Blues 2020
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Thoughts. Picking 6 locks might mean C/T getting time at 6? Rapt for the hard working Tucker. In regards to only 1 recognised 12 picked, they may push Plummer out to cover there with plenty of 10 cover. He has the right game to play there. Page is a good player who is hopefully over his injuries but i feel for Trainor. Some of us might be judging Lamborn a bit early, he was really good for the U.S at the W.C. seems to have bulked up somewhat. Happy with the hookers, i thought they might stay with Apisai. I know nothing about Heighton, have never seen him play but he was training with them all last season so he must be a prospect.
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@Nogusta I have just been messaged from a contact..the Blues see Heighton as a number 9 moving forward
@Steven-Harris Interesting that they rate him ahead of Lewis Gjaltema.
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@Bovidae said in Blues 2020:
Rieko is a midfielder now?
Clearly spent too much time listening to Tana
Seriously, though, whatevrer works for the player. If he thinks his career is at 13, who am I to disagree. Tana did it and nailed it. It still feels a bit weird, mind
@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
@Bovidae said in Blues 2020:
Rieko is a midfielder now?
Clearly spent too much time listening to Tana
Seriously, though, whatevrer works for the player. If he thinks his career is at 13, who am I to disagree. Tana did it and nailed it. It still feels a bit weird, mind
Rieko played his schoolboy rugby at 13. IIRC, he didn't play wing until he made the ABs.
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@nzzp said in Blues 2020:
@Bovidae said in Blues 2020:
Rieko is a midfielder now?
Clearly spent too much time listening to Tana
Seriously, though, whatevrer works for the player. If he thinks his career is at 13, who am I to disagree. Tana did it and nailed it. It still feels a bit weird, mind
Rieko played his schoolboy rugby at 13. IIRC, he didn't play wing until he made the ABs.
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Big questions over midfield and fullback.
Then the usual issues at halfback and centre.
Tony Lamborn is a disappointing signing IMO.
@Tim said in Blues 2020:
Tony Lamborn is a disappointing signing IMO.
That's just weird, what have the Blues picked him up as? He's an ex 7 who became a short 6. I don't want him anywhere near the Magpies (and apparently neither does @Stargazer ) which should give some pointers to how he's rated.
I think it's premature for Ioane to switch to centre.
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
Tony Lamborn is a disappointing signing IMO.
That's just weird, what have the Blues picked him up as? He's an ex 7 who became a short 6. I don't want him anywhere near the Magpies (and apparently neither does @Stargazer ) which should give some pointers to how he's rated.
I think it's premature for Ioane to switch to centre.
@Nepia They must see him as a 7. Once Gibson breaks down in the second game he will be the only one standing. They will need good cover in the wtg. I hope they don't intend to use Papalii there too often. 7 is his 3rd best position imo. I don't understand how Matt Matich keeps getting overlooked. He seems to play his heart out every game and covers all 3 loosie positions capably. Maybe that's his problem, he needs to specialise. With Choat going away i would have jumped on young McDowell who impressed me for Otago this season.
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Pleased to see some fresh blood at hooker
On one hand there seem to be quite a few journeyman in the squad.
On the other hand a lot of these players seem to be hard workers who performed at Mitre 10 Cup level. Less flash but more glue which isn't all bad.
Halfback looks to be a serious issue still and agreed that 7 looks thin.
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Looks weaker than last years squad particularly in the midfield. Hopefully with our ABs (props especially) better calibrated for the season and our loosies taking a step up we could tread water.
@rotated Tend to disagree about the midfield. Last season SBW hardly played and we ran Nonu and Faiane (out of position at 13) into the ground due to using Tele'a on the wing and not trusting Aumua (rightly so, basically a prop in the 13 jersey and the worst defender at centre I've seen in a long time). Hopefully we can use TJ in his best position this season. The potential issue is they have picked one less midfielder so may use Plummer at 12 if TJ needs rest or is injured. He has the game to play there. Marchant is a class player and has a kicking game so may be able to play 12 but i've not seen him there. Him and Ioane in the centres together could be exciting, especially if they get to run outside Barrett. As for the rest of the squad -
The new hookers are more dynamic than Apisai and Moulds.
