By god I'm proud of what we did today. Nobody gave Northland a chance and we ran them right to the wire. That Hohaia yellow card ( lucky not to be a red) was the difference in the end. It was looking like a cricket score after 15 mins but the lads turned things around and made them sweat.
Memorable season for us long suffering Taniwha fans... hope we can build on this next year and continue to push the more fancied sides.
100% with you figgis. There's something about this province of ours and its supporter base - that crowd for the regular season home game v Waikato was memorable, but sadly the opportunity to repay the loyalty and capitalise on the buzz evaporated on the paddock. But I guess that's part of the attraction - you never know whether it's a rocks or diamonds day when you turn up as you say Steve.
Not sure what happened to our defense in the second half of the season (coincided with Matich injury v Hawkes Bay?)
Wasn't gonna mention it but can't help myself - that forward pass call near the end today was utter BS - 12 down with a mooloo in the bin at that point would have been game on.
Big picture though... Whitcombe and Konia have made us a team worthy of respect again... remember two short years ago we were at Southland's level.
Crazy game. Harbour started with real intent and we held them out well for first 5 mins before Nock's godawful chargedown. You guys are right, his form has dropped off massively. His first touch v Canterbury last week was a chargedown too. Other teams will be targeting his exit kicks big time now.
The rest of the first half was hairbrained stuff from both sides, we were playing catchup the whole first half. Couldn't believe we were only 6 points down at half time.
We started the second half strong, but they kept us out, partly due to Northland errors. Pity that throw in near their line was crooked. From that point it was all downhill. Once they got the ball in the second half it was night and day. Surged upfield with ease, breaking us open at will. The ugly blowout to the scoreline felt inevitable in the end. Yeah, we were on the wrong end of a couple of poor decisions, but the fact is they were far too good for us to stay with them.
We desperately need some of those injured players back, and Reihana with his knee is a worry.
Feels like the wheels have started falling off - hope I'm wrong and they are back to playing competitive rugby next week. If we end up heading to BOP needing to win to make top 4, we are in deep shit. They have been handed the recipe for how to tear us to shreds by Harbour today.
It's as if this year's side has been kinapped and replaced by the 2021 team all of a sudden. Absolutely gutted.
Was so gutted with that after watching it live last night. But a little more philosophical about it all this morning.
The score was 16 - 11 after 52 minutes, and 19 - 11 around the 60 minute mark when Rush was sinbinned. And, when Ranger also got sent for 10 soon after, the blowout was inevitable. By the end they were absolutely monstering us, any structure we'd had was out the window. Lineout dysfunctional, scrum under pressure, constant struggle to retain ball at breakdowns, backline getting smashed waaay behind the advantage line whenever we did manage to release it.
Injuries already a major concern after one game. I hope Nock's injury is minor, does anyone know how far away Moorby might be? We need him desperately now. I fear Ranger's lack of pace will really hurt us defensively out wide if that ends up being the preferred option over the next few games. At best I see him as a good impact option in midfield off the bench at this stage of career. Such a legend and was probably the most exciting, destructive powerhouse midfielder bar in the competition in his prime (those days with Jaryd Payne, what a combination), but time catches up with even the best eventually.
My realistic hope from last night was to sneak a bonus point out of the loss and avoid any serious injury concerns for what is always a squad light on quality backup players. Zero for two on that wish list...
Moral victory I guess with scoring two tries to nill? Totally agree J77, to get a draw down there 3rd game of storm week isn't easy, so deserves respect for sure.
Bloody good to be off the blob on the points table. Still remember that year when we lost every game, and managed a binus point at end of season while getting flogged (by Otago maybe?), and the crowd celebrated like we had won the game when the try was awarded. Sums up the life of a Northland fan.
@j77 can't argue mate... imagine how passionate we'd all be if they lifted a couple more notches and we were ranked around 6th in the country... right now 11th would be about right (ie 4th best in the championship, although we are up there with HB and Otago on our day). Number one for me would be shoring up that defence which, for periods as we've all seen, has been diabolical. Then I'd agree speed on one wing and that fullback spot are high on the list. Having said that, Matty Wright had a top game yesterday, Steve mentioned a couple of weeks back Alaimalo may possibly be looking at returning... geez that would be great... any more word on this I wonder?
Bloody outstanding.
I think they headed up north expecting us to gift them a bonus point win and we sat them on their arse.
This game gives me de ja vue in terms of two other amazing home games that I was lucky enough to be in the stands for over the last 10 years or so. Both had very similar score lines to last night's game from memory. One against Wellington, and the other was Waikato.
