Blues 2024
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@Chris said in Blues 2023:
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens Maybe heading to the Crusaders
Signed with the Landers
@Nogusta Good move. As was pointed out, going to the Crusaders is a waste of time for him as he'd be doing the same as what he was doing at the Blues.
Good luck to him.
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When is the new coach going to be announced? I would assume that the players must know and take this into consideration when deciding to re-sign or not.
@Bovidae said in Blues 2023:
When is the new coach going to be announced? I would assume that the players must know and take this into consideration when deciding to re-sign or not.
Also who is making the decision on who to sign?
Annandale is an unusual signing that maybe points to Cotter or Jono Gibbes? Gibbes was apparently going to be Rennies assistant coach if he took the Blues job
This was interesting speculation in the Manawatu Standard regarding the Blues job:
We hear former Turbos coach Dave Rennie could have taken up the Blues coaching job had he wanted it, although he'd earlier committed himself to Kobe Steelers in Japan. There he'll be joined by Manawatu's NZ under-20s' forwards coach Wesley Clarke as defence coach for two years. The Blues position comes under the most heat because of the proximity of the national media outlets. Even tough diamond Frank Oliver couldn't wait to get out of the place because of the scrutiny. Vern Cotter might pick up that job. Another former Manawatū coach, Jason O'Halloran, is back from Japan and was attack coach with Cotter with Scotland. Maybe he would be a fit up there. -
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@frugby said in Blues 2023:
That is a shame. I was CONVINCED Mark Telea was going to end up at the Highlanders!!
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It's understood the Blues and other teams are also chasing former Hurricanes captain Jason O'Halloran for their staffs.That fits with that article posted earlier. He has history with Cotter so hopefully we get him too
I wonder what this means for the current Blues assistants?
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nzherald has a paywalled article about Cotter
- Contract not signed yet, expected to sign a two year deal soon
- He would take over next month before having a break to assist Romania at RWC
- Coventry unlikely to be renewed
- Schmidt may be involved
- Akira has signed with the Blues for two more years
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Hopefully the next news is O'Halloran taking over MacDonalds old role and Schmidt taking over Umaga's weird 'support coach' job
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nzherald has a paywalled article about Cotter
- Contract not signed yet, expected to sign a two year deal soon
- He would take over next month before having a break to assist Romania at RWC
- Coventry unlikely to be renewed
- Schmidt may be involved
- Akira has signed with the Blues for two more years
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@Nogusta Is Tana gonna be the Moana head coach?
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@Duluth I've long been a fan of O'Halloran, be great to see him back coaching in NZ.
@taniwharugby said in Blues 2024:
@Duluth I've long been a fan of O'Halloran, be great to see him back coaching in NZ.
Esp for the team he played for and likely supports (the Canes)
Canes won with Boyd and plumtree. It doesn't always work out but Henry with the Blues, Boyd with the Canes, Joseph with the highlanders and all the crusaders winner's. I know the chiefs had a Canes outsider (who the canes didn't want) but in general I prefer canes region coaches or ex players coaching the Canes. And it seems to work out better.
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I think it's a good time to move on from Coventry.
He's a good coach who has done a good job but I think it's time for a new voice which naturally happens - it's been 5 years or so.
Blues forwards got destroyed in some big games in the last couple of years so it will be interesting to see what Cotter can do with the pack.
Similarly with the attack Blues could really use a fresh approach.
The challenge for Cotter will be where does the leadership come from - for all the great work Leon did with the culture when push came to shove there was a lack of direction/resolve etc especially in the years without Romano (Leon even admitted Romano being a gigantic loss in that sense).
