Blues 2025

[Landers92]

@African-Monkey from a guy I’ve not got oil from before so unsure how reliable

[frugby]

@Landers92 Have heard Moananu is not signed to the Crusaders so this would make sense.

[gt12]

@Landers92

The right place for him to look - no really established player at AB level, and the opportunity to work alongside AB level tight five players.

[KiwiMurph]

That would be good for both Blues and NZ Rugby

[Bovidae]

How long was Mullan signed for? Four doesn't go into three if Eklund and he are still under contract.

[frugby]

@Bovidae Teams have contracted four hookers before... perhaps Eklund has something lined up in Japan though?

[brodean]

We had 5 hookers signed for 2025. According to all.rugby only Eklund has a contract beyond this year. He's getting a bit long in the tooth age wise but still seems quite dynamic and has improved his set piece a lot

[KiwiMurph]

@brodean said in Blues 2025:

We had 5 hookers signed for 2025.

There's a difference between a full squad signing and having to bring guys in due to an injury crisis

Moananu seems too good to be true so I would assume Slater is the signing.

Blues website states Mullan is signed until end 2026.

[Tim]

Mullan is terrible, so hopefully he is gone.

[Tim]

So given the rumors and the known departures, who are we looking at next year for the preferred match-day squad?

1 Tu'ungufasi
2 Moananu
3 Renata
4 Darry
5 Tuipulotu
6 Christie
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu

9 Funaki
10 Barrett
11 Clarke
12 Taele
13 Lam
14 ?
15 Sullivan

16 Eklund/Slater
17 Fusitua
18 ?
19 Beehre/McWhannell
20 Segner
21 Christie/Nock
22 Perofeta
23 Evans

Obvious signings needed will be tight-head prop and wing. There must be some quality young wings around. Forbes can cover there.

Who will be the backup 12 and 13?

Lock is a strength so expect plenty of rotation.

[African Monkey]

Is Sotutu hanging around? Ofa obviously has a bad injury and it has been reported that he could be retiring, I'd assume we'll be keeping Mason Tupaea and maybe Hamdahn Tuipulotu comes into the squad if Ta'avao is retiring too.

I'm gonna assume that Slater and Eklund will be our hookers next year, with Christie starting at 9. Right wing? Do we see Xavier Tito-Harris get a gig? Is Perofeta hanging around?

As you pointed out, Lock is a position of strength. Do we see Beehre get some minutes at 6 next year?

[Landers92]

Kade Banks a potential option to head back to the blues perhaps now he’s off the Canes books. Little bit of chat about that around

[Steven Harris]

@African-Monkey Cam Christie or Tristian Cook are options for 6 as well ,Josh looks more of a tight lock but i stand to be corrected as he is extremely mobile
Che Clark kind of reminds of Miracle Fai’langi before he put some size on would like to see him given the 6 jersey for Auckland and told just go out an pd own it

[brodean]

Think the Blues will struggle to hang on to Papali'i and Sotutu. This is a major blow.

I find it incredible that the Blues only have 1 forward they consider worthy of selection.

[African Monkey]

@brodean said in Blues 2025:

Think the Blues will struggle to hang on to Papali'i and Sotutu. This is a major blow.

I find it incredible that the Blues only have 1 forward they consider worthy of selection.

Yeah it's becoming harder and harder to keep hold of our players these days due to them rightly or wrongly getting snubbed for higher honours.

Still, it's a long season, injuries are gonna happen, so hopefully we see a few more of our boys in Black as the season goes on.

[george33]

@brodean Dalton is contracted to end of 27, Hoskins next season can't see them leaving.

[nzzp]

@george33 said in Blues 2025:

Hoskins next season can't see them leaving.

Akira was contracted as well. Once a player wants to go, it's done basically.

[brodean]

@nzzp

Yeah looks like Paps has a kid on the way

[george33]

@nzzp pretty sure Akira was of contract when he left

[Chris]

@george33 said in Blues 2025:

@brodean Dalton is contracted to end of 27, Hoskins next season can't see them leaving.

Contracts don't mean much McALister moved to the Chiefs when he was still contracted to the Crusaders for 2 more years and was released.
If players really want to go they get a release.