NPC - news, injuries etc
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="599919" data-time="1469402994">
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<p>Is Ranger expected to be available for any of the season?</p>
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<p>I can't find anything about his fitness. I thought he was ruled out of the NPC too?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>They named plenty of midfielders.</p> -
<p>if he doesn't end up playing, that's 2 seasons he's been signed and not played, and from what I've heard, he wants to come back here anyway. If that did transpire, we could go from an iffy mid-field to a very good one if Goodhue returned as rumoured as well.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Duluth" data-cid="599907" data-time="1469401608">
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<p> </p>
<p>North Harbour</p>
<p> </p>
<div>Hookers </div>
<div>James Parsons</div>
<div>Raymond Niuia</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Props </div>
<div>Karl Tuikanafe </div>
<div>Nic Mayhew</div>
<div>Sione Mafileo </div>
<div>Adrian Smith </div>
<div>Toketa Fatai</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Locks </div>
<div>Gerard Cowley-Mariner </div>
<div>Brandon Nansen </div>
<div>Chris Vui</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Loose Forwards </div>
<div>Murphy Taramai </div>
<div>Hapakuki Liavaa-Moala </div>
<div>Kane Jacobsen </div>
<div>Glen Preston </div>
<div>Josh Tyrell</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Half Backs </div>
<div>Bryn Hall </div>
<div>Chris Smylie</div>
<div> </div>
<div>1st 5s </div>
<div>Bryn Gatland </div>
<div>Matt McGahan</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Midfield </div>
<div>James Little </div>
<div>Pita Ahki </div>
<div>Matt Vaega </div>
<div>Michael Little </div>
<div>Rene Ranger </div>
<div>Daniel Hilton Jones</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Outsides </div>
<div>Tevita Li </div>
<div>Matt Duffie </div>
<div>Marty Swart </div>
<div>Afa Faatau</div>
<p> </p>
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<p>They should be able to put together a useful backline out of that side with an ok tight 5. Surely they can at the very least get a semi final spot.</p> -
<p>you'd think wouldn't you....keep your hands off ;)</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="599947" data-time="1469406538">
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<p>you'd think wouldn't you....keep your hands off ;)</p>
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<p>Yes you guys do need all the help you can get :mocking:</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="599953" data-time="1469406807">
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<p>Yes you guys do need all the help you can get :mocking:</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>how dare you...oh wait.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Still amuses me we have our highest number of contracted super players after what was probably worst season I can recall us playing (even worse than that time where we might not have won a game for 2 seasons - but at least we looked good in parts, unlike last year)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="599095" data-time="1469234035">
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<p> </p>
<div>2016 <strong>Bay of Plenty Steamers </strong>Squad:</div>
<div>Hookers:</div>
<div>Nathan Harris – Te Puke Sports (26), Liam Polwart* – Greerton Marist, Joseph Royal – Rotoiti (29), Sabastian Siataga – Mount Maunganui (8)</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Props:</div>
<div>Siegfried Fisi'ihoi – Rotoiti (18), Jordan Lay* – Whakarewarewa, Aidan Ross – Te Puke Sports (3), Solomona Sakalia – Mount Maunganui (19), Pingi Tala'apitaga – Tauranga Sports (34), Jeff Thwaites – Te Puna (6)</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Locks:</div>
<div>Troy Callander – Greerton Marist (7), Shahn Eru – Te Puna (7), Keepa Mewett – Tauranga Sports (17), Culum Retallick – Tauranga Sports (92)</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Loose Forwards:</div>
<div>Matty Axtens* – Mount Maunganui, Hugh Blake* – Te Puke Sports, Sam Cane – Tauranga Sports (18), Mitchell Karpik* – Mount Maunganui, Jesse Parete* – Arataki, Henry Stowers* – Arataki, Eru Wano-Smith* – Whakarewarewa, Joe Tupe – Greerton Marist (23)</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Half backs:</div>
