Blues 2022

[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.

[Tim]

@nogusta Can one of the props cover hooker or something?

[Dice]

I'm guessing you can probably snatch someone who is training with another team. Not everyone training with a team is contracted.

[Nepia]

Kianu Kereru Symes from the Magpies is available if they want to look outside the region, I think he's trained with the Blues before.

[Bovidae]

@nepia He's with the evil empire (named on bench for pre-season game vs Highlanders).

[Nepia]

@bovidae said in Blues 2022:

@nepia He's with the evil empire (named on bench for pre-season game vs Highlanders).

Well, that's ruined my day.

Nah, not really I'm happy for him to be in the mix even if it is with the village of the damned.

Edit: This is what happens when @Stargazer isn't around to update our Magpies threads.

[mikedogz]

@arhs

@tim said in Blues 2022:

Zuriel Togiatama

He is playing for the Drua

[gt12]

@nepia said in Blues 2022:

@bovidae said in Blues 2022:

@nepia He's with the evil empire (named on bench for pre-season game vs Highlanders).

Well, that's ruined my day.

Nah, not really I'm happy for him to be in the mix even if it is with the village of the damned.

Edit: This is what happens when @Stargazer isn't around to update our Magpies threads.

It looks like you sent up the bat signal, because I see he is back.

[African Monkey]

@dice Yeah if you fall short in an area you just call in an uncontracted player. Guys like Nathan Vella do it all the time for teams.

[Bovidae]

@african-monkey said in Blues 2022:

@dice Yeah if you fall short in an area you just call in an uncontracted player. Guys like Nathan Vella do it all the time for teams.

That might not be so easy in Queenstown if the teams are in separate bubbles. The teams will have to take enough players to cover all positions.

[taniwharugby]

@bovidae maybe they might have 'pool' players to call on?
Some squads will have players they can loan, and maybe if only for a week while someone is in iso after.a call up?

[Bovidae]

The plan would have to be to avoid movement of players in and out of team bubbles. Otherwise, what is the point!

[taniwharugby]

@bovidae but if they play against one another, how is that keeping a team bubble? I would have thought they are essentially operating one large bubble at multiple locations?