Otago 2023
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@SouthernMann said in Otago 2023:
Key points from the article. No Josh Ioane. No Ray Nu'u. Likely to be Christian Lio-Willie's last year. Kieran McLea is probably the third halfback. Semisi Tupou-Ta’eiloa might be heading to Southland on loan. No one to come in from outside Otago.
https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/five-or-six-new-faces-likely-be-named-otago-squad
Five or six new faces likely to be named in Otago squad
There could be up to a half a dozen surprises when the Otago NPC squad is named late next week.
Well, surprises might be slightly overstating it. But there will be some new faces.Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Richard Kinley said there had been strong retention of players from last year which meant there were not a lot of open slots.
"There could be up to another five or six contracts still to be offered," he confirmed.
"There will also be another 10-11-12 players who will not be fully contracted, but will be brought into the squad to cover injuries and some of those players will get game time in the NPC this year."
The Otago players based in the United States are expected back, so the likes of hooker Henry Bell and halfback Kieran McClea will return for the NPC.
Crusaders No 8 Christian Lio-Willie’s playing contract has a year to run. He is a powerful ball-carrier and Otago will be hoping to get the best out of him.
Highlanders lock Josh Dickson is destined for Japan, but it is understood he will turn out for Otago before he departs the country.
First five Josh Ioane is not returning for personal reasons.
The one-game All Black struggled for form last season and was overtaken by Cameron Millar.
Midfielder Ray Nu’u is not returning, which could open up a spot for the likes of Josh Whaanga. The Taieri centre has impressed in his rookie premier grade season.
Otago wants to see robust Kaikorai loosie Semisi Tupou-Ta’eiloa in action during at NPC level and has been working with Southland "on where Semisi might be best placed to get some game time this year".
"That is a work in progress at the moment."
The youngster looks a keeper, so Otago will want to get the wording right on any loan agreement, if that is what is happening.
Last year, Wellington halfback Kemara Hauiti-Parapara and Waikato loose forward Rupeni Tamani were brought in to boost the squad.
However, Kinley said Otago was unlikely to go outside of the province to fill any perceived vacancies this season.
"I can say, at the moment, that we are not looking at anyone from outside the region. We’ve got some good depth coming through the community rugby programme, and also the trial game last week showed there is some good depth there.
"I think we’ll have a very competitive side, with the new talent coming through and the retention of some experienced players."
@george33 article I posted from last week saying the squad will be named this week.
@SouthernMann Monday night
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My mistake. I knew it was around this time frame. But
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Finn Hurley scored 29 points today in his side's (Green Island) demolition of Zingari
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Finn Hurley scored 29 points today in his side's (Green Island) demolition of Zingari
@SouthernMann what position was he playing?
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Fullback
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Interestingly last year they named Asi, Faleafaga, Haig, Hurley, Stodart and Wingham as development players. All, as expected in the full squad this year.
Harry Taylor probably in place of Lentjes. John Leslie's son Jack has made it after being out injured nearly all of the club season. Josh Whaanga is highly regard and is only 19.
Gone from 2022 are;
Bower (didn't play anyway)
Kolomatangi
Hohneck
Tamani
Hauaiti-Parapara
Ioane
Nu'u
Koroi
Vahaakolo -
Otago squad named.
Bit of a shock seeing Waisake named in there. Would have preferred some of the younger lads like big Oscar from Dunedin.
Looks like James Lentjes may not play for Otago again.
Vili Koroi not there at all.
@SouthernMann only Pole and Lopas… Wingham can play loosehead?
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Rohan plays tighthead now, but back in high school was loosehead and was even a hooker. As mentioned, Otago will be using a few players that even aren't the squad like last year and years before so players like Oscar could end up playing. The 3 replacement players will most likely play. Ollie Haig last year played after 2 weeks and was named in the academy squad so Ben Lopas for example could easily be named in the first few weeks looking at the low prop stocks. Jack Leslie will be interesting seem he hasn't played all season, but tbf Jake was the same and then played brilliantly last weekend. Wonder if James and Timu may be out for the whole season or we could possibly see them towards the end of the season. Waisake, who knows. Maybe he could end up having a stellar year and scoring 10 tries. Will just have to wait and see. Also will be a mentor role for the likes of Hurley, and Asi in the outside backs. Wonder how many games Tau will actually get to play for us. (doubt any)
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I'm interested to see who the captain will be. Sean Withy could be a decent candidate, good leader and will be in the side long-term. At loosehead, Saula Ma'u last listed at loosehead for Harbour recently.
