Blues 2022

Canes4life

@tim said in Blues 2022:

@mariner4life said in Blues 2022:

Hamish Bedwell supposed to be a decent journo

No, he is a weirdo with a massive chip on his shoulder, who hates NZ rugby, the Blues, the Chiefs, and hopes NZ teams lose.

He certainly is, I'm pretty sure he got his job through the reputation of his old man aswell who I believe used to be a great journo in Wellington for a long time.

Hamish has always been a poor journo, especially when he was writing on the Canes for the Dom Post. Always so bloody negative and just so poor with his information, half The Silver Fern could do a better job to be honest.

Tim

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300508956/super-rugby-blueshurricanes-preseason-clash-set-to-be-moved-to-queenstown

Nogusta

@bovidae

Papali'i (C) and BB (VC)

KiwiMurph

@nogusta A good sign for BB's recovery (I hope)

Duluth

Good decision. Papali'i is certain to start when healthy

TR is likely to be rotating with other players.. or possibly moving to the second row

Bovidae

@nogusta said in Blues 2022:

@bovidae

Papali'i (C)

I thought that might be the choice. He captained St Kents.

Kirwan

@duluth said in Blues 2022:

Good decision. Papali'i is certain to start when healthy

TR is likely to be rotating with other players.. or possibly moving to the second row

Yeah, that's very good choice.

gt12

Paps on the Cane path...

nostrildamus

I don't recognize this Blues side. Good selections and choice of captaincy, energetic backs, healthy forwards, promising younger talent from league, and plenty of depth. And no excuses offered early by Blues posters here!
What a strange year 2022 is shaping up to be.

Tim

With Tolai and Niuia at Moana Pacifica, and Apisai with the Chiefs, who is the backup hooker in the WTG this year?

Duluth

@tim said in Blues 2022:

With Tolai and Niuia at Moana Pacifica, and Apisai with the Chiefs, who is the backup hooker in the WTG this year?

There's some new headshots up. Some regular squad and some in the wider group

https://www.gettyimages.co.nz/search/2/image?events=775752408&family=editorial&sort=newest

I can only spot flankers & props in the extended group

Tim

@tim

Some players from the region still available:

Donald Coleman

~~Robbie Abel?~~
Te Ariki Te Puni

Penisoni Fineanganofo
Zuriel Togiatama
Joe Royal

Hohaia
Olsen
Moulds?

Duluth

@tim said in Blues 2022:

Robbie Abel?

Google says he's retired and is now forwards coach at the Utah Warriors

taniwharugby

@tim Moulds is playing MLR for San Diego Legions, but will be back for NPC.

I think Olsen is not 100% in for NPC, contemplating a break (or retirement?) so unsure if he is available.

Ross Wright is the other who has some experience, has been doing a fair bit of work at the Northland HPC over the summer, but he's not really a long term option.

Behind them, no one up here would be near the radar.

Dice

Give this guy a call.

He's probably in better shape post career.

ARHS

@tim Togiatama in Moana Pacific?? Are any of Nathan Vella, Ricky Jackson or Quentin McDonald training with a franchise?

Tim

@arhs Vella could be handy. Are any Waikato hookers available?

ARHS

@tim Not sure. Maybe Stephen Misa?

Bovidae

@arhs said in Blues 2022:

@tim Not sure. Maybe Stephen Misa?

Sam Cooper would be another. I thought I saw him in one of the Chiefs training videos but he wasn't in the list of replacement players. I also wonder what has happened to Sekope Lopeti-Moli.

Nogusta

@tim no WTG backups this year. Just the 3 contracted dudes Eklund, Vikena & Ricci.