Unfortunately I now live down the line and couldn't be there last night. But I live near enough to Palmy to make a Friday afternoon road trip pretty tempting after that performance.
@kev you're right there of course kev. If you don't have a solid, quality forward pack you are like Fiji (god bless them) all the flair and excitement in the world but you don't win too many games v quality opponents.We certainly have a coach who knows how important this is...
Also, I think it goes without saying we missed Jack Goodhue's rock solid D in the midfield to tie in with Ranger's superb turnover and maul creating abilities... have been mighty impressed with Debreczeni and Gregory (my Dad made the call yesterday he will be an All Black... he tends to turn out getting these calls right in the end)
Charlie Going was one hell of a presence in the Northland backline in the late 80s and into early 90s I think.
Some unforgettable moments in the match v Australia (think we ended up losing 28-14 but gave them a hell of a shake) in 1990, and he scored a 50 metre solo try v Wales around the same time.
That Australia game was also memorable for an end to end try finished off by Ziggy Seymour on the cutback to score under the posts.
@kev Completely agree mate.
That back 3 of theirs... probably best in the comp. So, we have forward dominance in that first half in particular, scrums looking excellent, lineout assured, secure at the breakdown - and what do we do? Get sucked into playing crazy festival rugby against a side that LOVES to play that way. Beggars belief.
Where did that excellent, structured, solid defensive side go? How bigger part of this is Moorby's absence? Or is it that those other injuries has meant our bench impact later in the games is non existent now and getting totally trumped by the opposition? Until the Canterbury and Harbour games we were finishing very strong. But now we are leaking BIG points.
I don't understand the game well enough to be able to pinpoint where it's going so horribly wrong.
Nock, Ranger had games to forget that's for sure. Yeah Kev, that chip kick of Ranger's inside our 22 was one of the stupidest bits of rugby I've seen in a long time.
@J77 yeah mate we'll take that alright. That was excruciating to watch - we looked nervy and bumbling in that second half, but massive ups to Dan for making that clutch kick.
We live to fight another day. I guess the fact that Hawkes Bay are as desperate for a win as Ta$man is good for Northland. The way we've played the last few weeks, that Manawatu game is no given. Well done though lads, you got the win.
@taniwharugby
Yeah mate was great to be at the ground today. First Northland game for me this season since I now live down the line. Brilliant atmosphere up in Kaikohe, and the weather held off thankfully for the match. A different feel at these smaller grounds, reminded me of when King Country were in first division all those years ago. Well done NRU on taking it to the Northland heartland. Funny old game, but they got the job done!
All up, regardless of how we go next weekend... what a great result for the Tanis to make the quarters. 6 wins from 10, would never have thought we'd achieve that at the start of season 2022. I hope we can build on this very good year next season. 2021 was so disappointing after we had done so well in 2020. I'd love to see us emerge from what we are used to and become consistently strong (along the likes of BOP and Hawkes Bay).
Wonderful news reg Rob Rush... massively deserved big fella!
That was awful... hard to see us winning a game this year on that evidence. Whatever progress we had made last year in terms of becoming a side that opposition teams had to respect seems to have evaporated.
Depressing really.
This game is "the dance of the desperates" as my Dad calls it... lose this one and I'm pretty confident we will end up bottom of the table at season's end. Fingers crossed for some spark that we just haven't seen yet. Moorby back thankfully, which should help, and Jack is one hell of a good sub to bring on. Come on boys, give us something to cheer about.
This ref is getting on my wick
Tough game to pick, Harbour have been a bit hot and cold this season. Here's hoping the cold version turn up tomorrow. Their backline scares the hell out of me.
Need to stay out of the danger zone... they are real tough to keep out when given scrum close to our line.
But we have enough flair to stay in this if we can get a fair share of territory and possession in 2nd half.
@kev Canterbury doing what Auckland did last week and passing up penalty kicks for try hunting... difference is they are good enough to get over. I just love the heart we are showing though, even with quite a few out injured.
Holy shit, WE get a penalty.
OMG... so THE Bay have handed us a lifeline by selecting a virtual B Team. God bless you lads. Best Northland side we have put up for a few weeks too. Didn't give us a hope until I saw the two teams named just now.
Still, the wheels have fallen off the Taniwha wagon big time since that Auckland win. Just hope they fire tomorrow and give themselves a shot at making the quarters.
One thing's for sure... if we manage to win this and then somehow sneak into the finals, the Steamers will be off Ta$man's (or maybe Auckland's) Christmas card list this year.