The Silver Fern

That maths teacher is probably one of the funniest teachers out!

Crazy the video said he only played one season in firsts. Jesus.

Two things I took out of that....

They changed the school haka....

They figured out a way to make the uniform worse. Red blazer + Kilt!

@tim said in What result would you be satisfied with in 2018:

@nepia Who are the big contenders? Waikato, BOP, Manawatu?

I'm not sure, it's a bit of a lottery these days figuring about who is pulling together a good team. Either way, definitely want to smash those last two teams.

To add a few:

LFC: Tim Cadwallader (Turbos)

HBHS: Ben Tameifuna (Racing92), Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (Highlanders/Magpies), Jacob Devery (Magpies), Folau Fakatava, Devan Flanders, Lincoln McClutchie, Danny Toala and Kianu Kereru-Symes all have Magpies contracts; I don't have a link, but didn't someone say Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe has a contract as well?
Not sure about contracts, but I think Jeriah Mua has at least an academy contract with BOP, but it could also be a full Steamers contract. I think there was another Hastings player at BOP. Maybe Antonio Mikaele-Tu'u has a contract with Waikato, but not sure.
Kini Naholo has been signed by Taranaki on an academy contract

NBHS: Pouri Rakete-Stones

St John's: Jonah Lowe (he went there, before going to King's)

There have been quite a few professional players who went to Te Aute College at some point.
I don't know many, but - apart from Cory Jane and Piri Weepu, who have retired - I can think of Billy Rophia (Dax, in France's Pro D2 comp).

Highlights of the Maddison Trophy Final

He appeared to be perfectly happy to accept HBs money last year when the alternative would probably have been returning to the general workforce to earn a living.

@number-10 Thanks, that really sucks for Farrell. He looked so promising last year and I hoped he'd be able to play for a SR contract this season.

Fatialofa is leaving the Canes; that will - hopefully - increase Cridge's chances to score a new contract. If he can stay in one piece.

@nepia said in Magpies v Manawatu:

@j77 said in Magpies v Manawatu:

@nepia said in Magpies v Manawatu:

While I'm disappointed we helped Northland I'm extremely glad we got a win over the Poo!

You love us really. Come on bro give us a hug..

I don't know who I want to lose worse in your semi final with The cough, splutter, stab myself with a fork Bay.

Anyway, to the game, I hope that the Super selectors were reminded enough of the class of Jonah Lowe from this match and he is duly selected for a team - any team, if the Canes as per usual can't see past Porirua and the Rimutakas.

Maybe, I'm reading too much in the following quote from an interview with Lowe, but to me that sounds like he has a contract with the Canes for next season:

The 2014 New Zealand Secondary Schools rep and 2016 New Zealand under-20 rep knows if he can string some consistent performances together for the Magpies this season it will enhance his chances of cracking a spot in the Hurricanes 23 when the 2018 Super season begins. "I want to be in the 23 and I want to make my debut for the team," said the veteran of 16 first-class games for the Magpies.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11914948

@taniwharugby said in Northland v Hawkes Bay:

You in the flash seats? J77 and I as well as TR Jnr will be there, in the cheap seats.

Nah, going to pick up some silver or GA. Will be good fun, I"m looking forward to it.

@higgins said in Northland v Magpies:

@number-10 said in Northland v Magpies:

1985 at Hastings, lost 15-23 (non-championship)

Manawatu were first division ... and we weren't ....

Is that the game that Geoff Old poleaxed Peter O'Shaughnessey by the goalposts down at the scoreboard end of the ground and got himself red carded (or should have if he didn't)? My memory is letting me down on that particular unsavoury incident.

Good recall Higgins.

It was the 1981 game at Hastings - O'Shaughnessy went off injured.

The Almanack tells me neither O'Shaughnessy or Old played in the 1985 match.

@higgins Eeeeww, don't say that! I'm so glad he has re-signed with the Landers for 2018, but already fear he won't be back with the Magpies next season. He has "that" age for going overseas. 😞

@nepia said in Something to cheer us up:

@number-10 Damn, now I've gone and ruined our cheer ourselves up thread. Idiot.

Speaking of 1994 we took the French apart that year too - that was a good one to be at as well!

