Blues 2024
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I saw there was a segment about the Blues first day back at HQ on 1news sport tonight. Was looking out for any wider squad members. Some expected names like L Milo-Harris and Shilo Klein but was surprised to see Alex Harford the Canterbury boy making the shift.
@Trig said in Blues 2024:
I saw there was a segment about the Blues first day back at HQ on 1news sport tonight. Was looking out for any wider squad members. Some expected names like L Milo-Harris and Shilo Klein but was surprised to see Alex Harford the Canterbury boy making the shift.
This link has the video:
https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/11/23/new-blues-job-helps-feek-get-over-world-cup-disappointment/
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@Trig said in Blues 2024:
surprised to see Alex Harford
Yeah I don't get that. He is 24 and has had 5 starts for Canterbury in 3 seasons. I don't know what he has done to get called up ahead of two local, younger but promising 10's that were already in their system in Jock McKenzie and Byron Smith. It kind of annoys me like the Shek over Ahio decision. Unless he is going to be the next Dan Carter!
Harford is no Carter that is for sure.
Weird one for me Harford at the Blues,the Crusaders have had him in the WTG for the last 2 years and this year didn’t give him a WTG spot.
Maybe they see something in him that led to them thinking he can’t step up. -
Apart from the extra players already mentioned (Annandale, Harford, Milo-Harris, Klein), some other young players I think I recognized from the One news clip were
Maliu Nuiafe, Ben Ake, Sam Hainsworth - Fa'aofo, Xavi Taele, Xavier Tito - Harris, Leo Gordon. i could be wrong with some as they were from matching brief clips to googled photos (yes a slow night shift), so a hairstyle or facial hair change can make it tricky. There were several others that I could not identify.Can anyone I.D. this young player who was in the news clip and training with the Blues today?
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Harford is no Carter that is for sure.
Weird one for me Harford at the Blues,the Crusaders have had him in the WTG for the last 2 years and this year didn’t give him a WTG spot.
Maybe they see something in him that led to them thinking he can’t step up.@Chris said in Blues 2024:
Harford is no Carter that is for sure.
Weird one for me Harford at the Blues,the Crusaders have had him in the WTG for the last 2 years and this year didn’t give him a WTG spot.
Maybe they see something in him that led to them thinking he can’t step up.Interestingly Crusaders also had Cashmore in their set up a couple of years ago but now prefer Kemara. Will be fun to track their progress.
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Apart from the extra players already mentioned (Annandale, Harford, Milo-Harris, Klein), some other young players I think I recognized from the One news clip were
Maliu Nuiafe, Ben Ake, Sam Hainsworth - Fa'aofo, Xavi Taele, Xavier Tito - Harris, Leo Gordon. i could be wrong with some as they were from matching brief clips to googled photos (yes a slow night shift), so a hairstyle or facial hair change can make it tricky. There were several others that I could not identify.Can anyone I.D. this young player who was in the news clip and training with the Blues today?
That looks like Rico Simpson (NZ Schools 1st 5) but it would be strange to have him there ahead of McKenzie and Smith.
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This is Riley Williams at the Bronco this morning -
Who is this ?
Apparently Cole Forbes had the best Bronco time.
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@Trig said in Blues 2024:
surprised to see Alex Harford
Yeah I don't get that. He is 24 and has had 5 starts for Canterbury in 3 seasons. I don't know what he has done to get called up ahead of two local, younger but promising 10's that were already in their system in Jock McKenzie and Byron Smith. It kind of annoys me like the Shek over Ahio decision. Unless he is going to be the next Dan Carter!
@Daffy-Jaffy I see Jock McKenzie has been called up to the Auckland Aces side, so maybe he's trying his hand at Cricket for the time being?
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@Chris said in Blues 2024:
Harford is no Carter that is for sure.
Weird one for me Harford at the Blues,the Crusaders have had him in the WTG for the last 2 years and this year didn’t give him a WTG spot.
