Blues 2019

[African Monkey]

@tim Isn't Levien going to Harbour with Stratton going to Waikato?

[Tim]

@african-monkey Yep, that sounds more like it. Levien played for Northcote, and I think that someone here posted about Stratton going to Waikato.

[Tim]

Discussion of the Blues on Scotty Stevenson's Short Ball podcast today:

Big clean out at the Blues. Entire strength and conditioning team gone. Tony Hanks has done recruitment pretty much by himself in the past, Coventry/MacDonald won't be interested in that, expected to change a lot. According to Mils, Daniel Halangahu (Harbour's assistant coach) is being lined up for skills coach. Coventry doesn't tolerate any shit and might put a rocket up the forwards.

Stevenson claimed that both MacDonald and Coventry are on two yeqr contracts, but it was reported at his signing that MacDonald was on a three year deal.

[taniwharugby]

@tim havent heard alot of good about Hanks though.

They need to look higher than those support roles for people to kick out as well

[Tim]

@taniwharugby I got the feeling from the podcast that Hanks is on his way out.

[Duluth]

@tim said in Blues 2019:

Big clean out at the Blues. Entire strength and conditioning team gone. Tony Hanks has done recruitment pretty much by himself in the past, Coventry/MacDonald won't be interested in that, expected to change a lot. According to Mils, Daniel Halangahu (Harbour's assistant coach) is being lined up for skills coach. Coventry doesn't tolerate any shit and might put a rocket up the forwards.

Stevenson claimed that both MacDonald and Coventry are on two yeqr contracts, but it was reported at his signing that MacDonald was on a three year deal.

MacDonald and Coventry getting more and more power and they are appointed for a longer period than the head coach. They should have been brave enough to make a clean split (unless its a stage managed departure..)

Also worth noting that if Halangahu comes in, the North Harbour coaching staff is essentially taking over. Which is a good thing, they earned the promotion. Coventry/Halangahu/Afeaki.

[KiwiMurph]

This is all good news.

Hanks doing the recruitment by himself is fucking ridiculous but entitely believable based on what has happened the last few years.

Also - Blues have not looked fit in recent years and had their fair share of injuries - so i'm also happy at a new S&C approach.

[KiwiMurph]

@tim said in Blues 2019:

@taniwharugby I got the feeling from the podcast that Hanks is on his way out.

Good. He is quoted as saying Michael Collins is one of the better fullbacks in Super Rugby. What a joke.

[nzzp]

@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:

Good. He is quoted as saying Michael Collins is one of the better fullbacks in Super Rugby. What a joke.

I can just see the war room, patting each other on teh back 'can't believe we secured Michael Collins signature without competition. We're going to smash them with communication skills fellas'

[Tim]

Another thing from the podcast was that as the season got tougher, Umaga took on more coaching responsibility, and used his assistants less and less.

[nzzp]

@tim said in Blues 2019:

Tony Hanks has done recruitment pretty much by himself in the past,

Uh, no. Picture of our recruitment team in action below:

[Steven Harris]

@kiwimurph should have been the first one Gased.

[Chris B.]

@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:

In all seriousness you'd have to think with Leon's reputation he'd be eyeing up some new options at 9.

In addition be interesting if any Ta$man players (especially backs) follow Leon to the Blues.

Almost all of the established Ta$man players are already locked into Super contracts.

There's a few lesser lights like Vern Fredericks or (the second coming of) Billy Guyton available - otherwise there's a few kids. No-one who's likely to make an immediate impact, except maybe Jed Brown (a poach from Canterbury) and just possibly Leicester Faingaanuku.

Don't recall Jack Stratton being a Mako.

[taniwharugby]

bit into the future, but heard good things about Taufa Funaki (think he might be just finishing school) out of Sacred Heart?

[KiwiMurph]

@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:

bit into the future, but heard good things about Taufa Funaki (think he might be just finishing school) out of Sacred Heart?

Yeah he was in the NZ Schools team last year and was impressive. Still very young but worth keeping an eye on.

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby He was in the NZ Schools squad, but not yet in a Mitre 10 squad, isn't he?

[Stargazer]

@kiwimurph Beat me to it. :smiling_face_with_open_mouth:

[taniwharugby]

@stargazer from what I gather he is still at school

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby Ah, so if he's not too old, he may have another year in NZ Schools as well!

[trooa]

Should be hearing his intentions for next year soon now that their school season has been completed.