Blues 2019

[Dice]

@taniwharugby Tua's got a body like a young Melani Nanai, and in space, he kind of runs like him too, so maybe he just needs to permanently move out to the wing and develop his game there?

[taniwharugby]

@dice I think he is quick enough to play wing, so maybe he will need to until his defensive game improves.

[African Monkey]

@canes He's gone to Japan and with Tu'inukuafe and Hodgman here he probably isn't coming back.

[chchfanatic]

@dice taniela manu is nasi’s younger brother. Was playing for northland

[Nepia]

@african-monkey said in Blues 2019:

@canes He's gone to Japan and with Tu'inukuafe and Hodgman here he probably isn't coming back.

He wasn't capped by the ABs right? What is he about 30 now? He should declare for Tonga go to the RWC (play in it this time) and then head up to NH.

[African Monkey]

@nepia Nope, and yes I would expect to see him play for Tonga next year.

[gt12]

@african-monkey

He’d be the only pacific island representative with a WC winner medal wouldn’t he? And, have never have played for another country.

[antipodean]

Make for a good trivia question.

[Nepia]

@gt12 said in Blues 2019:

@african-monkey

He’d be the only pacific island representative with a WC winner medal wouldn’t he? And, have never have played for another country.

MJ would meet the first sentence (technically) but not the second.

[Tim]

@Chris-B

What's Ryan Coxon like at loosehead?

Other options would include Nic Mayhew, Chris Eves, Jeff Thwaites, Reuben O’Neill, Mitchell Graham (if alive), Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Jared Adams, Pauliasi Manu (if available), and Sam Prattley.

[Chris B.]

@tim Haven't seen enough of him to comment.

[Tim]

Come to think of it, Daniel Lienert-Brown is off contract too. Good around the field, but not strong in the scrum. Behind Hodgman at Canterbury, and a lesser ball-carrier too.

[Bovidae]

Coxon was mainly a TH who seems to have been converted to LH. He is out of St Peters Cambridge.

[Bones]

@tim yet performs very well for a better team in a starting position. Hmmm.

[Tim]

@bones Hodgman was injured for almost the entire Super Rugby season (again). He starts ahead of Lienert-Brown for Canterbury, who are a fairly decent team.

Aki Seiuli got a number of starts this year. And ... is actually off contract too.

[Canes]

@tim Well, he's starting over Crockett

[Canes]

Ross Wright looks decent as a loosehead for Northland

[kev]

@taniwharugby I think we forget how young a player like Tua is. The missed tackles is not good enough but if the Coaches are good enough and he has the courage they can turn that around. Hope they persist and make him the quality rugby player he can be.

[KiwiMurph]

Didn't Tua hurt his hand this year whilst out on the drink? Not a great look.

[Dice]

The two Taranaki looseheads, Reuben O'Neill and Jared Proffit, look handy. Both look quite strong in the scrums. Proffit in particular has come off the bench this season and just had guys moonwalking.