Blues 2022
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@george33 Replying to your comment in the Crusaders thread (thought we should move the conversation here). We had oil on here a while back that Corey Evans was signed. Heem played Centre a bit in Europe and looked good there for Auckland recently. Could also be that RTS is named as a midfielder. Has Tele'a definitely moved on? If so and you are right about Kata then the 5 midfielders could be Ioane, Evans, RTS, Heem, Kata. With 4 of them also covering wing that would leave Clarke, Lam, Telea, JRK, Narawa and Sullivan. I would rather retain Tanielu Tele'a than Narawa as there is so much quality wing cover that Narawa will rarely play anyway. The rumors on here awhile ago that Narawa (and Nock) were looking to move have been quiet lately. The other big question is who will be the two locks to replace Patty and GCT? Or will they move Plumtree or Robinson to Lock then select one or two of the promising loosies like Ekuasi and Vaai? The teams are usually named 1st week in November but I wonder if Covid will delay that. Apparently the squads are not getting together until Jan.
Just had a random after thought, there should be Jerseys unveiled for next season. The current one grew on me after initially not liking it. Maybe because they won in it a bit more often than before.:beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes:@daffy-jaffy Narawa is at the Chiefs, Choat signed to a full-time contract, Cameron Suafoa as well, Tanielu Talea has 1 more year, not sure now about Corey Evans. If he has signed it may be a draft contract.
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@daffy-jaffy Narawa is at the Chiefs, Choat signed to a full-time contract, Cameron Suafoa as well, Tanielu Talea has 1 more year, not sure now about Corey Evans. If he has signed it may be a draft contract.
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@daffy-jaffy Narawa is at the Chiefs, Choat signed to a full-time contract, Cameron Suafoa as well, Tanielu Talea has 1 more year, not sure now about Corey Evans. If he has signed it may be a draft contract.
@nogusta said in Blues 2022:
Maybe Suafoa signed as a lock? Or they plan to use Plumtree or Robinson at Lock. I am surprised by that though with the promising group of young loosies about the region. He struggled with injury so much the last couple of years that he hasn't been able to string any run of games together. His move to Ta$man was a non event due to injuries. Still only 23 though so he still has time to prove himself. I would hate to lose Vai or Ekuasi from the system because they see him jump ahead of them.
Edit: just checked Wiki and he played 1 game for auckland in 2019, 1 for Ta$man in 2020 and twice for Harbour this season. Not a long resume' to get a super gig from but good luck to him. He was touted as the next big thing at age group level. -
@nogusta said in Blues 2022:
Maybe Suafoa signed as a lock? Or they plan to use Plumtree or Robinson at Lock. I am surprised by that though with the promising group of young loosies about the region. He struggled with injury so much the last couple of years that he hasn't been able to string any run of games together. His move to Ta$man was a non event due to injuries. Still only 23 though so he still has time to prove himself. I would hate to lose Vai or Ekuasi from the system because they see him jump ahead of them.
Edit: just checked Wiki and he played 1 game for auckland in 2019, 1 for Ta$man in 2020 and twice for Harbour this season. Not a long resume' to get a super gig from but good luck to him. He was touted as the next big thing at age group level.@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2022:
Or they plan to use Plumtree or Robinson at Lock.
Does anyone know if Plumtree is with the Blues next year? Was he on a one year contract?
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@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2022:
Or they plan to use Plumtree or Robinson at Lock.
Does anyone know if Plumtree is with the Blues next year? Was he on a one year contract?
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@daffy-jaffy Narawa is at the Chiefs, Choat signed to a full-time contract, Cameron Suafoa as well, Tanielu Talea has 1 more year, not sure now about Corey Evans. If he has signed it may be a draft contract.
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@daffy-jaffy Narawa is at the Chiefs, Choat signed to a full-time contract, Cameron Suafoa as well, Tanielu Talea has 1 more year, not sure now about Corey Evans. If he has signed it may be a draft contract.
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@nogusta said in Blues 2022:
Maybe Suafoa signed as a lock? Or they plan to use Plumtree or Robinson at Lock. I am surprised by that though with the promising group of young loosies about the region. He struggled with injury so much the last couple of years that he hasn't been able to string any run of games together. His move to Ta$man was a non event due to injuries. Still only 23 though so he still has time to prove himself. I would hate to lose Vai or Ekuasi from the system because they see him jump ahead of them.
Edit: just checked Wiki and he played 1 game for auckland in 2019, 1 for Ta$man in 2020 and twice for Harbour this season. Not a long resume' to get a super gig from but good luck to him. He was touted as the next big thing at age group level. -
@nogusta said in Blues 2022:
@bovidae said in Blues 2022:
Umaga's replacement was going to be named by now wasn't it?
The oil is Craig McGrath has been offered the defense coach role. Apparently he helped a bit this year and they were very impressed with his work
I assume he’ll keep working with Auckland too?
With Halangahu & Afeaki at NH the Blues are actually having links to the provincial teams again
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@daffy-jaffy yes vaii and Ekuasi will b in blues I'm hering but maybe development they saying in province think Niko Jones getting full contract
@george33 gee I'd put Ekuasi on a full contract before NIko.
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@george33 gee I'd put Ekuasi on a full contract before NIko.
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@taniwharugby no I wouldn't been in system still only 22 big future other wise some other franchise pick him up played alot at 7 and 8 for waitemata
@george33 If Jones is there on a full contract it would surely be as 3rd openside with Paps and Choat. That might point to Hunt not being Ok to play which would be a worry for him.
Loving all the oil and conjecture though. Lock is still the most interesting and most important position to get right. -
@george33 would have made more sense for narawa to go the chiefs especially with Kata and rts coming
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@cliff How did Narawa go today at Centre marking a couple of big units in PU-J and Aso? If he proves he can cover the midfield as well as W,FB he will give himself more chance of getting a bench spot on gamedays.
@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2022:
@cliff How did Narawa go today at Centre marking a couple of big units in PU-J and Aso? If he proves he can cover the midfield as well as W,FB he will give himself more chance of getting a bench spot on gamedays.
He was good solid on defence , looked dangerous when he got the ball,Considering he was having his first game at centre for BOP ,he went well.
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Came across on Rich Freemans twitter account
@steven-harris I thought he might leave but hoped he wouldn't. Only played 9 times in 4 seasons at the Blues, mostly off the bench, due to injury and non-selection. Hard to find 3 unsigned super quality locks about locally. I think they should move Robinson and/or Plumtree to lock then select the likes of Vai and Ekuasi in the loosies. Then either Cridge or Caird would be solid options as the fifth lock. With so much versatility in the backline I might only pick 16 backs in the squad and carry an extra forward (lock/loosie). The forward depth will be challenged early next year with 3 All Black props and 3 loosies being out rested for the first couple of rounds (so I heard somewhere).
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@steven-harris I thought he might leave but hoped he wouldn't. Only played 9 times in 4 seasons at the Blues, mostly off the bench, due to injury and non-selection. Hard to find 3 unsigned super quality locks about locally. I think they should move Robinson and/or Plumtree to lock then select the likes of Vai and Ekuasi in the loosies. Then either Cridge or Caird would be solid options as the fifth lock. With so much versatility in the backline I might only pick 16 backs in the squad and carry an extra forward (lock/loosie). The forward depth will be challenged early next year with 3 All Black props and 3 loosies being out rested for the first couple of rounds (so I heard somewhere).
So we might see the following locks from local players:
Goodhue
Darry
Robinson
Cridge/Caird
SuafoaWith an international signing beefing them up, and Plumtree as cover?
It's a real pity that none of the Auckland players got a chance to show their form this year.