<div>Luke Campbell* – Te Puke Sports, Ruki Tipuna – Rangataua (12), Te Aihe Toma – Te Puna (25)</div>
<div> </div>
<div>First five-eights:</div>
<div>Kelly Haimona – Whakarewarewa (15), Dan Hollinshead – Te Puke Sports (19)</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Midfield backs:</div>
<div>Lalakai Foketi – Rangataua (10), Terrence Hepetema – Te Puna (1), Teddy Stanaway – Mount Maunganui (1), Joe Webber* – Te Puke Sports</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Outside backs:</div>
<div>Te Rangi Fraser – Whakarewarewa (10), Monty Ioane* – Greerton Marist, Elijah Nicholas – Whakatane Marist (6), Chase Tiatia – Rangataua (11), Isaac Te Aute* – Mount Maunganui, Regan Ware* – Arataki</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Injury Cover:</div>
<div>Leigh Hughes* – Mount Maunganui</div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<div>*Denotes Steamers debut</div>
<div>() Denotes Steamers caps</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.boprugby.co.nz/news--information/2016-steamers-squad-announced/'>http://www.boprugby.co.nz/news--information/2016-steamers-squad-announced/</a></div>
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<p> </p>
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<p>If they made it a Sevens comp, we'd be right in the mix!</p> -
<p>The North Harbour squad looks to be somewhat light, numbers wise anyway, in a couple of areas. I suppose it must be dictated by financial pressures, or perhaps blind optisism if the can only include four outside backs and three locks. Maybe it could be there is just not the talent available to them locally and numbers from outside the area are not interested in playing for them?</p>
<p>If Afa Fa'atau is the same guy that played on the wing for Poverty Bay last season then he looks like he could cover prop and most other forwqard positions judging by the size of him.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="600043" data-time="1469419050">
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<p>The North Harbour squad looks to be somewhat light, numbers wise anyway, in a couple of areas. I suppose it must be dictated by financial pressures, or perhaps blind optisism if the can only include four outside backs and three locks. Maybe it could be there is just not the talent available to them locally and numbers from outside the area are not interested in playing for them?</p>
<p>If Afa Fa'atau is the same guy that played on the wing for Poverty Bay last season then he looks like he could cover prop and most other forwqard positions judging by the size of him.</p>
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<p>I suppose Matt McGahan can cover fullback and he usually plays there for them. They could take a lock from Auckland as we have plenty lol but that's not gonna happen.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And yes, that is the same Afa Fa'atau. He was in the Blues wider training squad but didn't see any game time.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="600044" data-time="1469419390">
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<p>And yes, that is the same Afa Fa'atau. He was in the Blues wider training squad but didn't see any game time.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Partly because he was injured most the season, I think.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Counties Manukau team has been named, and includes Cameron Skelton and So'otala Fa'aso'o among others</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://steelers.co.nz/news/article/1570/'>http://steelers.co.nz/news/article/1570/</a></p>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
<p>2016 Steelers Mitre 10 Cup Squad</p>
<p>Jarred Adams (Prop) Pukekohe *</p>
<p>Sam Aiono (Prop) Bombay</p>
<p>Sean Bagshaw (Prop) Onewhero</p>
<p>Nathan De Thierry (First Five-Eighth) Pukekohe</p>
<p>Hika Elliot (Hooker)</p>
<p>Sootala Fa’aso’o (Loose Forward) North Shore *</p>
<p>Sione Faletau (Prop) Patumahoe *</p>
<p>Sione Fifita (Outside Back) Pukekohe</p>
<p>Piers Francis (First Five-Eighth) Bombay</p>
<p>Joseph Ikenasio (Midfield) Ardmore Marist</p>
<p>Richard Judd (Halfback) Onewhero</p>
<p>Luteru Laulala (Outside Back) Ardmore Marist *</p>
<p>Orbyn Leger (Midfield) Karaka *</p>
<p>Fotu Lokotui (Loose Forward) Patumahoe *</p>
<p>Matiaha Martin (Lock) Bombay *</p>
<p>Sione Molia (Outside Back) Karaka *</p>
