Chiefs 2023

Crucial

@Dan54 said in Chiefs 2023:

Don't forget there is also Trask that got sent to Japan for the year to get experience. He is who the Chiefs are looking at for future, so inagine Ioane and Gatland will be let go.

It is an odd one. Trask is certainly coming back. That deal is well flagged.
Gatland is the number two 10 at the moment over Ioane it appears. Hard to see how he fits in as Trask seems to be being groomed for that role.
Gatland has the contacts and style to go north and earn well.
My guess is that Gatland and Reihana leave. I've said before that I have no idea whose bed Reihana shit in but he seems to be an outlier at the Chiefs for some reason.

Bovidae

@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:

I've said before that I have no idea whose bed Reihana shit in but he seems to be an outlier at the Chiefs for some reason.

Reihana must have a long-term injury/health problem of some sort as he hasn't even played club rugby this year AFAIK. The Chiefs have been very quiet on his status and he's never listed on the "Players not considered due to injury" list. Reihana was on the field after the Crusaders game so is obviously still around the squad.

Trask is signed for 2024-25.

Bovidae

Atu Moli is playing again for Varsity. Good to see Laghlan McWhannell also playing this Sat (Hautapu). I can't see any other Chiefs squad players involved in Waikato club rugby.

Stargazer

@Bovidae Tyrone Thompson will be playing for Napier Tech.

Bovidae

@Stargazer said in Chiefs 2023:

@Bovidae Tyrone Thompson will be playing for Napier Tech.

That surprises me as teams usually include a hooker in the extra players they take for away games.

Stargazer

@Bovidae Maybe he'll be flying from Dunedin to Napier instead of Hamilton?

Bovidae

Good to hear McMillan say that Daniel Rona has a contract in front of him. I don't know who they had in mind to replace Nankivell but Rona has done more than enough to earn a fulltime squad position for 2024 and beyond.

Crucial

@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2023:

Good to hear McMillan say that Daniel Rona has a contract in front of him. I don't know who they had in mind to replace Nankivell but Rona has done more than enough to earn a fulltime squad position for 2024 and beyond.

Has grabbed his lucky break with both hands.
His position as a fill in has meant that the coaches have given him plenty of game time and he has improved with every minute played.
Doesn’t look out of place at all and is right up there competing for the form centre position.

Bovidae

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1283848935871246

Yeetyaah

@Bovidae ah man that's so awesome to hear, dude 100 percent deserves it. I've said it before but man I'm so proud of where this team are at right now.

kiwi_expat

the best winger in the country right now...

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/131965184/emoni-narawa-can-join-the-celebrated-list-of-all-blacks-brilliant-fijian-wingers

Bovidae

Samipeni Finau

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/131976527/from-flying-fullback-to-bruising-blindside-chiefs-samipeni-finau-steps-it-up

Crucial

@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2023:

Samipeni Finau

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/131976527/from-flying-fullback-to-bruising-blindside-chiefs-samipeni-finau-steps-it-up

Three schools in three years shows how much school rugby has taken over as the development pathway from club.

Bovidae

@Crucial said in Chiefs 2023:

Three schools in three years shows how much school rugby has taken over as the development pathway from club.

I knew Finau had moved to St Peter's from Manurewa HS but didn't realise he'd been at James Cook HS first. Joe Rokocoko is another who originally went to James Cook HS.