Hurricanes 2024

[Canes4life]

@foobaNZ I'd say Godfrey will be on the pine covering 10/15 anyway.

[Canes4life]

Post squad thoughts on the Canes strongest 23 I would actually go with the following:

1. T Mafileo
2. A Aumua
3. T Lomax
4. C Delany
5. J Sangster
6. T Howden / B Shields
7. D Kirifi
8. D Flanders
9. C Roigard
10. B Cameron
11. K Naholo
12. J Barrett
13. B Proctor
14. B Sullivan
15. R Love
16. J O'Reilly
17. X Numia
18. S Lauaki
19. I Walker-Leawere
20. P Lakai
21. T Perenara
22. H Godfrey
23. R Higgins

[Stargazer]

I'm not too optimistic we'll see McClutchie in Super Rugby again. I don't expect him to be signed by another squad (unless it's the Force), so he'll now probably go overseas. :disappointed_face:

[Chris]

I have this feeling Bird and Prinsep maybe at the Crusaders.
Bird would be an ok pick up but Prinsep I will hate Penny straight away if we have

[Canes4life]

@Chris who would they be in replace of? I can't see Prinsep getting a contract, has he even played?

[Canes4life]

@Stargazer The annoying thing about this squad is the amount of locks we've signed. We could have signed one less lock and signed up McClutchie instead. Just seems so odd.

I wonder who's in the wider squad? Maybe he's in there potentially with a promise that he will have a full contract in 2025.

[Chris]

Bird would take Dunshea spot
Prinsep would take Havilis

Cahill will probably replace Whitelock

[Canes4life]

@Chris makes sense.

[Tim]

Strong front row and backs, but lack a top quality wing. Savea big loss. Dark horse for the title? Could cause some upsets in playoffs.

[Canes4life]

@Tim Sullivan played wing for the AB XVs and went well there. He’ll be more effective than the bus who was well out of his prime. Also Moorby isn’t a bad option on the right and Naholo will want to nail down that 11 jersey for the Canes after playing well last season. I’m picking the Canes to make the semis, and I’m hoping we can make it to the big dance but it will depend which players can stay fit.

[Canes4life]

The Hurricanes email they sent out has an extra member in the squad. They have Jordi Vijoen in there as a fourth halfback. Maybe TJ has still a bit of work to do on rehabbing that injury.

[akan004]

@Canes4life Was surprised not to see Jordi Viljoen in the squad. Surely he's a better option that Judd??

[SouthernMann]

Looks weaker than this year.

[Winger]

@Yeetyaah

If Laidlaw is any good, he should do well with this side. Esp if he appoints a VG head forwards coach (its odd that all is so quiet on this front)

My biggest concern is 1st 5.

But this will be a good test of Laidlaw's coaching ability. Morgan is a useless first that hopefully is in his final year. Love was poor this NPC and needs to focus on regaining form at FB. Godfrey is not even close to being ready yet. The obvious answer Cameron starting with Barrett as his backup. Except for the easier games where another option can be given game time.

2 big pluses. Blackwell is gone. And Prinsep too. Not their fault but once regular starters and not even close to being good enough at this level. So, I'll add the dumb coaches who selected them as well. So, a new start. I just hope they step up. Tamati Ellison didn't at NPC level as a head coach. I hope Laidlaw isn't a repeat.

[Canes4life]

@Winger the expectation should be to compete for the title but it will be up to the likes of Roigard, Cameron, Barrett and Love (as key game drivers) to put us in the right areas of the park. They failed to do that against the Brumbies when it counted for the last two seasons, so that should be a key work on.

As per usual we will also need a good forwards coach to get the best out of our pack so our backs can do their thing. Guys pushing for AB selection like Mafileo, Numia, Aumua, Delany, Sangster, Howden and Flanders will all be after big campaigns so it's exciting, let's hope they stand up.

We've got quite a few players in their third/fourth season at the Canes so it should be the coming of age for a lot of them.

Add in the input of young up and coming players like Lakai, Godfrey, Higgins and Lauaki and there is a lot to like about this squad.

[sparky]

@Tim I’m hoping Kini Naholo and Reuben Love will kick on next year, but not enough depth in the forwards or quality at First Five to challenge for the title I fear.

[Canes4life]

@sparky if Cameron gets injured we are in trouble. I feel like that's the case with most teams this year though so I'm not too bothered.

I.e. Dmac is crucial to the Chiefs, Burke (already out) is crucial to the Crusaders, Perofeta to the Blues etc.

[Winger]

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2024:

@sparky if Cameron gets injured we are in trouble. I feel like that's the case with most teams this year though so I'm not too bothered.

I.e. Dmac is crucial to the Chiefs, Burke (already out) is crucial to the Crusaders, Perofeta to the Blues etc.

I hope it doesn't happen

But Barrett, Higgins and Proctor could be an excellent combo. With PUJ / Sullivan as a backup.

[Winger]

@Canes4life

FORWARDS

Props
Siale Lauaki – Wellington
Tyrel Lomax – Ta$man
Tevita Mafileo – Bay of Plenty
Xavier Numia – Wellington
Pouri Rakete-Stones – Shield Snorters
Pasilio Tosi – Bay of Plenty

Hookers
Asafo Aumua – Wellington
Jacob Devery – Shield Snorters
James O’Reilly – Wellington

Locks
Caleb Delany – Wellington
Ben Grant – North Harbour
Justin Sangster – Bay of Plenty
Josh Taula – Manawatū
James Tucker – Waikato
Isaia Walker-Leawere – Shield Snorters

Loose Forwards
Devan Flanders – Shield Snorters
TK Howden – Manawatū
Brayden Iose – Manawatū
Du’Plessis Kirifi – Wellington
Peter Lakai – Wellington
Brad Shields – Wellington

BACKS

Halfbacks
Richard Judd – Bay of Plenty
TJ Perenara – Wellington
Cam Roigard – Counties Manukau

Five-eighths
Brett Cameron – Manawatū
Aidan Morgan – Wellington

Midfield
Jordie Barrett – Taranaki
Riley Higgins – Wellington
Billy Proctor – Wellington
Bailyn Sullivan – Waikato
Peter Umaga-Jensen – Wellington

Outside Backs
Harry Godfrey – Shield Snorters
Ruben Love – Wellington
Josh Moorby – Northland
Kini Naholo – Taranaki
Ngatungane Punivai – Canterbury
Salesi Rayasi – Auckland
Daniel Sinkinson – Waikato

[Canes4life]

@Winger ??