Blues 2019

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim This below off the Blues site says he is on a full contract. Its a shame injury ruined his rep season so we couldn't assess him.

The Blues continues to invest in youth for 2019 and beyond after announcing that three members of the New Zealand Under-20s rugby team will play for the club in Super Rugby next year.

Harry Plummer, Tanielu Tele’a and Hoskins Sotutu, among the seven players from the Blues region in the New Zealand Under-20 side, have been signed for two-year contracts with the Blues.
They were among five young players from the Blues region who spent 10 weeks with the club as part of the Interim Player Contract (ITC) scheme and impressed sufficiently to earn full contracts from 2019.

[Tim]

@daffy-jaffy Someone posted on here that there is a kind of dev contract that is exclusive and pays more. I'm holding on to hope.

[Tim]

If sixteen of the Auckland squad are in the Blues:

Thirteen definites:

tuungufasi
scrafton
Tuipulotu
gibson
papalii
sotutu
ioane
plummer
faiane
nanai
clarke
ioane
talea

Three from this lot:

abel
renata
olmsted
whetton
ruru
fukofuka
manu

[Yeetyaah]

@tim My guess is Ruru, Abel, and Olmstead

[Daffy Jaffy]

A look at the possible 16 aucklanders in the Blues.
Certainties:
Tu'ungafasi
Scrafton
Tuipulotu
Papalii
Gibson​​​​​​​
A Ioane
Sotutu
Plummer
Faiane
Nanai
Clarke
R Ioane
Tele'a.

That leaves spots for 3 of:
Trainor
Olmstead
Abel
Ruru
Renata
Lindenmuth
I Think Ruru is likely so really only 2 spots. Anyone I missed?
This is accepting that Manu, Whetton, Rayasi are signed elsewhere as rumored.

[Chris]

@yeetyaah maybe Renata instead of Abel

[Tim]

@yeetyaah Manu is going to have a blinder when the Chiefs beat us.

Ruru might be a bit like Billy Guiton - important leader at NPC level, but too slow in execution at Super Rugby level.

[Tim]

Lindenmuth is another chance. Wonder if the Crusaders will be interested again?

[Nogusta]

@daffy-jaffy gee I thought both Matt Johnson and Tamati Tua both had a year to go in their contracts as well? Tele'a (and Sotutu) are on draft contracts (what used to be WTG) I believe for 2019 and going on to full for 2020. Plummer full contract for 2019 and 2020. Scott Gregory an ITC (Interim training contract).

[Tim]

@nogusta said in Blues 2019:

Matt Johnson and Tamati Tua

Thought they were both on one year contracts, but not sure.

[Steven Harris]

@daffy-jaffy I doubt wether Pryor would be around next season,to be honest he’s been piss poor for Northland in the last 2 x seasons and I suspect his player review will not be that flattering..

Gibson and Papalii would be my first choice 7s for the Blues even if Dalton is in the 6 jersey..
With Dylan Hunt having moved back to Harbour,is he an option as a 3rd 7..

[Tim]

@steven-harris Hunt is signed with the Highlanders for next year.

[Tim]

All I can find on Johnson is this article that only mentions 2018:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/98415521/rookie-southland-stags-midfielder-matty-johnson-joins-blues-for-2018-super-rugby-campaign

[Steven Harris]

@tim would not have either of them..The guy who has impressed me in a poor team this year is Raymond Nu’u the midfield back from Southland..has got brilliant footwork and is a genuine line breaker, gave Laumape all sorts of problems when the Stags played the Turbos in the last game of the season..
Originally out of the Canterbury system.

[Tim]

From the Newsroom article about his surgery etc:

When that confidence returns, Johnson looks a good bet to push for a return to the Blues.

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@sportsroom/2018/08/12/188451/the-disappearance-and-return-of-matt-johnson

[Chris]

@steven-harris Yes Nu'u is a Canterbury player who has always been a standout in CHCH club rugby I was shocked we signed 2 plonders in Beard and Burleigh and let Nu'u go Hopefully Razor is smarter than Maddocks

[Steven Harris]

@chris I reckon Nu’u will pick up a contract with ether the Landers or the Saders.

[Chris]

@steven-harris From my point of view I hope its the Crusaders I am glad you took notice of him I was gutted we didn't pick him for Canterbury and used cart horses in midfield always thought he was a talent.

[African Monkey]

@steven-harris Maybe a bit early for a SR contract for him. However, a big provincial season (for Canterbury or Southland) could get him a start somewhere for 2020.

[chchfanatic]

@chris Canterbury has Rameka Poihipi ready to go at 12 and then he blew his knee out. Had already loaned nuu out. That why Burleigh got a chance. Beard is just terrible.