Will Gilbert, Leslie and Hurley be the 10s to cover should Millar or Faleafaga go down?
The poorly written ODT article this morning said Lentjes was out for the season, and it was unknown how long Timu will be goooone for.
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I just hope Naholo is one of these guys that lifts his game the high he plays (if he hasn't even been locking in a club spot) otherwise ia bit of a waste, im sure other guys will get a shot but there is somethign to be said for being "named in the squad"
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I don't think Naholo is going to play a huge amount of rugby. Will be around the squad, may be a few games here and there, but more being a guiding hand to the likes of Asi and Hurley. I would have preferred we had another outside back there alongside him, but may be the budget didn't allow it.
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@frugby is that intel or just what you'd like? im on board as have both got a couple of season under their belt locally now and should be starters every week
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I don't think Naholo is going to play a huge amount of rugby. Will be around the squad, may be a few games here and there, but more being a guiding hand to the likes of Asi and Hurley. I would have preferred we had another outside back there alongside him, but may be the budget didn't allow it.
@SouthernMann said in Otago 2023:
I don't think Naholo is going to play a huge amount of rugby. Will be around the squad, may be a few games here and there, but more being a guiding hand to the likes of Asi and Hurley. I would have preferred we had another outside back there alongside him, but may be the budget didn't allow it.
i kind of hpe your wrong....i just dislike the idea of signing someone to a full contract if their not down for full commitment
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@frugby is that intel or just what you'd like? im on board as have both got a couple of season under their belt locally now and should be starters every week
@Kiwiwomble Not sure, you tell me :winking_face:
This is what I have been told... that said, I had guessed this would be the case before being told, so hardly big info. The only other candidate off the top of my head was Henry Bell... the rest of them have little to no leadership experience/vibe to them.
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Those two are the logical options. Only other could have potentially been Jermaine Ainsley. The likes of Haig and Stodart are captains down the line, but not for a long time.
@Kiwiwomble in terms of Naholo, I think he is committed. I just think Otago will be leaning heavily on his intellectual property to assist in the development of others. Just think they will likely use Asi, Nareki and Te Hiwi ahead of him on the wing.
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Otago play Ta$man in 23 Days... could this be the 23?
- Abraham Pole
- Henry Bell
- Jermaine Ainsley
- Josh Dickson
- Will Tucker
- Oli Haig
- Sean Withy (cc)
- Christian Lio-Willie
- James Arscott
- Cam Millar
- Jona Nareki
- Thomas Umaga-Jensen
- Jake Te Hiwi
- Waisake Naholo
- Sam Gilbert
- Ricky Jackson
- Rohan Wingham
- Saula Ma'u
- Fabian Holland/Josh Hill
- Sam Fischli
- Nathan Hastie
- Ajay Faleafaga
- Jeremiah Asi
I expect them to start the season quite conservatively selection wise, especially with a couple of tricky fixtures to get us started.
- Ainsley and Ma'u very interchangeable
- Holland the best lock we have, but he will only just be coming to fitness, so expect him to be eased back into it
- Stodart likely to come into the fray as the season goes on, but he is only young... the starters are our best three by a margin IMO
- Hastie is probably better than Arscott, but conservatively, he has never actually played an NPC game
- Millar should be fit, if not Faleafaga will start and Hurley will take 22.
- Gilbert could/will be used in midfield as the season goes on, but conservatively, he should start the season at 15
- Waisake has the experience, and Asi has played all of his rugby off the left wing I believe... Hurley, has he ever played wing? Naholo should get first crack I'd think.
