Blues 2019
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@canes4life Manu is a much better distributor than Moala. While his passing game could still improve - he's put wingers away with passing (and with some excellent kicking) this season. He should be Blues starting Blues 13.
The problem for the Blues is there's only limited spots and they have some questionable signings taking up roster spots.
Rayasi absolutely should be in the squad but there's only so many outside back spots and with Collins (lol), Nanai, Duffie, Ioane and Clarke already signed (and Stevenson?) there's not many spots for a winger. Collins will leave after this season so how does that help the Blues. In the meantime they are likely to lose Rayasi to another franchise.
It's the same problem in the midfield - SBW, Nonu and Tele'a already signed, supposedly Faiane is signed, that doesn't leave much room for Manu. Blues could easily lose Manu to another franchise and then SBW and Nonu bugger off after next season leaving the Blues in strife.
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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.
As a Chiefs fan I would be disappointed but not surprised. Stevenson is a NH boy so might want to be based there all year. It would also indicate that Alaimalo is their first-choice fullback.
A few decent Auckland outside backs will be available as the Blues can't sign everyone.
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Nonu's hemisphere hopping and eventual return home could well be a path Luatua treads, too. For now, he seems content.
"If Bristol will have me for the next couple of years I'll stay and do my time here. And then we'll see what happens."
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12141503
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@bovidae 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.
As a Chiefs fan I would be disappointed but not surprised. Stevenson is a NH boy so might want to be based there all year. It would also indicate that Alaimalo is their first-choice fullback.
A few decent Auckland outside backs will be available as the Blues can't sign everyone.
Stevenson is undoubtedly a talented player but when he did manage to take the field I often wondered if he played solely on instinct and that may also be why his starting opportunities were few.
Obviously something that experience will fix though. -
@crucial said in Blues 2019:
Stevenson is undoubtedly a talented player but when he did manage to take the field I often wondered if he played solely on instinct and that may also be why his starting opportunities were few.
Stevenson is not yet 22 so still very young. I'm on record as saying I prefer Alaimalo on the wing and Stevenson at FB, not the other way around.
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@bovidae said in Blues 2019:
@crucial said in Blues 2019:
Stevenson is undoubtedly a talented player but when he did manage to take the field I often wondered if he played solely on instinct and that may also be why his starting opportunities were few.
Stevenson is not yet 22 so still very young. I'm on record as saying I prefer Alaimalo on the wing and Stevenson at FB, not the other way around.
Absolutely. And his playing experience is light. I guess I'm just pointing out that there may be a reason not to expect him to be fully at Super level yet so let him learn his trade a bit longer before expecting him to be really good.
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@nepia said in Blues 2019:
@crucial He’s been pretty good for the Chiefs. Personally I’d prefer him to stay.
I would too. My comment was more around Blues fans getting excited as if he will walk straight in and be a star (my exaggeration)
As for his play with the Chiefs, yeah he had some good moments and showed an ability to do the unusual and unexpected but also lacked a little solidity in that you couldn't always feel comfortable when the ball was sent his way.
As pointed out though, he is still young and hasn't played that much due to injuries so has plenty of experience to catch up on.
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@crucial said in Blues 2019:
@nepia said in Blues 2019:
@crucial He’s been pretty good for the Chiefs. Personally I’d prefer him to stay.
I would too. My comment was more around Blues fans getting excited as if he will walk straight in and be a star (my exaggeration)
Compared to Collins he would walk in and be a star.
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@kiwimurph Very depressing reading that haha because we'll probably lose both Rayasi and Manu as you said. It would be nice to have a natural centre for once which Manu is and to have Rayasi there but as usual, it looks like we've made some poor signings like Caleb Clarke and Collins which is gonna hurt us in the long run.
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@tim I will be happy to get Stevenson but the sad part is he will likely replace Trainor in the squad who has shown promise this year (after looking a bit frail and error prone previously) and has more pace and potential than Collins (Who should move to midfield cover, he is best at 12 where he started his carreer). Of course Trainor may be picked up elsewhere and is also only 21 years old so has time on his side.
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@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2019:
@tim I will be happy to get Stevenson but the sad part is he will likely replace Trainor in the squad who has shown promise this year (after looking a bit frail and error prone previously) and has more pace and potential than Collins (Who should move to midfield cover, he is best at 12 where he started his carrier). Of course Trainor may be picked up elsewhere and is also only 21 years old so has time on his side.
Rumour of a Trainor/Stevenson swap?
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@kirwan It think it was Steven Harris a few weeks ago said he heard through his grapevine that Manu had signed with the chiefs. It would be a shame because the Blues are in need of a quality outside centre. I don't see Nonu and SBW starting together too often, rather I see them sharing the 12 shirt as they 'manage' SBW through to the world cup. That leaves a very green Tele'a as the only signed 13 that we know about.
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@kiwimurph said in Blues 2019:
Compared to Collins he would walk in and be a star.
Yes it's obvious why Blues fans would be happy with his signing.
Currently the squad has one specialist fullback and he's not really up to standard. He's a fringe SR player.. the type of guy who is useful to have around when there's injuries.
The only other fullback options in the current squad are primarily wingers (Duffie & Nanai).
Or a flyhalf who the jury is out on as a SR player (Perofeta)Stevenson would be a big improvement on the current situation. Another tick for Coventry if it happens. He should have been appointed head coach.
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@stargazer I think given the pay parity I would say Rayasi would be all over a super contract,to me the Blues were in too much of a hurry to sign Caleb Clark when you look at Rayasi he seems to have way more strings to his bow.
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@steven-harris Pretty much. It's hard for the Blues as they have so much media pressure on them to sign players otherwise you hear the same old garbage of how they've let yet another player slip through the ranks any time an Aucklander turns out for someone else but yes we have jumped the gun on Caleb Clarke unfortunately. Not saying he's not gonna be a great player, but he just reminds me of Tevita Li from what I've seen and needs to develop in the lower grades instead of being forced to learn on the job at Mitre 10/SR level because of the investment we've already put in him.
