's confirmed he's not at the Highlanders next year and said he'll be in Christchurch for the NPC (but no Crusaders contract)

[chchfanatic]

@duluth he’s definitely in the Canterbury squad. I’ve seen it. Still 3 development players to be named. But it’s pretty stock standard. A prop I’ve never heard of S faagase. Aussie apparently

[Stargazer]

Preseason game in Porirua today:
Manawatu 15 v 47 Ta$man (HT: 5 - 21)

Ta$man

Turbos
15 Junior Laloifi
14 Jono Ihaka
13 Lifeimi Mafi
12 Hamish Northcott
11 Michael Tagicakibau
10 Jade Te Rure
9 Griffin Culver
8 Brice Henderson
7 Jordan Stewart
6 Liam Mitchell
5 Brad Tucker
4 Nick Crosswell
3 Sean Paranihi
2 Tim Cadwallader
1 Faalelei Sione

Reserves: Sam Stewart, Sione Asi, TBC, Liam Hallam-Eames, Sam Wasley, Atu Henare, James Tofa, Shai Wiperi

[Tim]

[mikedogz]

2018 COUNTIES MANUKAU PIC STEELERS SQUAD

Nigel Ah Wong, Manurewa, Midfield , 10 caps
Suetena Asomua, Waiuku, Prop, 0 caps*
Sean Bagshaw, Onewhero, Prop, 41 caps
Liam Daniela, Bombay, Halfback, 4 caps
Sione Fifita, Pukekohe, wing, 18 caps
Latiume Fosita, Ardmore Marist, First Five-Eighth, 0 caps*
Sam Furniss, Patumahoe, Midfield, 5 caps
Kalione Hala, Karaka , Utility ,2
Sam Henwood,Pukekohe,Loose forward , 22 caps
Dan Hyatt,Waiuku, Loose forward, 16 caps
Nepo Laulala, Ardmore Marist, Prop, 0
Luteru Laulala, Ardmore Marist, First Five-eighth, 11 caps
Daymon Leasuasu, Ardmore Marist, Lock, 0 caps*
Orbyn Leger, Karaka, Midfield, 10 caps
Fotu Lokotui, Ardmore Marist, Loose Forward, 7 caps
Matiaha Martin, Bombay, Lock, 18 caps
Sione Molia Karaka Wing 9 caps
Tevita Nabura Waiuku Wing 8 caps
Sikeli Nabou Ardmore Marist Loose Forward 45 caps
Etene Nanai-Seturo Bombay Fullback 0 caps*
Siaosi Nginingini Ardmore Marist Halfback 0 caps*
Toni Pulu Bombay Wing 44 caps
Viliame Rarasea Ardmore Marist Lock 33 caps
Kieran Read Crusaders Loose forward 0 caps
Joe Royal Patumahoe Hooker 10 caps
Howard Sililoto Manurewa Prop 0 caps*
Gafatasi Su'a Manurewa Hooker 30
Viliami Taulani Manurewa Loose forward 7 caps
Te Aihe Toma Manurewa Halfback 0 caps
Kalolo Tuiloma Bombay Prop 20 caps
Jonathan Taumateine Ardmore Marist Halfback 10 caps
Coree Te Whata-Colley Bombay Prop 10
Matt Vaai Manurewa Loose forward 16 caps
Cardiff Vaega Karaka Midfield 21
Sonny Bill Williams Puni Midfield 2 caps

Wider Training Squad
Micheal Mckee Waiuku Lock
Savelio Ropati Ardmore Marist Loose Forward
Mark Royal Patumahoe Prop
Callum Fuimaono-Adams Pukekohe Lock
Jarrod Firth Papakura Prop
Broc Hooper Patumahoe First Five-Eigth
Pisi Leilua Manurewa Wing
Caleb Fa'alili Manurewa Loose Forward
Glen Fisiiahi Manurewa Outside Back

• New Steelers ** season ending injured

[Stargazer]

Wellington XV playing Auckland (today, k/o 2pm):

[Stargazer]

Preseason game result (played today, Friday 3/8):

Bay of Plenty 43 - 26 North Harbour (HT: 24 - 5)

[KiwiMurph]

Losi Filipo has moved from loose forward to wing?