Indeed - after missing out on tickets, they put up some temporary seating in front of Harris stand, so got to go after all. Great game, and thanks for the penalty try Colin Hawke (s Bay)

Looks like Falcon got a bit of his mojo back which is good

@steven-harris I understand Emerson has been in the All Blacks Sevens Development squad last season and I've seen him play several invitational sevens tournaments earlier this year via tournament livestreams. He is seriously good at it, but for some reason the coaches preferred the big boys and we've all seen that they weren't quick enough this year (and not great in some other aspects either). I hope the new coach will give him an opportunity.

@number-10 Yes, I agree with that. I have noticed on several occasions how, for example, Mikaele-Tu'u tried to gather the ball from the back of the scrum but either failed to pass to Weber, delivered a hospital pass or dropped the ball. All due to the scrum going backward. Not having a big lump in the scrum like Ben May, really makes a difference.

Speaking of props, I wish the Canes would sign Farrell (and R-S). I think the SR environment could really help him in his development. If you just look at how Lowe has developed this year, both in the way he plays and physically (he has bulked up a lot), a season just training with the Canes has been really beneficial. I assume Falcon will get that experience in 2018 with the Chiefs (I can't imagine him playing SR in 2018, the way he's going at the moment).

Damn, what am I saying. I wish a SR franchise would pick up Mikaele-Tu'u as well. I really rate him.

Good work Chainsaw and Higgins (for turning the tide)!

We'll take any win we can take at any level these days - although we do have the best school team in the country ;).

@Steven-Harris Thanks for your impressions of the game. Always good to hear from someone who was at the ground!

Despite our terrible season, and the high error rate in games, I think some of our young players are coping reasonably well, all things considered. Just out of interest, I looked up the age of the players in today's line-up:

1 Jason Long (25)
2 Ash Dixon (c) (29)
3 Pouri Rakete-Stones (20)
4 Nick Palmer (25)
5 Geoff Cridge (22)
6 Tony Lamborn (26)
7 Hugh Renton (21)
8 Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (19)
9 Brad Weber (vc) (26)
10 Tiaan Falcon (20)
11 Mason Emerson (21)
12 Richard Buckman (28)
13 Jonah Lowe (21)
14 TJ Vaega (20)
15 Ihaia West (25)
16 Jacob Devery (18 or 19)
17 Tim Farrell (19)
18 Jarvy Aoake (29)
19 Josh Eden-Whaitiri (27?)
20 Fa'alemiga Selesele (28)
21 Ellery Wilson (27)
22 Pasqualle Dunn (23)
23 Cardiff Vaega (25)

Rakete-Stones & Mikaele-Tu'u were never meant to start every game, but they do because of injuries to Ben May and Gareth Evans. Three of our six frontrowers are 19-20 years old. Our reserve lock isn't a squad member but a member of our development team. Two of our four loosies are 19 and 21 years old. Of our starting backs, four players (10, 11, 13 and 14) are 20 or 21 years old.

We're having a frustratingly bad season, but looking at the age of many of these players, you could see this as a development year for those players. It's a pity though, that some of the senior players they are supposed to learn from are either injured (May, Allardice, Evans) or have just returned from injury after a long injury break (particularly Weber). Some of these young players also have themselves struggled with injury (Cridge, Farrell & Emerson in particular). All these losses are also bad for self-confidence; while some losses can teach valuable lessons, you don't want these young bucks starting their rugby career without wins either. For the players who debuted last year (Mikaele-Tu'u, Emerson, Lowe and Falcon), it has been two bad seasons already.

It would be nice if we could have at least one more win this season, but I doubt it will happen. Even the Turbos are playing better than us 🤢

Eye-gouging (or friendly fire)? It looks like Hugh Renton is lucky to still have his right eye!

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More photos:

http://www.facebook.com/4corena/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1539059689488026

Yeah it was a close first half, with the Tuis going down-wind, but Wgtn didn't really do much kicking in the 2nd half anyway, just kept it in hand and ended up running through them. I thought the Tuis did pretty well considering they wouldn't have played much together.

Yep I'll be there sideline Wed night, hopefully the Bay do well, but don't win 🙂

Enari was outstanding during the time he spent on the field (about 20 minutes ?). But by then, it was really easy for Canterbury. I was also impressed by the second row combination of Dalzell and Dunshea. Hard and uncompromising. They were dominant throughout.