Blues 2025

gt12

@Steven-Harris

Any hints?

My guess is that they play first five / fullback

sparky

@Steven-Harris Finlay Christie?

Steven Harris

@gt12 it’s one of those ones that so fresh , as soon as I get the ok to release I will post it

gt12

Interesting to speculate, because the assumption is that it's an AB who is (potentially) on the chopping block with squad announcement coming.

Would be big news if it is a leading loosie, HB, or first 5, and could be very wow if it is a midfielder....

brodean

Could be anyone really.

We need to get some new attack/back coach and start recruiting some players.

Malachi Wrampling and Jacomb would be good.

frugby

Hoskins Sotutu is surely the obvious one?

gt12

@frugby said in Blues 2025:

Hoskins Sotutu is surely the obvious one?

Yes and no.
Japan isn't the obvious landing place for him unless he wants to play for Fiji.

African Monkey

Sotutu or Perofeta are obvious candidates.

frugby

@gt12 Who said he is overly motivated about playing international rugby? I reckon a French/Japanese team probably pays him double what an English side would.

gt12

@frugby said in Blues 2025:

@gt12 Who said he is overly motivated about playing international rugby? I reckon a French/Japanese team probably pays him double what an English side would.

You'd have to ask him that question. Hence our speculation.

His value in Japan would be high, but he's not exactly a 'famous' AB. I wonder whether he may be a bit harder to sell to company executives who control the purse strings.

Landers92

@African-Monkey said in Blues 2025:

Sotutu or Perofeta are obvious candidates.

Yeah I thought Perofeta then remembered he just signed on with Auckland in the NPC for personal reasons. Would be weird to do that then request to bugger off to Japan

gt12

@Landers92

That's a good point, but is NPC that important? I dunno, it might make it easier to leave?

African Monkey

@Landers92 said in Blues 2025:

@African-Monkey said in Blues 2025:

Sotutu or Perofeta are obvious candidates.

Yeah I thought Perofeta then remembered he just signed on with Auckland in the NPC for personal reasons. Would be weird to do that then request to bugger off to Japan

That's true, but maybe just one season there then head off perhaps?

Landers92

@African-Monkey said in Blues 2025:

@Landers92 said in Blues 2025:

@African-Monkey said in Blues 2025:

Sotutu or Perofeta are obvious candidates.

Yeah I thought Perofeta then remembered he just signed on with Auckland in the NPC for personal reasons. Would be weird to do that then request to bugger off to Japan

That's true, but maybe just one season there then head off perhaps?

Perhaps he’s had a tap on the shoulder. Think his NZR contract ends in 2026. Ruben Love is now ahead of him as that 10/15 guy imo. Someone has to be the odd man out

gt12

@Landers92 said in Blues 2025:

@African-Monkey said in Blues 2025:

@Landers92 said in Blues 2025:

@African-Monkey said in Blues 2025:

Sotutu or Perofeta are obvious candidates.

Yeah I thought Perofeta then remembered he just signed on with Auckland in the NPC for personal reasons. Would be weird to do that then request to bugger off to Japan

That's true, but maybe just one season there then head off perhaps?

Perhaps he’s had a tap on the shoulder. Think his NZR contract ends in 2026. Ruben Love is now ahead of him as that 10/15 guy imo. Someone has to be the odd man out

That was exactly my thoughts with my initial post.

I don't think one person has picked him for the squad.

Landers92

While I’m here. Can confirm that it is Japan that Adrian Choat is headed to. Working to find out which club, if I can find that out before it’s announced then I will post in here

Daffy Jaffy

frugby

Lalakai Foketi has an offer from a NZ side. With Ioane and Grindlay leaving, Heem retiring, would seemingly leave the Blues the likely destination?

WoodysRFC

@frugby said in Blues 2025:

Lalakai Foketi has an offer from a NZ side. With Ioane and Grindlay leaving, Heem retiring, would seemingly leave the Blues the likely destination?

Where is Grindlay going?

brodean

Grindlay is the biggest waste of talent since Rob Rush and Taine Plumtree. Just straight up squandered by the Blues coaching staff.

The Silver Fern

Blues 2025