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Keepa Mewett (Bay of Plenty) has been doing a series of one on ones with various people (mainly ex. Bay of Plenty players on their careers, goal setting, fitness regimes etc. Very interesting and worth a watch. I think Mike Delany was the last and Jared Hoeata is next.
The RAW HQ Podcast: link text
@Stargazer Thanks - I'm on it...
Wasn't sure where to post this - but Keepa Mewett (Bay of Plenty) has been doing a series of one on ones with various people (mainly ex. Bay of Plenty players on their careers, goal setting, fitness regimes etc. Very interesting and worth a watch. I think Mike Delany was the last and Jared Hoeata is next.
The RAW HQ Podcast: link text
@shark Granted - Cridge carried injuries in his Hurricanes tenure - I was very critical that he had tied up a spot. But when he got fit - holy hecka! - he is a beast and has an abrasive quality I don't see so much when looking around the other franchises. Not sure of his fitness status currently - I feel for the young man if he is injured again.
Good to see Hepetema being given an opportunity. Not sure of the count - but it does appear if post/pre season injuries for Super squads is very high. I wonder if it is the culmination of a long season (Super, NPC, additional representative games) - where players haven't had a chance to allow for injuries to heal properly. Or alternatively, just the bashing undertaken in pre season is too much - although I would assume that it is fitness only (i.e. climbing bloody hills) as it is too early for contact.
I am sure that there is a PhD there for someone who looks at it hard enough!
The bloke I feel for is Hepetema. I've watched him closely this year and he has been outstanding. I actually think at times, he had more sway over the BOP backline than Delany. His distribution and decision making skills were outstanding and he didn't shirk on defence. Not sure why he didn't pick anything up? Is he classified as Australian?
Some lack of depth beyond the first XV... Ardron is an under performer as already stated by KiwiPie. Reminds me of Pierre Spies - looks like Tarzan, play like... Shame Parete didn't get a look in, got so go that young fella.
MMac, TNW, even Messam (yes I know, needed for the mana!) - not even sure how Fin Hoeata got a gig. I assume Cooper has a soft spot for him, but I haven't seen much him for a while. Didn't he have concussion issues?
Weak squad in my opinion, but I thought that a couple of years ago and they won the bloody thing... twice!
@barky1 said in Steamers v Wellington final:
Disagree on kicking, I thought the positional kicking was great all season. Ardron = mystery. Lets hope the majority of the team stick around beacuse there are some nice combinations showing
barky1 - I was not referring to the season, just the first half (particularly the second 20 of the first half when they cut us to shreds). We were chasing the game from there.
Higgins - we had Joe Tupe last year and he was outstanding, probably our best since Colin Bourke (some one may disagree). Tupe didn't pick up a super contract and went OS. The same thing will happen to the youngsters in this squad. They are playing for basic wage, taking a full 3-4 months out of their lives to be a part of a NPC squad and hoping they get picked up. Quite a few have families, kids and parallel careers. The determining factor in our future will be on how many super (possibly remain or will be injured) and OS contracts (gone!) are on hand unfortunately.
@kiwipie said in Steamers v Wellington final:
The reason I think we won't win is that we just concede too many points. We've generally been hopeless at holding out once a team gets a sniff of our line, Wellington is likely to get a few sniffs. However that Wellington team is definitely weakened and surely Savea needs to fly out now doesn't he?
And we have shown that we can create and score tries - Tiatia has really come into his own these past couple of weeks, beating men and throwing great passes once tackled. If Delany can control the game, then we could be a chance.
@kiwipie You are correct - we just concede too many points! Well done Wellington, well deserved.
Great season for the Bay. Tactically we just kicked too much ball away in the first half, then failed to defend the ruck and maul fringes. Bread and butter for a team like Wellington. Outstanding from our back 3, although tackling was optional at times. Parete was good when he came on, I still have no idea why the Chiefs signed Ardron... Our much vaunted lineout was a fail and we didn't dominate their scrum (and vice versa).
Well done Boys! Now the Union need to build on this and show that this year isn't just a one off.
Again - reasonably happy with the squad. 10 - 15 the same (amazing how consistent these selections have been this year). Question mark over Ardron at 8, but he adds some height in the lineout with Franklin moving back to lock. I haven't been a Karpik fan, but based on his duet with Blake last week - that is a good loose forward tandem.
Parete probably unlucky to not get a run on position, but his ball carrying did lack his usual go forward in the last 2 weeks. Stowers probably unlucky not to get a bench position for the final. Spare a thought for Retallick - a real BOP soldier over the years and injured for this important game. Also Judd, who was very consistent until; 3 weeks ago, but held us together a lot in the early rounds.
It's very exciting - we have the team to cause a major upset if we can match them up front.
Tough gig for the forwards with Franklin and Retallick. Line out loses options, but some good scavengers. Ardron will need to provide some punch when he gets on - I haven’t seen anything from him this season thus far.
Good backline again, but Judd could count himself lucky. hopefully he regains some form this game.