Chiefs 2023

[Crucial]

@cgrant said in Chiefs 2023:

Punivai is an odd selection as Sinkinson was on hand. But I am not sold on both of them, as I was among those who think that Leroy Carter would have been the best choice.

Carter and DMac together?
Would be like a play date for ADHD kids.

[Bovidae]

@cgrant said in Chiefs 2023:

Punivai is an odd selection as Sinkinson was on hand. But I am not sold on both of them, as I was among those who think that Leroy Carter would have been the best choice.

Punivai gives them some size out wide, which I assume was one of the attractions (1.90 m, 102 kg). The same reason there appeared to be some interest in Nanai.

[Mackerzzzz]

So best 23:?

1. O Norris
2. S Taukei'aho
3. A Taavao
4. J Lord
5. B Retallick
6. T Vaii
7. S Cane
8. L Jacobson
9. B Webber
10. B Gatland
11. E Nanai-Seturo
12. A Nankivell
13. A Lenert-Brown
14. S Stevenson
15. D Mckenzie

16. B Slater
17. A Ross
18. A Moli
19. N Ah Kuoi
20. PG Sowakula
21. C Ratima/ X Roe
22. R Poihipi
23. E Narawa

[Chris]

@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2023:

@cgrant said in Chiefs 2023:

Punivai is an odd selection as Sinkinson was on hand. But I am not sold on both of them, as I was among those who think that Leroy Carter would have been the best choice.

Punivai gives them some size out wide, which I assume was one of the attractions (1.90 m, 102 kg). The same reason there appeared to be some interest in Nanai.

Punivai lacks real pace to be a top wing could be a decent centre though.

[Bovidae]

This is the team I expect:

1 Ross
2 Taukei'aho
3 Ta'avao
4 Retallick
5 Vaa’i
6 Ah Kuoi
7 Cane
8 Jacobson
9 Weber
10 Gatland (McKenzie)
11 Nanai-Seturo/Malimali
12 Nankivell/Poihipi
13 Lienert-Brown
14 Stevenson (Narawa)
15 McKenzie (Stevenson)

16 Thompson
17 Norris
18 Moli/Dyer
19 Selby-Rickit
20 Sowakula
21 Roe
22 Poihipi/Nankivell
23 Narawa (Gatland/Ioane)

[Crazy Horse]

Poihipi is an interesting one. I thought he showed some glimpses of usefulness last Super season, and sparodically for Canterbury this year, but he was part of a pretty poor Canterbury midfield. Time will tell if it was players around him or if he was part of the problem.

[Bovidae]

McMillan explains some of the Chiefs selections, some of which we've discussed on here (e.g., the locks).

[Mackerzzzz]

@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2023:

This is the team I expect:

1 Ross
2 Taukei'aho
3 Ta'avao
4 Retallick
5 Vaa’i
6 Ah Kuoi
7 Cane
8 Jacobson
9 Weber
10 Gatland (McKenzie)
11 Nanai-Seturo/Malimali
12 Nankivell/Poihipi
13 Lienert-Brown
14 Stevenson (Narawa)
15 McKenzie (Stevenson)

16 Thompson
17 Norris
18 Moli/Dyer
19 Sowakula
20 Roe
21 Poihipi/Nankivell
23 Narawa (Gatland/Ioane)

Your missing one?

[Bovidae]

@Mackerzzzz Duh! I will edit.

[Stargazer]

quinntupaea 6 weeks post op and finally out of my brace and back walking. Unreal feeling

[Stargazer]

WTG spot, or is Hamilton home to him?

[Stargazer]

Nankivel on crutches. Hopefully it's not too bad.

[Bones]

@Stargazer it'd be great to see him back - he was the pre-Stevenson Stevenson!

[Bovidae]

Maybe a WTG spot. Staying in NZ must give you a better chance.

Alaimalo will be 27 later in the year so still has plenty of years ahead of him.

[cgrant]

@Stargazer said in Chiefs 2023:

Nankivel on crutches. Hopefully it's not too bad.

Gallagher is a huge man !

[Stargazer]

@cgrant Yep. And at only 21, you'd expect him to still gain some mass.

[Yeetyaah]

Chiefs responded to my Instagram question. Replacement players named on Monday.

[Crucial]

@Yeetyaah

NDC?

[Yeetyaah]

@Crucial no clue what that is.

[Stargazer]

@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:

@Yeetyaah

NDC?

National Development Contract

See this post in the Hurricanes 2023 thread; there are 20 of them in total. So some of the young guns (I assume mostly NZU20/NZU19 players).