Blues 2020

[Machpants]

@taniwharugby said in Blues 2020:

Assume they had to get permission from NZR for him given he is potentially taking the spot a young NZer could be occupying...assuming he isn't planning on staying for 3 years...

Five years

[Nogusta]

@Duluth probably a good thing. Tele'a made a good fist of things on the wing this season. Came from nowhere really. Never played a full game of Mitre 10 prior to playing Super.
Stats would indicate he had a far more effective season than Clarke - way ahead of Clarke in all the major stats - linebreaks, metres gained, defenders beaten, tackles made. Didn't quite kick on though in the M10.

[African Monkey]

@Nogusta Yeah he's far more suited to wing at this stage of his career. He doesn't have the vision or distribution skills to play in the midfield yet. Love his attitude though. Always gives it his all.

[Bovidae]

Do we know who Manu has signed with?

[Tim]

@Daffy-Jaffy From those highlights he looks like he could be a gun wing. Didn't see a lot of distribution though.

[Duluth]

What are the options at 12?

TJ and?

[Yeetyaah]

@Duluth Rieko

[Nogusta]

@Duluth Got it....a loosie that played at the RWC, has played SR

[Dice]

@Duluth That's why I'm keen on Ray Nu'u, because I had a feeling we'd lose SBW.

[Dice]

@Nogusta said in Blues 2020:

@Duluth Got it....a loosie that played at the RWC, has played SR

Jack Lam?

[Duluth]

@Dice said in Blues 2020:

Jack Lam?

Thats the name I guessed from those clues too. Most of the other possibilities have current european contracts

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Duluth signed with NEC Green Rockets

[Daffy Jaffy]

It would be awesome if it was Zane Kapelli who was fantastic for Tonga at the W.C. Although I don't think he has played super rugby and I seem to remember reading that he signed somewhere but can't find anything about it now.

[Yeetyaah]

@Daffy-Jaffy someone in the Landers thread said he might be joining them.

[Nogusta]

@Dice Jack Lam would've been niiice....

https://instagram.com/tonylamborn?igshid=1unl8d8g4htr

[Duluth]

That's underwhelming.

I would've preferred guys from inside the region like Choat or Matich

Hopefully he doesn't get in the 23 very often

[Stargazer]

@Nogusta If it's Lamborn, I hope that doesn't automatically imply a return to the Magpies as well ... Southland can have him. I prefer some of the younger blokes coming through in our province.

[Nogusta]

@Duluth taking over the solid/dependable role player role from Jed Brown?

[Duluth]

@Nogusta

I guess that's the rationale. I don't think he's good enough for that role though

At least there's so many other loosies in front of him that it shouldn't be important.

I assume Choat went overseas because he didn't get a SR contract? Thats the disappointing part.. he had a high ceiling

[Duluth]

https://blues.rugby/hard-work-edict-for-blues-2020-squad/

Beauden Barrett, Otere Black, Finlay Christie, Caleb Clarke, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Matt Duffie, Kurt Eklund, TJ Faiane, Blake Gibson, Josh Goodhue, Jack Heighton, Alex Hodgman, Jordan Hyland, Akira Ioane, Rieko Ioane, Tony Lamborn, Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Sione Mafileo, Joe Marchant, Emoni Narawa, Ray Niuia, Sam Nock, Jared Page, Dalton Papalii, James Parsons, Stephen Perofeta, Jacob Pierce, Harry Plummer, Marcel Renata, Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, Tom Robinson, Jonathan Ruru, Hoskins Sotutu, Mark Telea, Tanielu Tele’a, James Tucker, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ofa Tuungafasi, Baden Wardlaw