Blues 2024

[Chris]

@Tim

Akira trained with the Crusaders pre Christmas for a couple of weeks while he was down there.

[Tim]

Parsons mentioned Jacob Pierce as one of the best scrumaging locks he's played with. Missed opportunity!

[Tim]

Josh Fusitua
Alex Hodgman
Nepo Laulala
James Lay - may go to MP
Marcel Renata
Ofa Tuʻungafasi

Kurt Eklund - off contract
Ricky Riccitelli
Soane Vikena

Sam Darry
Taine Plumtree
James Tucker
Patrick Tuipulotu

Adrian Choat
Akira Ioane
Dalton Papalii
Tom Robinson
Rob Rush
Anton Segner
Hoskins Sotutu
Cameron Suafoa

Finlay Christie
Taufa Funaki
Sam Nock

Beauden Barrett
Stephen Perofeta
Harry Plummer

Corey Evans - leaving for game time?
Rieko Ioane
Tanielu Teleʻa - will he be injured?
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Bryce Heem

Caleb Clarke
AJ Lam
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Caleb Tangitau - Sevens
Mark Telea
Zarn Sullivan

[Nogusta]

@Daffy-Jaffy signed with Auckland as well for this years NPC

[cliff]

Looks like Caleb tangitau, Taine plumtree and jrk will be leaving the blues

[Tim]

@cliff Tangitau leaving for game time?

[cliff]

Perhaps he could be headed to the landers or canes

[Chris]

This post is deleted!

[Chris]

@Tim

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens Maybe heading to the Crusaders

[Nogusta]

@Tim going back to the 7s program

[KiwiMurph]

But some of it must fall on the head coach. His team were patently unready. Was that a mindset thing? A mental weakness? Are these Blues players still, after all these years, bereft of the sort of steel, fortitude, fabric that is clearly imbued in the Crusaders, and Chiefs for that matter?

It would have been nice to ask MacDonald some of these questions, but,unlike Hurricanes coach Jason Holland, he has gone silent at the end of his time in franchise footy. His organisation has put the shutters up, right when questions about them are at their loudest.

Like why was chief assistant coach Tom Coventry never heard from the entire season? What happened with No 8 Hoskins Sotutu for him to drop completely off the radar of the national selectors? Why did normally cool, collected types like Beauden Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Dalton Papalii seem like headless chooks at OT Stadium on Friday?

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300910053/blues-season-review-embarrassing-ignominious-end-to-the-leon-macdonald-era

[Tim]

@Nogusta Ah, it's the Olympics next year.

[Stargazer]

There are rumours that Scarlets are interested in Plumtree.

[Canes4life]

@Tim maybe Tangitau to join Laidlaw?

[frugby]

@Chris said in Blues 2023:

@Tim

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens Maybe heading to the Crusaders

My pick was the Chiefs, because I think Shaun Stevenson will either head offshore, join the NRL... or potentially even have a stab at 7s before he leaves? If JRK wants to play 15, that is a massive opening. Has just re-signed with Taranaki for two years, so all will be revealed soon.

@Canes4life said in Blues 2023:

@Tim maybe Tangitau to join Laidlaw?

Hard to imagine the Blues haven't locked up Tanigtau long-term, but once again, I'd be questioning the choices of pretty much any outside back, if they move to another team anywhere other than the Landers (Unless there is a fullback opening at the Chiefs). All the other teams are stacked with established players, and as Lam and JRK have shown, you just end up sitting in the stands.

[Chris]

Crusaders are talking to JRK as FB cover.

[Tim]

https://www.facebook.com/reel/964485911528027

Confirmed leaving: Hodgman, Laulala, Tucker, Plumtree, Robinson, Barrett, Tangitau, JRK.

[frugby]

@Chris Having wasted three years sitting on the Blues bench, I'd have no idea why he'd want to do that - sit behind Will Jordan. If that is the case, Fihaki would surely be leaving.

[Tim]

So we could be looking for as many as three locks, with Edward Annandale presumably one of them. Also could be after three props, which is a lot of turnover for the tight five.

[frugby]

@Tim Could be wrong, but Fusitua, Tu'ungafasi, Lay and Renata are all in theory back, so just three props... though tight five stocks are looking WEAK.