Magpies 2022
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@Stargazer Difficult to know who it is but he looks ideally suited to one of the jumping positions in the lineout given the extraordinary length of the current reach of his arms. Must question his speed around the field at the moment though although he could fend players off from a long way out.
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Ah well, at least we'll get Marino back sooner, now that he's not been picked for the ABs. Gutted for him though; really think he deserved it more than PGS.
The upside of Weber not being picked is that - if he's also not picked for the RugbyChampionship - we at least have a great halfback in Fakatava's absence (assuming Weber is not immediately packing his bags to go overseas).
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@Number-10 said in Magpies 2022:
Jacob Devery?
From today's FB announcement:
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️ 2022 PLAYER SIGNINGS: After a breakout 2021 Magpies season, and a Super Rugby debut in 2022, Jacob Devery will unfortunately miss the upcoming NPC season due to injury. We wish Jacob all the best with his recovery and look forward to seeing him back in black and white next season. -
The 15th player signing confirmed today is Tyrone Thompson.
I guess we can't really expect surprises when they make these announcements, considering Parsons already said in an interview ages ago that about 38 of last year's squad have re-signed for this year's NPC. Still hoping for one (good) surprise signing, like Tyrone's. I doubt we'll get one of the Sullivan's this year though. It's probably too soon for Cooper Flanders, although we may need a new loosie.
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@Stargazer Looks like they are putting it at such an awkward time so they can ensure people won't be able to make it there during work hours thus avoiding the expense of paying gatekeepers and the likes of security staff as sod all spectators are likely to be there at that time of day (myself obviously excluded if I am still in Napier of course!)
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@Higgins They couldn't play the game in the evening, because it's the same day as the first Māori All Blacks game v Ireland. They should have re-scheduled to another day. I guess they didn't want to play it on the following Saturday, because then players wouldn't be available for club finals. But why not on the Tuesday night?
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Haha may as well just re-name the team the Moana Pasifika Magpies (just kidding).
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@African-Monkey Haha, we had them first! MP can adopt that name!
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Looks like we will be running with the same squad as last season with these announcements so far, with the obvious exception of Tyrone Thompson and probably the halfback situation where Messrs Fakatava, Weber and Enari are all contenders for international duties. Maybe some change at prop where Sona Taumalolo must surely have retired permanently and maybe lock where Bryn Evans is about the same stage too! A couple of the hardly ever played squad members from last season might also be wondering whether it is worthwhile taking three months off work to train and wear number 1s to the grounds and watch others play.
I suppose it revolves around a union's income as to what their maximum NPC squad size these days given the % of said income allowed to be spent on salaries and the minimum and maximum salary to indidual players?
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@Higgins There's no reason why Enari and others in the Samoa squad wouldn't be available. Their last test match is on 16 July; our first NPC game is 3 weeks later on 6 August (away v Waikato), so they're unlikely to miss more than the 1st game. The Tongan test players may be available a week later; their last match (a RWC qualifier) is on 23 July. Unless Weber is called up as an injury replacement for Smith or added to the Rugby Championship squad, he should be available all season.
I'm sure the rookies that didn't get much game time, last year, will be keen to be pushing for more games this year. You never know how many injuries will take out players each season.
Last year we had 40 squad members and two apprentices. Those 40 included injury replacements for IWL and Fakatava. I understand we'll have about the same number this year, and will need an injury replacement for Jacob Devery. If Falcon is signed for this year, there's another spot for an injury replacement. It then depend on how bad Jonah Lowe's hamstring injury is, whether there'll be an injury replacement needed for him, too.
About 37/38 of last year's squad will return according to Tom Parsons in an interview after last season. So it's reasonably predictable who'll be in it. Add Thompson for Dixon. There are basically only one or two "unknowns": possibly at lock (for Evans or Martin?) and fullback (Falcon).
