Otago 2020

[Stargazer]

@NateHill74 Yep, Connor McLeod has returned home to Hawke's Bay and is playing club rugby there.

[NateHill74]

Players signed for this season:
George Bower - Prop (Crusaders/Harbour)
Jonah Aoina - Prop (Kaikorai)
Hisa Sasagi - Prop (Southern)
Liam Coltman - Hooker (Highlanders/Alhambra Union)
Ricky Jackson - Hooker (Highlanders/University)
SIone Misiloi - Lock/No 6 (Highlanders/Harbour)
Josh Hill - Lock (University)
Slade McDowall - No 7 (Kaikorai)
Dylan Nel - No 8 (Chiefs/Green Island)
Kayne Hammington - Half Back (Highlanders/Zingari Richmond)
Josh Ioane - First Five/Second Five (Highlanders/Southern)
Aleki Morris-Lome - Midfielder (Harbour)
Sio Tomkinson - Midfielder/Wing (Highlanders/Harbour)
Matt Whaanga - Midfielder (Taieri)
Jona Nareki - Wing (Highlanders/Alhambra Union)
Vilimoni Koroi - Full Back/Utility Back (Highlanders/Alhambra Union)
Michael Collins - Full Back (Highlanders/Taieri)

[NateHill74]

Players from last season unsigned but playing in Dunedin:
Mika Mafi - No 8 (Southern)
James Arscott - Half Back (Green Island)
Josh Timu - Midfielder/Utility Back (University)
Mitchell Scott - Wing/Full Back (Taieri)
Taylor Haugh - WIng/Full Back (University)

[Bovidae]

@NateHill74 Jamie Mackintosh? Assuming it is that JM, I thought he was back playing club rugby in Southland?

[NateHill74]

@Bovidae Yeah, he's playing club rugby for Kaikorai in Dunedin, and in the Wider Training Group for Otago at the moment

[NateHill74]

Possible 23 for this season:

1. Jonah Aoina
2. Liam Coltman
3. Hisa Sasagi
4. Josh Hill
5. Sione Misiloi
6. Not to sure yet
7. Slade McDowall
8. Dylan Nel
9. Kayne Hammington
10. Josh Ioane
11. Jona Nareki
12. Sio Tomkinson
13. Aleki Morris-Lome
14. Vilimoni Koroi
15. Michael Collins (C)
16. Ricky Jackson
17. Jamie Mackintosh
18. Not to sure yet
19. Woody Kirkwood (North Otago last year)
20. Not to sure yet
21. James Arscott
22. Matt Whaanga
23. Freedom Vaha'akolo

[Kiwiwomble]

i assume Collins prefers fullback but he played a bit in the midfield when fin the otago team and thought he was ok, personally i prefer that and have Koroi at 15...i think hes wasted out wide and neither he nor Nareki are exactly big and i'd like at least one big winger

[Stargazer]

@NateHill74 Have you seen Kegan Christian-Goss playing club rugby for Dunedin? I wonder how he is developing. He was a good 10/12 for Napier Boys a few years ago. Probably, still a bit early for NPC, if he reaches that level.

[NateHill74]

@Stargazer I personally haven't seen him from what I remember but he's been on the verges on the team usually with playing in the development team. He's pretty good for Dunedin and of course versatile, playing wing and midfield. He's not a bad player to be fair though

[NateHill74]

@Kiwiwomble Yeah like 2012-15 he played centre a lot especially if Ben Smith was there and Peter Breen etc. I personally like Vili in the action and not on the wing but with players in specific positions I can't see him anywhere else. Collins is great at full back, Josh (3rd best in NZ) at 10, and the midfield of Sio and Morris-Lome is perfect as they played together through schools, club and rep. So the wing is the only other spot for him, unless he's a super sub and have Freedom starting on the wing with Jona

[Kiwiwomble]

@NateHill74 do you think collins is better the koroi at 15 though? captain aside id have koroi ahead of him, collins is solid...koroi is electric

[NateHill74]

@Kiwiwomble It's a good debate though, isn't it. As you said, it's either leadership and knowledge at full-back or electrifying speed and agility. Personally, Vili would be better as a super-sub and can bring on impact like how Damian McKenzie did for the AB's against France and England a couple of years ago

[Kiwiwomble]

@NateHill74 yeah, i could see that

i guess thats why i was wondering if collins could move to the midfield, a proper playmaker at 15 and the leadership/experience closer to the action in the midfield

not a fan of captains in the outside backs...just too far from whats going on

[NateHill74]

@Kiwiwomble That's true kind of the same with Ben Smith at the Highlanders, maybe add co-captains like Southland. Maybe have Liam Coltman, or Slade McDowall as a captain, which also has the backs/forwards leaders too.

[Kiwiwomble]

hoping the highlanders has answered some questions for Otago
10. Ioane
11. Nareki
12. sio
13. collins
14.?
15. Koroi

That could actually do some damage this year in the championship, bulk of our backline paying/training together during super rugby

[Kiwiwomble]

apparently we've resigned Josh Hohneck :man_shrugging_light_skin_tone:

[Siam]

@Kiwiwomble mate, you still got contacts in dunners?

Someone has to have the oil on Walden this season

[Siam]

@Kiwiwomble said in Otago Mitre 10 Cup 2020:

apparently we've resigned Josh Hohneck :man_shrugging_light_skin_tone:

I hate how resign and resign have opposite meanings in describing pro sports people's futures

[Kiwiwomble]

@Siam said in Otago Mitre 10 Cup 2020:

@Kiwiwomble mate, you still got contacts in dunners?

Someone has to have the oil on Walden this season

I don’t but I think @NateHill74 might

But Walden moved to the naki didn’t he?

[Bones]

@Kiwiwomble thought he was always 'naki!