Props are the same as last season. Would like to have seen Jarrod Adams in the mix, hopefully in the wtg.
Scrafton is a loss but we get two for the price of one with Wardlaw and Tucker (not sure why we need six locks plus Robinson). interesting that Tucker is named in the loose forwards on some lists. Similar hard working players but Scrafton better at lineout i would say.
Loosies largely the same . Riedlinger-Kapa and Lamborn must be more use than the two food bills they replaced who never played at all last season (Tupou and Brown) They will need openside cover in the wtg though.
Christie had a good npc in a dominant Ta$man team, still must be an upgrade on the erratic Pulu.
Nanai and Clarke are losses but Narawa and Telea bring pace and promise, just lack experience.
After Trainor, who did not play, and the much loved on here Collins (who I see is named in the midfield for the Highlanders where he always belonged so will probably thrive there) Fullback will be a pick between Perofeta and Duffie initially i guess, but I like Jarrod Page and just hope he can avoid injuries and contribute at some point.
Here ends my sermon of optimism from a slow night shift. No doubt it will be destroyed by about round 3 - amen. -
@rotated Tend to disagree about the midfield. Last season SBW hardly played and we ran Nonu and Faiane (out of position at 13) into the ground due to using Tele'a on the wing and not trusting Aumua (rightly so, basically a prop in the 13 jersey and the worst defender at centre I've seen in a long time). Hopefully we can use TJ in his best position this season. The potential issue is they have picked one less midfielder so may use Plummer at 12 if TJ needs rest or is injured. He has the game to play there. Marchant is a class player and has a kicking game so may be able to play 12 but i've not seen him there. Him and Ioane in the centres together could be exciting, especially if they get to run outside Barrett. As for the rest of the squad -
The new hookers are more dynamic than Apisai and Moulds.
Props are the same as last season. Would like to have seen Jarrod Adams in the mix, hopefully in the wtg.
Scrafton is a loss but we get two for the price of one with Wardlaw and Tucker (not sure why we need six locks plus Robinson). interesting that Tucker is named in the loose forwards on some lists. Similar hard working players but Scrafton better at lineout i would say.
Loosies largely the same . Riedlinger-Kapa and Lamborn must be more use than the two food bills they replaced who never played at all last season (Tupou and Brown) They will need openside cover in the wtg though.
Christie had a good npc in a dominant Ta$man team, still must be an upgrade on the erratic Pulu.
Nanai and Clarke are losses but Narawa and Telea bring pace and promise, just lack experience.
After Trainor, who did not play, and the much loved on here Collins (who I see is named in the midfield for the Highlanders where he always belonged so will probably thrive there) Fullback will be a pick between Perofeta and Duffie initially i guess, but I like Jarrod Page and just hope he can avoid injuries and contribute at some point.
Here ends my sermon of optimism from a slow night shift. No doubt it will be destroyed by about round 3 - amen.@Daffy-Jaffy hopefully Christie has a second wind for you guys he was absolutely rubbish for the Canes last year seemed very off the pace
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@rotated Tend to disagree about the midfield. Last season SBW hardly played and we ran Nonu and Faiane (out of position at 13) into the ground due to using Tele'a on the wing and not trusting Aumua (rightly so, basically a prop in the 13 jersey and the worst defender at centre I've seen in a long time). Hopefully we can use TJ in his best position this season. The potential issue is they have picked one less midfielder so may use Plummer at 12 if TJ needs rest or is injured. He has the game to play there. Marchant is a class player and has a kicking game so may be able to play 12 but i've not seen him there. Him and Ioane in the centres together could be exciting, especially if they get to run outside Barrett. As for the rest of the squad -
The new hookers are more dynamic than Apisai and Moulds.
Props are the same as last season. Would like to have seen Jarrod Adams in the mix, hopefully in the wtg.
