Auckland Rugby 2022

[Duluth]

@tim said in Auckland Rugby 2022:

Tele’a returning to Auckland

It's a good career move to try and build a combination with Evans

He's had a frustrating career so far. Hopefully he can string some game together. I still think he has potential to be a high quality player

[Nogusta]

@duluth so if Roger doesn't crack the ABs thats Evans/Tele'a/RTS/Heem all going for midfield spots with Lam and Rayasi on the wings.....whew...

[Duluth]

@nogusta

Looks pretty good..

9 Funaki
10 Plummer/McKenzie
11 Rayasi
12 RTS/Evans
13 Heem/Tele'a
14 Lam
15 Sullivan

I think RTS will make the AB squad if fit

[Tim]

@duluth Forward pack will be interesting.

1 Lay
2 Vikena
3 Ta'avao
4 Scrafton
5 ?
6 ?
7 Choat
8 Ekuasi

(Backing Hodgman to return to the AB squad.)

I wonder how Ekuasi would go as a hooker?

[Duluth]

@tim said in Auckland Rugby 2022:

5 ?
6 ?

Jamie Lane & Kitiona Vai?

I didn't realise Vai was Nanai's brother:

From good rugby pedigree, Vai’s father player for Samoa and older brother Melani Nanai played for the Blues and Auckland.

[Tim]

@duluth Good call. Blake Gibson and Niko Jones will be available too? Sione Tuipulotu and Terrell Peita were squad options last year.

Kalapu and Dalzell were squad locks last year. Kalapu looks like he has some grunt. Lane looked improved last year.

IIRC, Josh Beehre (lock) and Wallace Sititi (loose forward) were quite highly rated from the 2021 Blues U20s?

[Bovidae]

If he is back in NZ Patrick Tuipulotu will be available for the NPC.

[Stargazer]

Not sure the AB7s will release players (like Kitiona Vai) for NPC, this year. RWC Sevens and Commonwealth Games Sevens both on the agenda.

[Tim]

@bovidae I'm hoping James Tucker sees the light and signs for Harbour this year.

[Tim]

@bovidae Looking forward to his clash with Retallick.

[Bovidae]

@tim said in Auckland Rugby 2022:

@bovidae I'm hoping James Tucker sees the light and signs for Harbour this year.

Aucklanders like Jock McKenzie don't even sign for NH!

[Nogusta]

@duluth said in Auckland Rugby 2022:

@tim said in Auckland Rugby 2022:

5 ?
6 ?

Jamie Lane & Kitiona Vai?

I didn't realise Vai was Nanai's brother:

Younger brother Cody Vai might just be he best of the lot!

[Tim]

@nogusta Is he with us or the Chiefs?

[Nogusta]

@tim said in Auckland Rugby 2022:

@nogusta Is he with us or the Chiefs?

Not too sure. He was at St Pauls Collegiate right? So yea safe to say the Chiefs will have him wrapped up.

[Bovidae]

@nogusta St Peters Cambridge - the St Kents of Waikato. Let's see when the U20 squads are named.

Some from Auckland/Northland have stayed, others have returned home.

[Tim]

[Tim]

It is Week One of the Waka Nathan Challenge Cup and Pollard Cup. Our Men’s Premier teams will be into their first official preseason games of the season this week around Tāmaki Makaurau before kicking into the Goodyear club season on 30 April.

[Tim]

Eden have a guy on the bench named Casino Tiatia. Cracking name!

[Tim]

@Steven-Harris

Have you watched the young (21 yo) Eden lock Jack Casey-Pickering in action?

Out of MAGS, and seems to have been involved with Auckland U18.

[Tim]