Blues 2022

[Daffy Jaffy]

The Blues have contracted three young prospects for 2022 in midfielder Corey Evans, 20, halfback Taufa Funaki, 21, and lock/loosie Cameron Suafoa, 23.
Choat and Tua also confirmed -
https://www.blues.rugby/blues-rugby-news/young-guns-sign-for-2022

[Tim]

@daffy-jaffy Just two names to go now!

[Tim]

@daffy-jaffy Tamati Tua and Choat confirmed too.

Northland’s Tamati Tua will re-join the Blues after being part of the team in 2018. The 23-year-old midfielder played for the New Zealand Under-20s and has 38 games for Northland, coming back after injury issues that have thwarted his progress in the last two years.

[Tim]

Just the locks to confirm now.

Props

Tu'inukuafe
Hodgman
Jordan Lay
O Tu'ungafasi
Laulala
Renata

Hookers

Vikena
Eklund
Riccitelli

Locks

Goodhue (healthy?)
Darry
Romano
1x or 0x lock

Lock/Loose Forward

Suafoa
1x or 0x lock/loose forward

Loose forwards

Choat
Segner
Papalii
Robinson
Plumtree
Sotutu
A Ioane

Halfbacks

Nock
Christie
Funaki

1st Five Eighths

Barrett
Perofeta
Plummer

Midfield

T Tele'a
R Ioane
Evans
Tua

Outside Backs

Tuivasa-Sheck
Clarke
M Telea
Heem
AJ Lam
Raumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Sullivan

[Tim]

Who plays centre when Rieko Ioane is unavailable?

Heem, Tele'a, Tua? Does Evans cover centre? Maybe Lam or Clarke?

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim Heem played a lot at centre in Europe and for Auckland pre-lock down. He would be my first pick. Tua plays there also. RTS?

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim Also I saw Lam play well there for the development team a couple of times.

[Daffy Jaffy]

We could do with an update on Segners injury last weekend?

[nzzp]

@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2022:

The Blues have contracted three young prospects for 2022 in midfielder Corey Evans, 20, halfback Taufa Funaki, 21, and lock/loosie Cameron Suafoa, 23.

And of course Rieko, who is still only 24 (amazed emoji; he seems to have been around forever)

[Duluth]

A couple of things I want to see next year:

Robinson at lock. He's good enough in the air and he shifts bodies around the field.. does he offer enough in the scrum?
Having Papali'i/Sotutu/Akira/Robinson on the field at the same time would be useful

Funaki in the 23. If the rumours are true Nock tried to get an early release. He's unlikely to stick around next year so it's time to develop a new halfback

[Crucial]

@tim said in Blues 2022:

1st Five Eighths
Barrett
Perofeta
Plummer

Midfield
T Tele'a
R Ioane
Evans
Tua

Outside Backs
Tuivasa-Sheck
Clarke
M Telea
Heem
AJ Lam
Raumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Sullivan

I'd be moving Perofeta to Outside backs and Plummer to midfield (12). Yes they cover 10 but are much better in other places. Meanwhile get Sullivan into the playmaking role as much as possible. That boy looks to have the class attributes to play 10 really well and could well be the star 10 the Blues have been searching for (forever). Don't throw the opportunity away and develop another 15.

[Nogusta]

@tim who will the midfield be assuming Plummer plays 10 when Barret and Rieko are rested the first few rounds?

[Machpants]

@nogusta said in Blues 2022:

@tim who will the midfield be assuming Plummer plays 10 when Barret and Rieko are rested the first few rounds?

There's no mandated ABs rest, they will probably play.

[Kirwan]

I've missed this, but has Dillon Hunt not recovered from his head knocks?

[Nogusta]

@kirwan no he hasn't so he's retired

[Kirwan]

@nogusta said in Blues 2022:

@kirwan no he hasn't so he's retired

That sucks, hope his health is good. Especially after Steve Devines experience

[Tim]

@nogusta I'm guessing Tele'a at 12 and Heem at 13?

Any idea of who will be the midfield cover in the wider training squad?

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim I like the promise of Heremaia Murray as an acadamy prospect but he is likely too green for SRP. They may not carry midfield cover due to in squad cover options. Hooker and Halfback wtg cover interests me. Maybe Apisai if he doesn't get picked up elsewhere but likely Halfback cover is a mystery to me. Sam Wye again more an academy prospect. Maybe get Chapman up from Ta$man? Haven't seen enough of Will Grant from Northland.

[taniwharugby]

@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2022:

Haven't seen enough of Will Grant from Northland.

You and me both

He stands out in club footy, has a decent pass, good running game but just not enough gametime to make any claim.

I can't even recall the 9 we signed early in the season as jnjury cover for Nock just before lockdown...iirc he has signed with Auckland next year anyway.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@taniwharugby Manu Paea. He is signed with MP.