Scrafton is a loss but we get two for the price of one with Wardlaw and Tucker (not sure why we need six locks plus Robinson). interesting that Tucker is named in the loose forwards on some lists. Similar hard working players but Scrafton better at lineout i would say.
Loosies largely the same . Riedlinger-Kapa and Lamborn must be more use than the two food bills they replaced who never played at all last season (Tupou and Brown) They will need openside cover in the wtg though.
Christie had a good npc in a dominant Ta$man team, still must be an upgrade on the erratic Pulu.
Nanai and Clarke are losses but Narawa and Telea bring pace and promise, just lack experience.
After Trainor, who did not play, and the much loved on here Collins (who I see is named in the midfield for the Highlanders where he always belonged so will probably thrive there) Fullback will be a pick between Perofeta and Duffie initially i guess, but I like Jarrod Page and just hope he can avoid injuries and contribute at some point.
Here ends my sermon of optimism from a slow night shift. No doubt it will be destroyed by about round 3 - amen.@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
Scrafton is a loss but we get two for the price of one with Wardlaw and Tucker (not sure why we need six locks plus Robinson). interesting that Tucker is named in the loose forwards on some lists. Similar hard working players but Scrafton better at lineout i would say.
I think Tucker basically replaces Tupou as the loose forward who can play lock
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Looks weaker than last years squad particularly in the midfield. Hopefully with our ABs (props especially) better calibrated for the season and our loosies taking a step up we could tread water.
@rotated re: the midfield - Coach Leon confirmed this morning on Radio sport that once they knew SBW was leaving the plan B was to use Plummer to cover 12 as there were no suitable midfielders available. They then chose to bring in the promising young 10/15 Jack Heighton to learn and develop from being around Barrett etc. He also said that Marchant covers centre wing and fullback. So its good to have another fullback option.
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@rotated Tend to disagree about the midfield. Last season SBW hardly played and we ran Nonu and Faiane (out of position at 13) into the ground due to using Tele'a on the wing and not trusting Aumua (rightly so, basically a prop in the 13 jersey and the worst defender at centre I've seen in a long time). Hopefully we can use TJ in his best position this season. The potential issue is they have picked one less midfielder so may use Plummer at 12 if TJ needs rest or is injured. He has the game to play there. Marchant is a class player and has a kicking game so may be able to play 12 but i've not seen him there. Him and Ioane in the centres together could be exciting, especially if they get to run outside Barrett. As for the rest of the squad -
The new hookers are more dynamic than Apisai and Moulds.
Props are the same as last season. Would like to have seen Jarrod Adams in the mix, hopefully in the wtg.
Scrafton is a loss but we get two for the price of one with Wardlaw and Tucker (not sure why we need six locks plus Robinson). interesting that Tucker is named in the loose forwards on some lists. Similar hard working players but Scrafton better at lineout i would say.
Loosies largely the same . Riedlinger-Kapa and Lamborn must be more use than the two food bills they replaced who never played at all last season (Tupou and Brown) They will need openside cover in the wtg though.
Christie had a good npc in a dominant Ta$man team, still must be an upgrade on the erratic Pulu.
Nanai and Clarke are losses but Narawa and Telea bring pace and promise, just lack experience.
After Trainor, who did not play, and the much loved on here Collins (who I see is named in the midfield for the Highlanders where he always belonged so will probably thrive there) Fullback will be a pick between Perofeta and Duffie initially i guess, but I like Jarrod Page and just hope he can avoid injuries and contribute at some point.
Here ends my sermon of optimism from a slow night shift. No doubt it will be destroyed by about round 3 - amen.@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
Fullback will be a pick between Perofeta and Duffie initially i guess, but I like Jarrod Page and just hope he can avoid injuries and contribute at some point.
Maybe Narawa as well? He looks like an extremely good winger but he did finish the BOP season as a fullback
There's a lot of 10's (even allowing for Barrett's late return) so they must be covering other positions.
I see Heighton is called a "early season replacement player" on the Blues website. Does anyone know who is injured?
I'm guessing Perofeta, because it's always Perofeta
