The Silver Fern

@Tim we might have a good chance of signing Manu with the Chiefs needing to find a spot for Quin Tupaea.
Scott Gregory is a must. He has massive potential and looked really good for Northland last year.
I’m looking forward to seeing Tomas Aoake play for Harbour this year, hopefully he has a good season and can get selected for the Blues. He can cover center, wing and fullback which will be good value for us.
Could Nonu go again in 2020??

Sam McNamara is my pick to start the season at 6. Mayanavanua played 6 for the Blues A team this year so he is another possibility

@gt12 moulds ia getting more than his normal 10 mins!

@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2019:

My mail is telling me James Parsons will be re signing with the Blues for another 2 x seasons

Geez i hope not! If they are that desperate to resign him then atleast give him one year contracts otherwise we
are going to end up with another Leni Apisai.
Hopefully Rangi can convince Ben Funnell to come up, he’s 3rd choice at the Crusaders these days but would be a starter for us. Robbie Abel or Greg Pleasants-Tate could be other options.

@Nogusta said in Northland vs. Auckland:

@Daffy-Jaffy and to think Sione Havili was in the mix too. Aleks Dabek is also pretty handy. Been in the Auckland Academy and there or there abouts since leaving school but just absolutely can't get a look in. Currently exploring opportunities outside of Auckland

Northland could have used Aleks Dabek they have so many injuries already

@Tim said in Blues 2019:

James Parsons has plenty of professional rugby experience, having achieved the rare double of earning over 100 caps at both provincial and Super Rugby level. The last player to do this was Caleb Ralph, who hasn’t played Super Rugby in eight years.

It’s Parsons’ considerable experience that has seen him earn a pair of caps for New Zealand, against Scotland in 2014 and Australia in 2016. At 32 years of age, he’s also on par with Coles as being the oldest of New Zealand’s current crop of hookers.

Beyond experience, however, Parsons is simply a grafter, willing to do whatever job is required on the rugby field.

It’s therefore no major surprise to see Parsons show up as middle of the pack in many stats – he does a bit of everything **but doesn’t particularly excel in any facet of the game**. He touches the ball often – second only to Taylor – **but doesn’t make a lot of ground when in possession, nor does he bust many tackles.**

**Parsons also makes the fewest tackles** of New Zealand’s hookers – **and is shrugged off by opposition more often**. The Blues lineout also operates at only 84% when Parsons is throwing the ball into the lineout.

**Overall, Parsons’ stats are fairly underwhelming**. He tends to get involved in a wide range of areas of the game but **is fairly ineffective at what he does**. He’s been capped by New Zealand before and could be a worthy squad member, if only for his experience, but the other hookers at the All Blacks’ disposal have considerably more upsides.

Why the fuck did we resign him??

@Kirwan nice throw and run. He’s already having a better game than parsons

@Daffy-Jaffy it could be a blessing in disguise if he is out, it would give players like Telea and Clarke a opportunity for more game time. Tbh i would rather players that don’t play for the Blues like Aso, Manu and Rayasi to leave Auckland so they don’t block the development of young players that want to play for the Blues. I was happy when i heard the news that Seu was going to Waikato. The Blues need to repair their relationship with Auckland to strengthen the pathway for young players because currently they are going from schoolboy/club rugby straight to Super rugby and that leap is too far.

@dice apparently Sam Slade signed for Stade Montois is the French Pro D2 but then back fliiped due to ‘family reasons’ in NZ. Potentially this means a super rugby team has picked him up. Hopefully MP?