@Machpants said in Wellington v Hawkes (RS):
@J77 said in Wellington v Hawkes (RS):
Awesome stuff HB 👏.. get that shield back to the provinces where it's appreciated
Appreciated by smashing it to pieces? Philistines, it was just restored this year
100% take my comment back! Send it back to Wellington. 😂
@frugby ya think?? Looked 2k tops. Happy to be proven wrong though
@Canes4life no need to get defensive mate. But really the yellow seats say it all. I'm sure guys like yourself appreciated it, and that's not taking away from how good Wellington have been the last 12 months.. just would have been nice to see the city vote with their feet and show up.
Awesome stuff HB 👏.. get that shield back to the provinces where it's appreciated
Definitely rubbish both ways. Missed a heap of indiscretions. Was basically a game of scrag for both teams. Auckland win the scrag game. Take it and stop whinging.
Yawn alright. Take the win Auckland and run with it. I think all teams need to expect the refs are trash at this level these days.
Daft option for DG. Could have played for a penalty.
I usually try and avoid bagging refs, but this guy was dreadful, even if I were neutral I'd be shaking my head at some of his howlers. Forward passes, knock ons, obstructions.. the list goes on. We've had him before in a few matches and it seems he really doesn't like us much.. it's like a preconceived notion that he'll set out to blow us off the park everytime.
But... once again we were our own worst enemies, we shouldn't put ourselves in these positions to allow refs to stomp all over us. I felt that, bar the breakdown area, BOP weren't that crash hot, and we should have really put them away tonight.
I could see the ideas we had planned with kicking for territory etc, but the kicks were generally straight down the throats of BOP receivers, or poorly executed box kicks. On the few occasions we got it to the edges we looked good, it just didn't happen enough. We also gave possession away easily, and this put too much pressure on our defence which in turn caused us to run out of gas. Same crap different week.
On a positive you can see what template Leslie is trying to build, and with some tweaking to our personnel next season we could break the shackles somewhat and actually push for more victories on a consistent basis.
Still one more to go against Auckland, and I would hope we go out there and really stick it to them to finish on a high in what's been a below average season. Nothing to lose, everything to gain.
@taniwharugby said in North Harbour v Northland:
@J77 although, tbf to Jurlina, who isn't really a tall loosie, wasn't the game v Manawatu his first start, and at lock?
Although defer to you on him as you seen more of him atnclub to know ossible ceiling
Def think Letoga is worth persevering with though, we haven't had a ball carrier like him for years.
Yep that's right he was at lock. My bad. Still I think with a higher standard of club footy under his belt I think he may come on really well. He certainly stood out up here, but that's not hard to do.
Letoga is definitely one I'd like to see more of, just needs conditioning. He's a real metre maker that guy, if he's fit next year he'd be putting heat on guys like McNamara I'd say.
@taniwharugby pretty much agree with your sentiments, especially around developing our young guys. The likes of Woods and Anderson are must signs in my view. I think guys like Scutt and Jurlina might best be placed in the Dev XV for another season, Jurlina didn't quite step up to this level IMO, looked at sea v Manawatu. As much as I hate to say it, I think he would be better to play his club footy in the Northland premiership next season to further his game. North Zone rugby is probably not ideal for development, we have good individuals, but the the footy isnt a high standard. This is where Mangonui need to pull finger and get a Ninety Milers team back in the premiership like we had 20 years ago... anyway thats another story for the club thread maybe.
Would definitely be letting John Leslie bed himself in again as coach next season and beyond, he was on a hiding to nothing coming in late with virtually no pre-season this year. With a whole year to plan for next season I think he can only improve.
Alot of what happened yesterday can be fixed as I think it's more a mental thing at the base of it. Alot of casual mixed with a bit of cohesion isn't going to win games. Planning needs to start now to ensure we go to the next level instead of regressing like we seem to do after reasonably successful seasons. Consistency is all we want as avid supporters, and I'm sure the playing/management group do too..
@kev we had small glimpse of what we can do to any team in this comp when we get it right, problem is we lose all concentration and connection way too frequently. Lots of players are trying way too much on their own and becoming individuals. That only invites all the simple mistakes we are seeing.
The handling errors, decision making, ball protection at rucks, stupid brain fades (goodhue) and soft defence were all evident yesterday, as they have been in all bar two matches this season.
As TJ said in commentary, we have a highly talented team, we're just our own worst enemies at times.
We have a solid foundation, but we need a shit tonne of maintenance required to get this unit up to speed on a consistent basis.
On the balance of probabilities with what I've seen this year we will likely pull finger against BOP this weekend, especially since it's at home. BOP will be a big challenge though, as I put them ahead of Hawkes Bay and Ta$man in the pecking order, albeit slightly.
Wheels have truly fallen off the Taniwha now, season done. What time do the Warriors start again?
Quite pleased that we a filtering some of these new younger guys in this year. Looking forward to seeing what Letoga has to offer, have heard good things about him all year. I think most of the younger players have stepped up and will be invaluable in the seasons ahead.
As for this game, I really hope we can finally get one on the road, but Harbour have looked solid the last few weeks, they will be a tough nut to crack. Would just like to see a bit of consistency back in our week to week performances on the run home, it's been a bit predictable this year in terms of the polarising performances.
@frugby said in Otago v Northland:
Dance of the desperates.
Speak for yourself pal.. however, as per usual you may just be lucky this week, as usually after a great show we return to cabbage mode..
@Duluth said in NZR review:
@mikedogz said in NZR review:
Some unions are quite small and could merge. But I also think some unions are too big. There is a reason there are the same few teams that have won the NPC, they have the biggest population and rugby numbers. Stuff the traditions, break up Canterbury, Wellington, Auckland.
I think that is quite likely if the provinces become fully amateur. A West Auckland sub union with it's own rep team etc. Also, maybe places like the Far North would rather have a team than compete with Whangarei based players in a Northland side?
That sort of thing might be an improvement for club/community level.
That was actually mooted several years back by a radical Mangonui sub union member.. terrible idea in my humble opinion. North Zone rugby in Northland isnt particularly strong currently and wouldnt compete. We do get players good enough for Northland teams but the majority head to bigger clubs futher down the line. Could only really do concepts like that in city unions.. Auckland West and East. Wellington City, Hutt Valley/Western Bays etc etc..
@Duluth said in NZR review:
@J77 said in NZR review:
potential mergers
Not PU mergers. New pro teams
So what's our thoughts, just personally, on what that may look like?
@Kirwan be interesting if the 10 team merger concept came to fruition. What sort ideas would people have of potential mergers?
I know personally I'd rather go to the bottom of the heartland and compete for the wooden spoon each year than merge with Harbour. 😂
Would we be bringing back pre 1985 Auckland?
The ref definitely missed stuff both ways, and I understand from a losing team perspective this only gets scrutinised more, but that game flowed and both teams got to express themselves.. more so us thankfully.
Can't blame Maggie, I thought she was better than most of the male refs we've seen in all games this year!
The first 10 minutes I thought we were in big shit..but we just flicked a switch and chucked on the jets. Hawkes Bay didn't go away, but we just managed to keep choking them at crucial times.
Mau'u and Nock were massive! Also very pleased with our tweenies Anderson and Woods. Shows what can happen when you give the young ones a crack. The future looks good if we still have an NPC in years to come.
Now, let's back this up in Dunedin..got to put two in a row on the board this time.
I'll take that lead, but that was a soft 7 we coughed up from a kickoff mistake. This game is far from sealed though, we need to keep playing..