Blues 2019
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
@sammyc said in Blues 2019:
@machpants said in Blues 2019:
Ozzie need to look at this sort of thing, need a board with some ideas? Let's have an ex-National coach, an ex-MP, and a successful businessman
Yay
we get to hate John Hart again.I'd love for the Blues to be hated by other franchise fans instead of hated by their own fans. Dreams are free....
It'll happen (again).
The moment things click and the Blues become a team on the up the shift will commence and one of the other franchises will become the NZ 'fail' team'
Under the current system, having 4 teams in contention is impressive. Having 5? Near impossible.Would become very easy for the Chiefs or Highlanders to find themselves struggling for key players that decide to stay in Auckland.
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New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has announced that they have secured the key signatures of All Blacks, Blues and Auckland Rugby brothers, Rieko and Akira Ioane, who have both signed long-term contracts with the national body, their Blues club and the Auckland province.
21-year-old Rieko, the current World Breakthrough Player of the Year and nominee for Player of the Year, has signed a four-year deal through to the end of the 2022 season, while 23-year-old Akira has signed on through to 2021.
Rieko said he was “hugely excited” to be recommitting to New Zealand.
“I feel incredibly privileged to get the opportunity to play my rugby here for another four years. I want to give it my best shot at serving the black jersey and, hopefully, I’ll get the chance to play at the Rugby World Cup in the future. That’s a huge motivator for me.
“It was obviously tough this year for the Blues, but I feel we’re on the verge of something special and I want to be a part of that journey. Auckland is my home, it’s where I grew up and it’s the city that made me as a rugby player, so I want to do my bit to help it move forward.”
Akira said: “It was important for me to stay in Auckland and at the Blues because it’s my home and I want to help the teams in this city succeed. I also want to keep playing my best rugby and try and make it back into the All Blacks again.
“It will also be special sharing the next few years with my brother and representing our family out on the footy field.”
Rieko became the eighth youngest All Blacks Test debutant when he came off the bench against Italy at the age of 19 years and 239 days in November 2016. He has now started 16 of his 18 Tests and scored 18 tries to date, as well as 20 tries in 35 appearances for the Blues.
All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: “This is fantastic news for New Zealand Rugby. Rieko is a young player with undoubted talent who has already achieved wonderful things on the international stage. With his growing maturity and growth in his game understanding, I’m sure we’ll see his game go to even greater heights.
“Akira is also an immense talent who has a bright future in our national game and we congratulate him on his decision as well.”
Blues coach Tana Umaga added: “Rieko is an outstanding talent who works very hard at the game and is also willing to learn. He shows a level of maturity that belies his young age and this, as well as his passion for the club and region, makes him a leader of our young group.
Loose forward Akira had a breakout year in 2015, making his Blues debut, and also debuted alongside Rieko in the Maori All Blacks and for Auckland. He played for the All Blacks against a French XV last year and started every Investec Super Rugby game for the Blues this season.
“Akira was our ‘go to’ player in the forwards this year and yet he is still so young,” said Umaga. “He’s working hard to improve his game and will become a key leader in the years to come. He has such passion for our club and for Auckland – with our players this year selecting him as the Player of the Year.”
Auckland Rugby CEO Jarrod Bear said: “With Rieko’s and Akira’s development coming through the Auckland school, club and representative pathways into higher honours, Auckland Rugby is excited that they’ll continue to commit to playing and enjoying their rugby in Auckland. We know they are exciting players and we look forward to supporting them in the future.”
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Some good competition for the locking spots now.
Currently signed players:
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
Scott Scrafton
Patrick Tuipulotu
Jimmy TupouTuipulotu, Whetton, and Lemalu are all showing good form, with Scrafton to return from injury. When he comes back from his ACL and LCL ruptures is unclear, so extra cover might be needed.
Cowley-Tuioti has been pretty good for Harbour, with Pierce showing promise.
Have noticed Robinson from Northland. How is Goodhue going?
I'm considering Tupou as a six only, and Olmsted looks like the better option for a six who covers lock. That gives three specialist locks signed for probably five positions. Probably two of Goodhue, Whetton, and Lemalu will make the cut.
Lemalu has a unique ability, amongst potential Blues locks, to strongly defend mauls. He also adds a lot of power to scrums. How is his lineout work?
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@tim Goodhue has been very good, as has Robinson.
Both didnt play last night, and our lineout that had been functioning well struggled last night, we also missed both at the breakdown, conceding a bazillion turnovers
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@kiwimurph An awful signing. I don't know how he got an extension.
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African Monkey said:
@kiwimurph An awful signing. I don't know how he got an extension.
Cos he's mates with Tana from Counties. Urgh.
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The starting positions we need improvements in:
Hooker
Halfback
First Five
Centre
FullbackHoping we recruit:
Samisoni Taukei'aho
Leon Fukofuka
Otere Black returns well from injury
Tumua Manu
Shaun StevensonThen bench tighthead prop needs addressing. Renata has the workrate, but his scrummaging will need to go up a notch.
Tu’inukuafe
Taukei'aho
Tu'ungafasi
Scrafton
Tuipulotu
Olmsted
Gibson
Ioane
Fukofuka
Black
Ioane
SBW
Manu
Duffie
StevensonParsons
Hodgman
Renata
Whetton
Papali'i
Pulu
Perofeta
NonuShould be a lot of competition at lock and loose forward, which pleases me no end.
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@taniwharugby hope they have got security..!
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@steven-harris said in Blues 2019:
@taniwharugby hope they have got security..!
Blues better lock their shit.. Tutu finger capital of NZ!
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@tim said in Blues 2019:
Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
Please be true.
Big wraps on Tumua Manu from Steven Bates, who is a dev coach with Harbour and the Blues.
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@tim said in Blues 2019:
Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
Please be true.
It would relegate Collins to where he should be - a utility who makes the 23 when injuries hit
If this does happen its another big win for Coventry after recruiting Tu'inukuafe. MacDonald needs to up his game.. he's falling behind in the race to be 2020 coach
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@tim said in Blues 2019:
@tim said in Blues 2019:
Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
Please be true.
Big wraps on Tumua Manu from Steven Bates, who is a dev coach with Harbour and the Blues.
Manu is a must sign for the Blues.