<p>Augustine Pulu (Halfback) Karaka</p>
<p>Toni Pulu (Outside) Bombay</p>
<p>Viliame Rarasea (Lock) Ardmore Marist</p>
<p>Joe Reynolds (Outside Back) Pukekohe *</p>
<p>Cameron Skelton (Lock) Pukekohe *</p>
<p>Sherwin Stowers (Outside Back) Ardmore Marist</p>
<p>Gafatasi Su’a (Hooker) Pukekohe</p>
<p>Suliasi Taufalele (Hooker) Ardmore Marist</p>
<p>Jordan Taufua (Loose Forward) Ardmore Marist</p>
<p>Viliami Taulani (Loose Forward) Patumahoe</p>
<p>Jonathan Taumateine (Halfback) Ardmore Marist *</p>
<p>Kalolo Tuiloma (Prop) Bombay *</p>
<p>Jimmy Tupou (Lock) Ardmore Marist</p>
<p>Cardiff Vaega (Midfield) Karaka</p>
<p>Sam Vaka (Midfield) Bombay</p>
<p>Sonny Bill Williams (Midfield)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Five players who are contracted, but unavailable due to injury:</p>
<p>Glen Fisi’iahi (Outside Back) Bombay *</p>
<p>Sam Henwood (Loose Forward) Pukekohe</p>
<p>Nepo Laulala (Prop) Ardmore Marist *</p>
<p>Pauliasi Manu (Prop) Karaka</p>
<p>Maama Vaipulu (Loose Forward) Pukekohe</p>
<p>Players contracted for pre-season:</p>
<p>Harry Fitzsimons (Loose Forward) Karaka</p>
<p>Kalione Hala (Outside Back) Karaka </p>
<p>Lolohea Loco (Outside Back) Ardmore Marist</p>
<p> </p>
<p> New Steelers</p>
<p> </p>
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<p>hello Mafia, i should go to the dedicated forum, but i can't be fucked.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While i am under no illusion how we are going to go this year, have we got a coach and a set of players that will play enterprising rugby at least? If we're going to lose, can we at least be fun to watch?</p> -
<p>Northland i can stomach, but Harbour? That's low bro</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="600295" data-time="1469491032">
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<p>hello Mafia, i should go to the dedicated forum, but i can't be fucked.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While i am under no illusion how we are going to go this year, have we got a coach and a set of players that will play enterprising rugby at least? If we're going to lose, can we at least be fun to watch?</p>
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<p>You have a better on paper squad than the real Bay (all our good players are off overseas or in the ABs ;)). So there's probably one win you can bank. I will practice adding Bay to Of Plenty in the meantime.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="600295" data-time="1469491032">
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<p>hello Mafia, i should go to the dedicated forum, but i can't be fucked.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While i am under no illusion how we are going to go this year, have we got a coach and a set of players that will play enterprising rugby at least? <strong>If we're going to lose, can we at least be fun to watch?</strong></p>
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<p> </p>
<p>I'd expect so with all the 7s players you have</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="600314" data-time="1469494495">
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<p>You have a better on paper squad than the real Bay (all our good players are off overseas or in the ABs ;)). So there's probably one win you can bank. I will practice adding Bay to Of Plenty in the meantime.</p>
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<p>About time you lot left your borders to put the Real Bay Trophy on the line - we always seem to be going there!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="600295" data-time="1469491032">
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<p>hello Mafia, i should go to the dedicated forum, but i can't be fucked.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>While i am under no illusion how we are going to go this year, have we got a coach and a set of players that will play enterprising rugby at least? If we're going to lose, can we at least be fun to watch?</p>
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<p>Well last year under Clayton McMillan was 7 times better than the team under Schuler, we were enterprising and made the semis - 4th meaning we finished mid-table. We have backs to play enterprising rugby, pack looks a bit short with Bardoul and Axtens out so hopefully the loosies we stole from Auckland come good and Retallick can last the season. Hoping we make the semis again at minimum</p>