[Chris]

@chchfanatic He’s was in the QLd Reds Squad

[Stargazer]

@kiwimurph He has been playing on the wing for as long as I remember. Can't remember him ever playing in the back row.

[African Monkey]

@chchfanatic LH prop played quite a lot for the Reds iver the last few seasons.

[mikedogz]

Some info on the new guys in Counties Squad that I have Googled

Te Aihe Toma (Halfback) - Has played at BOP, Munster, Highlanders

Howard Sililoto (Prop) - Out of Auckland system, Has played for Northland and been involved with Manu Samoa.

Daymon Leasuasu ( Loose Forward) - made a Samoan Development Squad in 2016

Latiume Fosita ( First Five) - Has played for Tonga, Auckland, Northland, Doncaster.

Suetena Asomua ( Prop) - NZ Under 20, NZ Barbarians Schools, Wesley.

[taniwharugby]

@mikedogz Sililoto is a good player, gutted he didnt come back up here, although was injured most of last season.

[Stargazer]

Copied from Facebook:

The TAB have released their Odds for the Outright Winners for the Heartland Championship , Mitre10 Cup Premiership and Mitre10 Championship.

Early Favourites are, respectively :
Wanganui / Canterbury / Otago

Meads Cup - Heartland Championship
~ Outright winner
Closes: 25/08 2:35 PM
2.00 Wanganui
5.00 South Canterbury
6.50 Mid Canterbury
8.00 Buller

8.00 Horowhenua Kapiti
10.00 North Otago
15.00 West Coast
21.00 Wairarapa Bush

21.00 King Country
41.00 Thames Valley
41.00 Poverty Bay
101.00 East Coast

Mitre 10 Cup Premiership
~ outright winner
Closes: 16/08 7:35 PM
2.00 Canterbury
5.00 Wellington
6.00 Taranaki
7.00 Ta$man
9.00 North Harbour
12.00 Auckland
21.00 Counties Manukau

Mitre 10 Cup Championship
~ outright winner
Closes: 16/08 7:35 PM
3.25 Otago
3.75 Waikato
4.50 BOP
6.00 Northland
6.00 Manawatu
10.00 Hawkes Bay
41.00 Southland

[Crucial]

Bloody hell. I don't expect CM to win the comp but also wouldn't expect them to come in last. Maybe the TAB thinks they will drag in a few ambitious bucks from Pukekohe with those odds.
Are there odds yet for semi-final placing? I would say Canterbury and Naki (probably Ta$man) are the only 'certs' there. Wellington are always an unpredictable quality.
Auckland and CM look to be at longer odds than they deserve and I wouldn't be surprised to see NH at the pointy end.

My ranking guess would be
Canterbury
Taranaki
Ta$man
=North Harbour
=Wellington
=Auckland
=Counties Manukau

[Chris]

@african-monkey While Ready's departure is a done deal, it's understood Sef Faagase's situation is a little more complicated.

Faagase, like Ready, has been forced to settle for time off the bench this season - JP Smith and Taniela Tupou lead pipe locks to start at loosehead and tighthead prop, respectively, each week.
He took to Instagram to bid farewell to Ballymore but it's understood the Reds are still in contract talks with the versatile 27-year-old.

We hear Faagase born in Auckland is eager to return to New Zealand to play in the Mitre 10 Cup, with Kiwi Super Rugby franchises potential suitors.

[Stargazer]

Preseason game today:

Waitkato v Hawke's Bay
Owen Delany Park, Taupo
Kick-off 1.30pm

I've posted the Magpies squad in the Magpies forum.
Has anyone seen a Waikato line-up?