Magpies 2022
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Magpies 2022:
Is he back with the Magpies this season?
Not sure who the commentators are for the Div 2 club final that is livestreamed right now. One of them is definitely either a coach or someone from the HBRU and he just said that Geoff Cridge and Brendon O'Connor (and obviously Ash Dixon) won't be back, this season.
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I just went through the 2021 squad list to look who hasn't been announced as a signed player for 2022.
Apart from the obvious players who won't return in 2022 - Ash Dixon, Tiaan Falcon, Geoff Cridge and Brendon O'Connor - there are still a few players left who haven't been named yet.- Lock: Elijah Martin (he may have been an injury replacement for Walker-Leawere, so may not be re-signed because Isaia is available)
- Loose forwards: Frank Lochore and Will Tremain
- Halfback: Brad Weber! (I haven't included Tusitala, who was brought in late as an injury replacement)
- Midfield: Dennon Robertson-Bartlett
New signings are Tyrone Thompson for Ash Dixon and Chase Tiatia for either Tiaan Falcon or Dennon Robertson-Bartlett.
So we still need: three loosies (Lochore, Tremain and O'Connor replacement spots), at least one lock (Cridge replacement), a halfback if Weber doesn't return, and one midfield or outside back (replacement for either Falcon or the Robertson-Bartlett spot, if the latter doesn't return).
I kind of expect them to (re-)sign Lochore and Tremain, and pick the openside from the RS game v South Canterbury (Sam Smith) as a replacement for O'Connor.
Halfback, surely Brad will be playing for us, if he doesn't get picked in the ABs Rugby Championship squad? He's committed to the Chiefs until the end of the 2023 season, so can't leave for greener pastures straight away.
Midfield/outside back spot: my guess this is will be either Paoraian Manuel-Harmon or Zach Simpkins, who were both used for the RS game v South Canterbury. I didn't notice Simpkins much, but Manuel-Harmon looked handy. I guess it depends how they are planning on using Tiatia. As a midfielder or fullback, and whether Manuel-Harmon can play fullback.
The biggest question is lock. I assume our starters will be Parsons and Walker-Leawere, with Bryn on the bench. I think I prefer them picking a young one instead of Martin. Lochore got the 19 jersey in the RS. Will he be in the squad as a lock or a loosie (that was Cridge's role too, although he was hardly used at 6 in recent years). Will they consider Tiaki Fabish (also a lock/loosie), who I think is 21 years old? If Lochore is picked for that role, we may need another lock/loosie.
Anyway, I understand the full squad will be named this week. Don't know the day.
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@Stargazer Do we have another 1st division standard lock in the bay or do you think we need to recruit one??If Parsons or Walker Leawere get injured it's looking quite concerning, imo.
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@kiwimatrix I think we have several former and current Academy locks floating around who could - hopefully - become 1st division standard locks, but one that already is? The best locks in NZ will already be taken. They may be looking overseas and that could be fine, just as long as he isn't another "Nick Palmer" (an average player who wants to get better playing in NZ and then buggers off for a contract elsewhere again). If we're going for average, then rather an average local. Or rather, a local rookie who could become more than average and sticks around.
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@Stargazer No mate. Look if the Bay are serious about winning the NPC or making the top 4, they'll need another top class lock. Like you said if Tom, or Isiah go down if leaves Bryn. They may import from overseas who knows, but you have to have the tight 5 depth to go deep into this competition..
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The HBRU's fan engagement is same level shit as that of NZR. Never posted an announcement of today's preseason game, no team sheet and no updates about the game.
Auckland Rugby posted half time and full time scores:
Auckland 24 - 19 Hawke's Bay (HT: 14 - 12)
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@Stargazer Agreed. There is one thing bugging me. The mystery of who Owen Frank's is going to play NPC for. Most squads are named. Taranaki, Manawatu, Wellington Waikato, Otago, Canterbury, and no doubt others. It makes me wonder whether he's injured, or just not signed. Don't know why but I have a gut feeling it's either Ta$man, or he's going to follow in his brother's footsteps and play for Hawkes Bay. Any whispers?
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@Billsy111 Owen was born in Motueka, so hopefully he's returning to his roots!
I have heard no whispers though and we will be well stocked with tightheads if we have Tyrel Lomax for most of the season - with Sam Matenga and (I think) Isaac Salmon in the wings.
Given Owen basically took over from Lomax at the Hurricanes you'd wonder if he might yet be in the frame for the ABs - he's only 34, so not quite geriatric for a prop.
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@Stargazer You could well be right mate, but I see he's not named in Tasmans or Bay of Plentys squad, or for that matter Counties Manakau. He must be hurt surely. From memory it only leaves Southland, and Hawke's Bay to name there full squads.
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@Stargazer Still look to be awaiting final notification of the locking situation. As an aside I picked up my season ticket today and saw Mark Braidwood's van in the carpark so it looks like the lineup for the second Shield Defense of the season might be some way off a full strength lineup, unless Braidwood was there to ensure there were sufficient props on hand to allow fully contested live contact scrumming practice.
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So we still need a lock (replacing Cridge), two loosies (Lochore? & O'Connor replacement), and a back. It wouldn't surprise me if they name only three out of those four, because of the squad size.
Like all other provinces, I assume there will be some development players in the squad.
Bye the way, I haven't seen Jonah Lowe in any of the photos of training yet. I wonder how bad that hamstring injury is/was.
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They've signed another prop! No, not Owen Franks. It's the young LH prop that was named as a development player in the squad in 2021 and played in the MLR for Toronto, this year (on the recommendation of our scrum coach Francisco Deformes, who was Toronto's assistant coach).
The 39th signing is Lolani Faleiva.
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