Blues 2019

[Tim]

Is that Matich and Olmstead training with the Blues?

[taniwharugby]

@tim had heard Matich had taken an injury cover contract with the blues.

Good old bronco, wonder if Tom Robinsons record still stands.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim It is, and also I have seen Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, i think Jonno Kitto and Tomas Aoake (former warriors u20 wing/centre now with Ta$man. was in Crusaders dev team this season) in photos and a video on the Blues facebook page.

[taniwharugby]

@daffy-jaffy comments on the IG page would indicate Aoake is there

[Daffy Jaffy]

Can anyone I.D this player? He looks Fijian.

[Tim]

@daffy-jaffy Looks a bit like Mark Telea?

[Tim]

@daffy-jaffy Who's the guy with the dread top-not? Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa? Jacob Umaga?

[Tim]

Rugby non-genius Ali Williams is picking the Blues to make the semi-finals. Heard that one before ...

[KiwiMurph]

@tim Umaga is back in the UK so i'd say its WRK.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim I'm sure that is Riedlinger-Kapa and you were right about Telea.
Here is a video of Tomas Aoake playing for Warriors u20.

[KiwiMurph]

I was impressed in the little I saw of Aoake for Ta$man. He's got some talent.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Also training with the team is young North Harbour lock Danny Dake. Its interesting that Coventry usually started Ben Nee Nee ahead of both Drake and Scott Pierce for Harbour but they both passed him into the Blues squad. I guess on youth and potential, they are 23 and 21 years old.

[Stargazer]

@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

Also training with the team is young North Harbour lock Danny Dake. Its interesting that Coventry usually started Ben Nee Nee ahead of both Drake and Scott Pierce for Harbour but they both passed him into the Blues squad. I guess on youth and potential, they are 23 and 21 years old.

Have they though? Ben Nee Nee played for Samoa on Sunday morning (NZT), so has maybe just returned from the NH and need a break before he joins the Blues squad?

[KiwiMurph]

@stargazer said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

Also training with the team is young North Harbour lock Danny Dake. Its interesting that Coventry usually started Ben Nee Nee ahead of both Drake and Scott Pierce for Harbour but they both passed him into the Blues squad. I guess on youth and potential, they are 23 and 21 years old.

Have they though? Ben Nee Nee played for Samoa on Sunday morning (NZT), so has maybe just returned from the NH and need a break before he joins the Blues squad?

Well Jacob Pierce definitely has - he is in the 38 man Blues squad and NeeNee isn't

[KiwiMurph]

Good to see Perofeta a part of this week's preseason training group. With his injury history I wasn't sure how long he might be out for.

[Tim]

From instagram stories it looks like Scrafton is training with the team, which is good news. Tanielu Tele'a might be in there too.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Two more 'development' players training with the team are Robb Cobb (NZ U20 prop) and Hawaii Ahokovi (young Pakuranga outside back who played preseason with Auckland).

[Tim]

Looks like the full training squad is in the last picture:

[Hooroo]

@tim Dunno if that third to last photo is a thing they should be working on

Interesting that it appears they have judo(?) coach helping them out. I can see how that would be helpful and moving bodyweights about

[taniwharugby]

@hooroo wasnt there an AB prop who was/is very good at Judo.

Can't recall,, but I think it was John Timu back in the day used to do ballet training for strength and balance.