Exactly Taniwha, it's a real concern.
mohikamo
Posts
-
-
Taniwha, what are you saying! The midfield was extremely consistent this year! Consistently SHITE! Leilua is a perfect example of what we are talking about. Our outsides were actually quite good this year, but they got absolutely no service from inside. If Leilua had been put into any sort of space by the midfield, I think he would have had a dynamic season. And probably got some sort of Super deal. That's what should have happened. Instead, I'm concerned that players like Leilua will try their luck somewhere else. As for Witcombe. I dont know him, but think if I did, I'd like him. But to be the Taniwha coach right now, you need to be very strong mentally and I dont think he's up to it. The Witcombe/Konia dynamic, alternating head/assistant coach roles, is a bit weird too.
-
Spot on kev. The young player development pathway is poor. I dont like to say it, but right now, if I was a young player showing a bit of potential, I'd try and get into another system. If you compare us to a province like Taranaki, we would have more raw material than them in the long term. But they seem to get the utmost out of their locals, and because they have a good recent record, they can bring in class players from the outside to top up the squad. This situation absolutely has to be changed. It hamstrings the NPC squad right from the kickoff.
-
Hmmm...yeah...a Heartland side in the far north...nah. Maybe if the Northland side was going gangbusters you might think about it, and then say nah! The only heartland expansion I can see, and a bit surprised it hasn't all ready, is a Canterbury Country team. North Canterbury that is. They would be very competitive from kick off.
Northland should look south. I'd love to see the Mahurangi club prised away from North Harbour union. Kaipara Flats, Warkworth and Omaha were part of the North Auckland union for decades. Might be wrong, but I dont think they have ever won a North Harbour title. They would be a power house in the Northland comp, give the local club scene a boost.
As for schools. Well. I went to school in Ta$man, so I always compare what goes on there with here. Ta$man; 2 boys (& 2 girls) schools, 5 high schools, 4 area schools. Similar to Northland. Nelson College has become a perennial contender for the Crusaders and South Island titles, and feeds a steady stream of players into the Mako and Super rugby. Schools rugby has definitely kicked on in Ta$man, but seems to have regressed in the North. The Moascar Cup actually bounced around in the north (and far north) for a decade. So the situation has been different. Whangarei BHS to North Harbour is a good move. Ta$man also have a combined schools team in the Crusaders comp, maybe Northland could do something similar. Combine the rest of the Whangarei schools, or the Bay of Islands schools and send them into the North Harbour comp as well.
Now for the Taniwha. Apart from 12 and 13 the raw material actually looks ok. While not dominant, the forwards look allright, set piece ok, go forward ok. But back play is dire. And fitness questionable. These are coaching and development issues to me. Witcombe and Konia cant be happy. So the real problems are off field. I think about everyone agrees on that. They need to get some humility at Northland HQ and go and have a very close look at what similar provinces are doing. The likes of Shield Snorters, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty. Northland rank about 9th in the NPC demographics table. This suggests that Championship play-offs every season is not an unreasonable expectation.
Finally. I noticed the game broadcast on the weekend used Te Tai Tokerau name as well as Northland. Not wanting to upset anyone, but the Northland name has never had much mana for me. What do we think about an official name change? I'm pakeha, if you were wondering
-
Yeah. Dunno why they are not giving Gregory a run at 12. Especially when the incumbents are not really showing anything. I laughed when I saw the replay of the try where Laumape ran straight up the middle of the field untouched. It's a different camera angle, Laumape in the foreground, and if you look in the background you can see Johnson and Tua having a "discussion". Haha. What a f...ing shambles. This is starting to reflect badly on Witcombe and Konia. Defence is all about attitude and organisation, coaches can have a big influence on that. Seasons gone, move Gregory to 12. If he's guna make the big time, it'll be in that position. And I'm guna say it.... he even reminds me a bit of Joe Morgan. And jeez my second team is going good, just watched them demolish Counties. They've superceded Canterbury in the Crusaders franchise, incredible, imagine if Northland did that to Auckland.
-
Yeah. Player development. You would have to say that every player in the Taniwha squad would be a better player if they were in, say, the Canterbury/Crusaders system. Individual player development in Northland has been poor for decades. I grew up with the North Auckland teams of the 70's. Teams capable of beating any opposition. With a coach who had been in the position for 25 years! And with a No 9 who was the greatest sniper of all time! Nock should take note of that legacy! It's hard to look at the 12's getting a run at the moment as well, after having had sixteen seasons (consecutive) of Joe Morgan in that pos. I still watch, but it aint easy. Especially when my second team has always been Nelson/ Ta$man!!!
-
This is about the best draw we could hope for. Start at home, one trip to the South Island, two other trips south (Palmerston and Wellington) spaced 2 or 3 weeks apart. For the other seven games we do not go south of Pukekohe.
-
Might be wrong, but at 273 games, that puts Collins number one on the list of most New Zealand top class games without making All Blacks.
-
Thought Goodhue was starting to look very classy for Canterbury this season. If he keeps that rate of development up for another couple of years he'll be starting to look like AB material. He's got a long Crusaders contract now, no reason he cant switch to the Taniwha for NPC.
Northland 2020
Northland 2020
Northland 2020
Northland Rugby
Manawatu vs Northland
v Hawkes Bay
NPC draw
Gus Collins receives NZ Rugby Award
Coach