Steamers 2018

[Snollygoster]

Its been bought to my attention that the unknown guy may have been an instructor and not a Steamer. As a side note check out the size of their arms...good to see the gym work paying dividends.

[Snollygoster]

And Lats is back.

[KiwiPie]

http://www.boprugby.co.nz/news--information/latimer-returns-to-the-bay/

3 seasons will be enough for him to get past the 100 - always hoped he would come back to the Bay.

[Snollygoster]

Okay the Bay team is announced this week and I'm sure the details of it are already known in rugby circles. Given what has been posted on social media and some guess work, here is my selection. Remember... it is only my guess and I'm more often than not wrong..

Hookers :- Harris, Polwart, Siataga and Meachen.

Props :- Ross, Thwaites, Sakalia, McHugh, Mafileo and Frost.

Locks :- Wardlow, Leaupepe and Morris.

Loose forwards :- Cane, Latimer, Mua, Blake, Karpik, Ardron and Axtens

Halfbacks :- Judd and Campbell.

First Five :- Delany, Robertson and Trask.

Midfield :- Hepetema, Fuatai and Steel,

Outside backs :- Garland, Simonson, Webber, Collier and Te Aute

I'm not sure what the injury situation is with Ross and Webber or the availability of Parete and Tiatia and possibly one more lock is needed. Do any Mafia members have any inside knowledge of selections?

Anyway I look forward to seeing who is actually selected. Does anyone know of the availability of players for club finals given the Steamers pre season camp and games ?

[KiwiPie]

@snollygoster I don't have as much insight as you so I cannot comment on who's being picked - but appreciate you laying that squad out.

With comparative riches in the loose forwards and the dearth of experienced locks, what about moving Ardron there permanently - he's certainly done a job for the Chiefs and his mobility will be handy.

[Snollygoster]

@kiwipie Thanks Kiwipie. Your comments about me having more "insight" were hilarious. Many of my selections were based purely on the people in that photo I posted earlier in this thread and and the makeup of the team which played against that Waikato selection. I don't know (or pretend to know ) anymore about whats going on than you guys.

My selections for lock are based on part logic and part bias.....Wardlow is presently involved with the Chiefs and Leaupepe and Morris both play for my home team (Te Puke). Having said that , Leaupepe played for Wellington a couple of seasons back and Morris was contracted to the Steamers two years ago but missed the entire season with injury. I haven't seen Ardron play since last year but I hear he has been playing well so maybe should get a permanent locking position.

Its nice to see someone else commenting on this forum.

[KiwiPie]

Ardron has looked like a different player for the Chiefs (dynamic) than for the Steamers (mundane)

[Donsteppa]

I was... very surprised... when Ardron was picked at lock for the Chiefs, but he's done a great job there for them this season. I'm thinking he's a definite for the Steamers at lock with Franklin gone plus the other options that we have in the loose forwards.

It's a shame Parete is showing up as Taranaki, he has a lot of promise.

[KiwiPie]

@donsteppa said in Steamers 2018:

It's a shame Parete is showing up as Taranaki, he has a lot of promise.

It was always likely to happen - he only came to us because he couldn't get a sniff in the Naki. Getting Super game time means he'll be in demand

[trooa]

@snollygoster Add Hoani Matenga in to the locks.

[Snollygoster]

@trooa Thanks for that. There have been a few recent pictures of the Steamers on instagram and I was wondering who he was. It seems that several of my selections earlier were wrong (predictably). The full team (minus those involved in the super semis and club finals ) are presently in camp in Waiuru ahead of Fridays preseason against Wanganui and Manawatu.

[Snollygoster]

Here's my updated picks for what its worth. I'm not 100% sure on Axtens or who Mr X and Mr Y are....there are a few options.

Hookers :- Harris, Polwart, Siataga and Meachen.
Props :- Ross, Thwaites, Sakalia, McHugh, Mafileo and Lay.
Locks :- Wardlow, Leaupepe and Matenga.
Loose forwards :- Cane, Latimer, Mua, Blake, Karpik, Ardron and Axtens
Halfbacks :- Judd and Campbell.
First Five :- Delany, Robertson and Trask.
Midfield :- Hepetema, Fuatai and Steel.
Outside backs :- Garland, Simonson, Mr X, Mr Y and Joass.

Whoever gets picked it looks like a fairly capable team...plenty of experience (especially in the forwards), a few new faces and some emerging talent. Whether we have enough x factor in the backs is yet to be seen.

