Blues 2026

[SouthernMann]

@WoodysRFC said in Blues 2026:

Looking at Reon Paul, Clarke, Forbes, Sullivan, Spencer, Saunoa, anyone else?

So, Perofeta at fullback with Clarke on one wing and ??? For a region that produces a lot of outside backs depth looks a bit shallow

[brodean]

@WoodysRFC said in Blues 2026:

Looking at Reon Paul, Clarke, Forbes, Sullivan, Spencer, Saunoa, anyone else?

Spencer and Paul I thought had one year deals for 2025?

Spencer shouldn't be there based on this years form. He needs to bulk up and work on his defence.

[WoodysRFC]

@brodean said in Blues 2026:

@WoodysRFC said in Blues 2026:

Looking at Reon Paul, Clarke, Forbes, Sullivan, Spencer, Saunoa, anyone else?

Spencer and Paul I thought had one year deals for 2025?

Spencer shouldn't be there based on this years form. He needs to bulk up and work on his defence.

Just working on assumptions here, would be inclined to agree. So who's most likely, since you're looking rather light?

[Bovidae]

Who posted this rumour?

[SouthernMann]

@Bovidae said in Blues 2026:

Who posted this rumour?

The myth of Dmac getting oracle status for being a fern lurker.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@brodean Spencer signed until end of 26. Paul is off contract this year but may be re-signed. He looked useful coming back from injury for BOP late in the NPC.
Codi Vai may be there. He was not with NZ Sevens last weekend. Kade Banks is also a possibility.
The Props selections will be interesting. Ofa's injury (we had rumors on here of possible medical retirement). Gus gone, Sheck off contract, the invisible man Ben Ake who has been with Auckland and the Blues for 3 seasons and played 6 times for Auckland in 23 and nothing since. Amazingly he still has 2 years to run on his 5 year Blues contract having yet to play due mostly to long term injury. The fact they have 3 props in the above rumored wider training group suggests they have injury concerns or will drop from 7 props to six this season allowing for an extra loose forward/lock.

[Duluth]

I would like to see Cohen Norrie selected as an outside back. Use him as a second fullback on the wing initially. He looks very talented, get him involved now

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Duluth I would too. but I fear him ending up in the Crusaders wider group replacing Trainor who withdrew to return to MLR. Also suspect our coach does not rate smaller backs, hence loosing Tito-Harris while signing bodies like Paul, Vai and Suanoa. We always produce big strong athletes. The fast, nimble quick thinkers are rare we should protect them when we find them.

[WoodysRFC]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2026:

@Duluth I would too. but I fear him ending up in the Crusaders wider group replacing Trainor who withdrew to return to MLR. Also suspect our coach does not rate smaller backs, hence loosing Tito-Harris while signing bodies like Paul, Vai and Suanoa.

Odd, Tito-Harris isn't exactly a midget, bigger than Vai I'd imagine. It's a shame if that's your coaches mentality since we're in a golden period for smaller outside backs.

[Duluth]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2026:

Also suspect our coach does not rate smaller backs

Hopefully that's not the case. He does rate Taele

[ARHS]

Hoping the Chiefs can drag Reon Paul back if off contract

[brodean]

I'd take Paul if hes fit.

[cliff]

@Steven-Harris who have the chiefs signed

[KiwiMurph]

@brodean said in Blues 2026:

I'd take Paul if hes fit.

Would make a nice change from Paul's Blues involvement in 2025

[Daffy Jaffy]

From Sam Slade's Instagram. It appears that Choat ahs sorted his Visa.

[Tim]

@Daffy-Jaffy Has Slade moved to Japan too?

[Tim]

Got an odd feeling about this squad. We struggled with frontrow depth last year. Really hope Tu'ungufasi is back, and there's a couple of strong signings.

Six is up for grabs. Who is the backup number 8?

Will Funaki kick on?

Will Darry stay fit? Perofeta and Barrett?

A bit of uncertainty around midfield and back three.

[Tim]

What's the 23 looking like before Tuipulotu returns?

1 Fusitua
2 Slater
3 Renata
4 Beehre
5 Darry
6 Christie
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu

9 Christie
10 Barrett
11 Clarke
12 Evans
13 Lam
14 ?
15 Sullivan

16 Eklund
17 Tu'ungufasi
18 ?
19 McWhannell
20 Segner/Wrampling
21 Funaki
22 Perofeta
23 Ahki/Taele

Definitely a possibility for a 6-2 split, given the versatility in the backline.

Good replacements for Ta'avao and Telea are needed in the squad.

[Tim]

Going back to previous thread:
Based on the player profiles (I haven't seen any contract announcements this year), these are per player contract lengths:

Angus Ta’avao - 2025

Ofa Tu’ungafasi - 2026

Marcel Renata - 2027

Jordan Lay - 2026

Joshua Fusitu’a - 2025

PJ Sheck - 2025

Ben Ake - 2027

Kurt Eklund - 2026

Ricky Riccitelli - 2025

James Mullan - 2026

Laghlan McWhannell - 2026

Cameron Christie - 2027

Patrick Tuipulotu - 2025

Sam Darry - 2025

Josh Beehre - 2027

Cameron Suafoa - 2025

Adrian Choat - 2025

Dalton Papali’i - 2027

Anton Segner - 2026

Hoskins Sotutu - 2026

Che Clark - 2026

Finlay Christie - 2025

Sam Nock - 2026

Taufa Funaki - 2026

Stephen Perofeta - 2026

Harry Plummer - 2025

Beauden Barrett - 2027

Rieko Ioane - 2027

Xavi Taele - 2025

Corey Evans - 2026

Meihana Grindlay - 2025

Zarn Sullivan - 2026

Mark Tele’a - 2025

Caleb Clarke - 2025

AJ Lam - 2026

Payton Spencer - 2026

Reon Paul - 2025

Cole Forbes - 2026

These are the players off contract at the end of 2025:

Angus Ta’avao
Re-signed: Joshua Fusitu’a
PJ Sheck

Ricky Riccitelli

Re-signed: Patrick Tuipulotu
Re-signed: Sam Darry

Very unlikely: Cameron Suafoa
Adrian Choat

Likely to stay: Finlay Christie

Harry Plummer

Re-signed: Xavi Taele
Meihana Grindlay

Mark Tele’a
Re-signed: Caleb Clarke
Reon Paul

Ioane on sabbatical.

Injury cover for Tuipulotu?

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Tim Yep, to Sayama Secom -