Maybe they see something in him that led to them thinking he can’t step up.Interestingly Crusaders also had Cashmore in their set up a couple of years ago but now prefer Kemara. Will be fun to track their progress.
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2024:
@Chris said in Blues 2024:
Harford is no Carter that is for sure.
Weird one for me Harford at the Blues,the Crusaders have had him in the WTG for the last 2 years and this year didn’t give him a WTG spot.
Maybe they see something in him that led to them thinking he can’t step up.Interestingly Crusaders also had Cashmore in their set up a couple of years ago but now prefer Kemara. Will be fun to track their progress.
Yes Andrew Webb the academy manager was a big driver in Kemera being signed up ahead of Cashmore and Harford.
I am not sure he was right.
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This is Riley Williams at the Bronco this morning -
Who is this ?
Apparently Cole Forbes had the best Bronco time.
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@Wurzel said in Blues 2024:
Rico Simpson got a National Development Contract with the Blues
If we assume the NDC players are now training with the main squads you might be able to work out who they are before the official announcements.
As I mentioned in the NZ Schools thread I like the look of Simpson after I first saw him playing for the Māori U18s last year. He is a much taller/bigger 1st 5 than the others who have come through the age-group system in recent years. One for the future I believe.
The player that has disappeared is Essendon Tuitupou. Maybe he has a long-term injury or has gone back to basketball.
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I been quite impressed with the Blues, on TV for opening day of training, and stuff like this, keeping their name around the place, it's only good for them and super.
@Dan54 the Blues and Highlanders have the best coverage out of the Super teams, especially on social media. I’ve been really disappointed with the Canes. Their socials are very poor with little fan engagement, and then they have the cheek to ask people to sign up to be members when they’ve given us nothing.
The Blues and Landers aren’t afraid to push the boundaries either, plenty of creativity.
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@Trig said in Blues 2024:
surprised to see Alex Harford
Yeah I don't get that. He is 24 and has had 5 starts for Canterbury in 3 seasons. I don't know what he has done to get called up ahead of two local, younger but promising 10's that were already in their system in Jock McKenzie and Byron Smith. It kind of annoys me like the Shek over Ahio decision. Unless he is going to be the next Dan Carter!
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2024:
@Trig said in Blues 2024:
surprised to see Alex Harford
Yeah I don't get that. He is 24 and has had 5 starts for Canterbury in 3 seasons. I don't know what he has done to get called up ahead of two local, younger but promising 10's that were already in their system in Jock McKenzie and Byron Smith. It kind of annoys me like the Shek over Ahio decision. Unless he is going to be the next Dan Carter!
I would add Oscar Koller to these names.
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@Dan54 the Blues and Highlanders have the best coverage out of the Super teams, especially on social media. I’ve been really disappointed with the Canes. Their socials are very poor with little fan engagement, and then they have the cheek to ask people to sign up to be members when they’ve given us nothing.
The Blues and Landers aren’t afraid to push the boundaries either, plenty of creativity.
@Canes4life said in Blues 2024:
@Dan54 the Blues and Highlanders have the best coverage out of the Super teams, especially on social media. I’ve been really disappointed with the Canes. Their socials are very poor with little fan engagement, and then they have the cheek to ask people to sign up to be members when they’ve given us nothing.
The Blues and Landers aren’t afraid to push the boundaries either, plenty of creativity.
The issue with the Canes is they have no continuity in that space. They are basically recruiting a new comms person every year. It comes with a decent title, but pays 85 - 90k (last time I checked); and that is for weekend work, social channels management, media engagement, internal comms and managing Wellington rugby as well. It is a tough gig. If they paid people better, they would get a decent level of candidate and keep them in the role for longer. I've spoken to a few people who have been around the org and they have said it is draining, people are undervalued and a lot is expected because it is a 'dream job'. That just tends to wear thin when you know you can get other roles than pay 20 - 30k more and you do fewer hours.
