Chiefs 2023

[Kiwiwomble]

@Yeetyaah so ok during normal times but struggled during COVID, wonder if he was struggling with it all

[Tim]

Gatland also had one of the worst seasons as a Waikato coach. Has anyone abused NZ rugby positions more? Absolutely gave zero shits about his jobs here, and spent all his time chasing NH roles. Good fucking riddance.

[Tim]

@Kiwiwomble No, he was working on his Lions coaching job and ignoring his New Zealand role.

[gt12]

This should at least give us someone to clearly aim at when they end up picking a ridiculous back three.

[Chris]

@Tim said in Chiefs 2023:

Gatland also had one of the worst seasons as a Waikato coach. Has anyone abused NZ rugby positions more? Absolutely gave zero shits about his jobs here, and spent all his time chasing NH roles. Good fucking riddance.

That’s interesting he struggled in NZ when he came back from all the international experience.
When some deem it a must for certain coaching roles.

Is it a bit like players who come back from playing overseas and struggle back in the NZ system for a while, some never get back to the form they had before they left, Others take a bit of time.
Coaches maybe in a similar situation.

[Bovidae]

@Tim said in Chiefs 2023:

Gatland also had one of the worst seasons as a Waikato coach.

Eh? Waikato did struggle a bit in his first year (2005) as Gatland tried to implement the rush defence, but won the NPC title in 2006.

[kiwi_expat]

I assume the Chiefs will need another assistant coach for 2023, Gatland was helping the forwards.

Any of Jono Gibbes, Ross Filipo, Andrew Strawbridge, Allen Bunting are on the top of my wish-list.

[Stargazer]

@kiwi_expat You can forget about Jono Gibbes, who's the head coach of Clermont until at least June 2024.

[taniwharugby]

@kiwi_expat strawbridge is with ABs isn't he?

[Bovidae]

@taniwharugby said in Chiefs 2023:

@kiwi_expat strawbridge is with ABs isn't he?

He was helping for the home tests. Strawbridge is the Waikato Director of Rugby.

I don't know what the Chiefs will do. Barnes wasn't replaced, so McMillan took a more hands-on role. He was responsible for the lineouts, for example.

[taniwharugby]

@Bovidae ah ok, I thought it was more in the management team for the ABs, but not one that required travel

[Dan54]

@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2023:

Unfortunately for Gats, he'll statistically go down as the worst Chiefs coach. Can't speak for him as a person but something didn't click in the environment. He started the Chiefs off well pre pandemic then lost 8 games in a row which lead the to Chiefs leveling the worst losing streak in super history.

I think whiich reinforces theory different skills needed for coaching different level. Probably best club coach I worked with back in 90s, won 3 club comps lasted one year as provincial coach, just never handled it.
Think we have seen it before, and I reckon Deans was a great case in point, his skills were working with a team of a certain type , and perhaps came unstuck selecting and working with experienced higher skilled players?

[Dan54]

@kiwi_expat said in Chiefs 2023:

I assume the Chiefs will need another assistant coach for 2023, Gatland was helping the forwards.

Any of Jono Gibbes, Ross Filipo, Andrew Strawbridge, Allen Bunting are on the top of my wish-list.

They maybe a little disappointed they didn't know a little earlier, may of chased Tito for the job.
When you think of it, not just our player depth that maybe starting to get hurt with NH clubs etc.

[Crucial]

@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2023:

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

Did you ever see anything?

[Yeetyaah]

@Crucial nah I didn't yet. I'll dm and ask about it.

[Yeetyaah]

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah There are a couple of players I can't easily identify in that photo.

Of the players I listed the following would be likely NDC players:
Cody Nordstrom (winger/fullback)
Taine Kolosi (hooker)
Jadin Kingi (lock/6)
Jole Naufahu (winger/fullback)
Toby Taylor (prop)

Te Rama Reuben and Kauvaka Kaivelata are only 20.

[Bovidae]

National Development Contract players:
Cody Nordstrom (Waikato)
Fiti Sa (Taranaki)
Jole Naufahu (Waikato)
Kauvaka Kaivelata (Counties Manukau)
Toby Taylor (Bay of Plenty)

Replacement players:
Adam Lennox (Taranaki)
Connor Collins (Wellington)
Daniel Rona (Taranaki)
Hamilton Burr (Waikato)
Jacob Norris (Bay of Plenty)
Jadin Kingi (Counties Manukau)
Lalomilo Lalomilo (Bay of Plenty)
Liam Coombes-Fabling (Waikato)
Solomon Alaimalo (Southland)
Solomone Tukuafu (Waikato)
Taine Kolosi (Bay of Plenty)
Te Rama Reuben (Waikato)
Wallace Sititi (North Harbour)

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/pre-season-underway-with-wider-training-squad

[Crucial]

@Bovidae cheers. Would be good to see the Manawa WTG as well.

[Bovidae]

Daniel Rona was the player I couldn't identify (seated below Simon Parker).

Fiti Sa is a poach from Canterbury. He's the other player in that original photo (between Tukuafu and Burr).