[mrfc]

Any one seen a team list for this game?

https://www.turbosrugby.co.nz/news/turbos-xvs-named-for-game-of-three-halves-preseason-clash

[Snollygoster]

Bay of Plenty XV v Wanganui:

1. Solomona Sakalia
2. Miracle Lalofi
3. Josh Davey
4. Baden Wardlaw
5. Stan Van Den Hoven
6. Matt Axtens
7. Kaipo Brown
8. Ajay Mua
9. Leroy Carter
10. Kaleb Trask
11. Pryor Collier
12. Matt Garland
13. Dennon Robinson
14. Josh Honey
15. Bailey Simonsson

Bay of Plenty XV v Manawatu:

1. Tom McHugh
2. Valentine Meachen
3. James Lay
4. Baden Wardlaw
5. Aaron Carroll
6. Tanerau Latimer
7. Hugh Blake
8. Hoani Matenga
9. Leroy Carter
10. Kaleb Trask
11. Matt Garland
12. Terrence Hepetema
13. Liam Steele
14. Faasiu Fuatai
15. Bailey Simonsson

[Stargazer]

I don't think it will surprise anyone after the news that Ross has re-signed with the Chiefs, but it is now also confirmed that he has re-signed with Bay of Plenty until 2021.

http://www.boprugby.co.nz/news--information/aidan-ross-signs-through-till-2021/

[Snollygoster]

I'm not sure what you can read into that Taihape game. With probably 10 or 12 Steamers who played in club finals and Super rugby not included in those teams the results may be meaningless. Having said that Manawatu were probably in the same situation. This Fridays game against Harbour at Ngarawahia may be more interesting and will see more of the full squad playing. Interesting to see the TAB already making us third favourite behind Otago and Waikato which is odd considering that our team isn't even announced and we have only played one preseason game.

[Snollygoster]

Bay of Plenty: 1. Solomona Sakalia, 2. Valentine Meachen, 3. James Lay, 4. Baden Wardlaw, 5. Kane Le'aupepe, 6. Hoani Matenga, 7. Hugh Blake, 8. Ajay Mua, 9. Luke Campbell, 10. Jason Robertson, 11. Matt Garland, 12. Terrence Hepetema, 13. Liam Steel, 14. Fa'asiu Fuatai, 15. Bailey Simonsson. Reserves: 16. Angus MacDonald, 17. Tom McHugh, 18. Tevita Mafileo, 19. Lars Morrice, 20. Zane Kapeli, 21. Isaac Te Aute, 22. Elijah Nicholas, 23. Kaleb Trask

Fixture Details:
Bay of Plenty v North Harbour
Date: Friday August 3
Location: Ngaruawhia High School, 56 Kent St, Ngaruawahia
Time: 12.30pm kick-off

[Snollygoster]

BOP 43 Harbour 26

[Snollygoster]

According to the local paper the team is officially announced tomorrow.

I see Te Aihe Toma is on the Counties team list which is odd because Judd hasn't fronted for any preseason games thus far and Issac Te Aute played at halfback for half of todays Harbour game. Good on Toma anyway.

Hopefully tomorrow will reveal a bit more.

[Snollygoster]

2018 Bay of Plenty Steamers Squad:
Hookers:
Nathan Harris – Te Puke Sports (29), Liam Polwart – Greerton Marist (14), Sabastian Siataga – Mount Maunganui (13)

Props:
Ross Geldenhyus – Papamoa (0), James Lay – Whakarewarewa (10), Tevita Mafileo – Tauranga Sports (0), Tom McHugh – Whakarewarewa (0), Aidan Ross – Te Puke Sports (24), Solomona Sakalia – Mount Maunganui (33), Jeff Thwaites – Te Puna (21)

Locks:
Tyler Ardron – Papamoa (7), Kane Le’aupepe – Te Puke Sports (0), Baden Wardlaw – Rotoiti (1)

Loose Forwards:
Hugh Blake – Te Puke Sports (15), Sam Cane – Tauranga Sports (19), Mitchell Karpik – Rangataua (6), Tanerau Latimer – Rangiuru (79)

Number 8’s:
Aileone Junior Lafaele-Mua (AJ) – Tauranga Sports (1), Hoani Matenga – Rangiuru (0)

Half backs:
Luke Campbell – Te Puke Sports (16), Richard Judd – Mount Maunganui (10)

First five-eights:
Mike Delaney – Mount Maunganui (72), Jason Robertson – Te Puke Sports (0)

Midfield backs:
Lalakai Foketi – Rangataua (30), Terrence Hepetema – Te Puna (19), Liam Steel – Mount Maunganui (4), Trael Joass – Mount Maunganui (0)

Outside backs:
Matthew Garland – Whakarewarewa (3), Fa’asui Fuatai – Rangataua (0), Kaleb Trask – Tauranga Sports (0), Bailey Simonsson – Greerton Marist (0), Chase Tiatia – Rangataua (26)

A few surprises...The return of Foketi and Tiatia and the inclusion of the South African prop Ross Geldenhyus,