Auckland Rugby 2023

[Duluth]

https://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/131045?newsfeedId=1360311

Confirmation of the coaching staff too

McGrath head coach plus:

Former Auckland NPC half-back Jono Hickey has been appointed attacking coach, former Manu Samoa front-rower Census Johnston will lead the scrum and former All Black and Auckland number-eight Steven Bates will continue in his role as forwards coach.

Good reward for Royal. What's he up to now, 115 games for Ponsonby?

It's very clear what position certain players are playing. Those decisions were made weeks ago.

I don't care if Thomas is a success he shouldn't be there. Just pick the next best halfback in club rugby.
A squad of 37 with ~25 SR players plus 3 u20s players there's not much room for club players. So signing an Aussie is just wrong IMO

Was hoping for some other age group midfielders to make the squad but it looks like that area is well covered. Hopefully they are training with the side

[Higgins]

@NateHill74 Interesting to note Manakau Rovers, back to back club champs and undefeated in 2023, do not have a single player in the squad.

[NateHill74]

@Higgins I'm not anywhere near Auckland so don't know if there's any policies or anything but that is odd. Happens else where too. Like in Dunedin, Taieri have dominated club rugby for 5 years but have maybe had 3 or 4 players make Otago through club form. Manukau? would any of them be in line for Counties by any chance like they actually get selected by CM if anything

[Bovidae]

I wonder if Tangitau gets a run at fullback, his best position. I'm surprised that Spencer got selected so early.

[Duluth]

@Higgins said in Auckland Rugby 2023:

Interesting to note Manakau Rovers, back to back club champs and undefeated in 2023, do not have a single player in the squad.

A dumb season structure and a lot of pro players from the province. So you wind up having very few picks from club rugby. Those that are picked are filling gaps around the pros

@NateHill74 said in Auckland Rugby 2023:

Like in Dunedin, Taieri have dominated club rugby for 5 years but have maybe had 3 or 4 players make Otago through club form. Manukau? would any of them be in line for Counties by any chance like they actually get selected by CM if anything

Otago would pick a much higher percentage of their squad from club rugby

As for Counties their squad was named last week. A Rovers player has moved to Southland apparently

[Duluth]

@Bovidae said in Auckland Rugby 2023:

I wonder if Tangitau gets a run at fullback, his best position. I'm surprised that Spencer got selected so early.

I'm assuming Spencer is there to learn mostly

RTS, Tangitau and the 10's probably get games at 15 before him (McKenzie has been playing a bit at fullback recently)

[mikedogz]

@NateHill74 said in Auckland Rugby 2023:

would any of them be in line for Counties by any chance like they actually get selected by CM if anything

Despite the name, they are not eligible for Counties. The Manukau club is in Mangere, in the Auckland province.

[Steven Harris]

@Duluth Joe is a real good bugger but I have got to say at 38 years of age you do wonder where the coaches are with this selection moving forward given you’ve got 2 experienced heads in Vikena and Apisai ..a young hooker would have been a great investment moving forward .

[Duluth]

@Steven-Harris

Maybe. I wonder what the length of Apisai's contract is? Was he droppable?

I see it more as them wanting one trust worthy hooker behind Vikena

[KiwiMurph]

Pretty damn boring squad if i'm honest

Hopefully some other players outside of this get a run with a number of ABs not available.

[KiwiMurph]

https://twitter.com/AucklandRugby/status/1686605238986563584

[Duluth]

Larger size:

Peni listed as a ten?

[Nogusta]

@Duluth yea he's equally adept at both positions. Very skillful. At Kelston Boys he was actually a 9 or 10. Last season for Manukau he probably played as many games at 10 than he did at 12. This season mostly 12.

[Daffy Jaffy]

I am wondering where Essendon Tuitupou has disappeared to? After starring for the Blues u20's and the NZ u19's he surprisingly missed out on NZu20's then has vanished not in any of these squads. By memory he hasn't played any club rugby or appeared on any 'injured/unavailable' lists for these squads. Maybe he has a season ending injury or is there something more to it? Attitude problem?, Signing elsewhere (NRL or his dads English club?). Maybe our inside oil specialists Nogusta or Steven Harris can do some digging to find out.

[Steven Harris]

@Daffy-Jaffy Spoke to a contact at Ponsonby , has’nt been spotted around the club theres an asumption that hes injured and may have taken the year off

[Duluth]

The retro jerseys Auckland are selling:

[Tim]

Any news on Ioane's ankle injury?

[Duluth]

https://www.aucklandrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/133581

I'll just list the NPC ones:

Player of the year - RTS
Defensive player of the year - Choat
Team man of the year - Angus
Supporters club player of the year - Choat
Supporters club development player of the year - Beehre

[KiwiMurph]

RTS as player of the year is a joke

[KiwiMurph]

RTS done for drink driving. Sick choice for player of the year Auckland.