Blues 2019
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Rene Ranger has signed with the Sunwolves for 2019:
https://twitter.com/sunwolves/status/1048104546583506944
Hoping this means that Tumua Manu has signed with the Blues.
@tim happy for the rooster..!
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Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
Please be true.
@tim said in Blues 2019:
Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
Please be true.
Big wraps on Tumua Manu from Steven Bates, who is a dev coach with Harbour and the Blues.
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Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
Please be true.
@tim said in Blues 2019:
Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
Please be true.
It would relegate Collins to where he should be - a utility who makes the 23 when injuries hit
If this does happen its another big win for Coventry after recruiting Tu'inukuafe. MacDonald needs to up his game.. he's falling behind in the race to be 2020 coach
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@tim said in Blues 2019:
Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
Please be true.
Big wraps on Tumua Manu from Steven Bates, who is a dev coach with Harbour and the Blues.
@tim said in Blues 2019:
@tim said in Blues 2019:
Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
Please be true.
Big wraps on Tumua Manu from Steven Bates, who is a dev coach with Harbour and the Blues.
Manu is a must sign for the Blues.
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As an outside spectator of the Blues, Stevenson would be a fantastic signing. He will add plenty of variety in that backline, with a Ioane, Duffie, Stevenson back three.
The Blues have probably been guilty in the past of having too similar a player through their backline.
I think the question marks around Manu would be his distribution game because if he is another Moala there is no chance he is going to set his outsides away on a regular basis. If he is a Fekitoa type player then he could, however, fit fairly nicely outside Sonny Bill.
Also where would a player like Rayasi fit in the squad with guys like Ioane ahead of him, is there room for him anywhere as he looks like a great prospect?
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As an outside spectator of the Blues, Stevenson would be a fantastic signing. He will add plenty of variety in that backline, with a Ioane, Duffie, Stevenson back three.
The Blues have probably been guilty in the past of having too similar a player through their backline.
I think the question marks around Manu would be his distribution game because if he is another Moala there is no chance he is going to set his outsides away on a regular basis. If he is a Fekitoa type player then he could, however, fit fairly nicely outside Sonny Bill.
Also where would a player like Rayasi fit in the squad with guys like Ioane ahead of him, is there room for him anywhere as he looks like a great prospect?
@canes4life Manu is a much better distributor than Moala. While his passing game could still improve - he's put wingers away with passing (and with some excellent kicking) this season. He should be Blues starting Blues 13.
The problem for the Blues is there's only limited spots and they have some questionable signings taking up roster spots.
Rayasi absolutely should be in the squad but there's only so many outside back spots and with Collins (lol), Nanai, Duffie, Ioane and Clarke already signed (and Stevenson?) there's not many spots for a winger. Collins will leave after this season so how does that help the Blues. In the meantime they are likely to lose Rayasi to another franchise.
It's the same problem in the midfield - SBW, Nonu and Tele'a already signed, supposedly Faiane is signed, that doesn't leave much room for Manu. Blues could easily lose Manu to another franchise and then SBW and Nonu bugger off after next season leaving the Blues in strife.
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Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
Please be true.
@tim said in Blues 2019:
Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
As a Chiefs fan I would be disappointed but not surprised. Stevenson is a NH boy so might want to be based there all year. It would also indicate that Alaimalo is their first-choice fullback.
A few decent Auckland outside backs will be available as the Blues can't sign everyone.
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Nonu's hemisphere hopping and eventual return home could well be a path Luatua treads, too. For now, he seems content.
"If Bristol will have me for the next couple of years I'll stay and do my time here. And then we'll see what happens."
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12141503
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@tim said in Blues 2019:
Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
As a Chiefs fan I would be disappointed but not surprised. Stevenson is a NH boy so might want to be based there all year. It would also indicate that Alaimalo is their first-choice fullback.
A few decent Auckland outside backs will be available as the Blues can't sign everyone.
@bovidae said in Blues 2019:
@tim said in Blues 2019:
Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
As a Chiefs fan I would be disappointed but not surprised. Stevenson is a NH boy so might want to be based there all year. It would also indicate that Alaimalo is their first-choice fullback.
A few decent Auckland outside backs will be available as the Blues can't sign everyone.
Stevenson is undoubtedly a talented player but when he did manage to take the field I often wondered if he played solely on instinct and that may also be why his starting opportunities were few.
Obviously something that experience will fix though. -
@bovidae said in Blues 2019:
@tim said in Blues 2019:
Scotty Stevenson said on his podcast today that there are rumours circulating that Shaun Stevenson is coming to the Blues.
As a Chiefs fan I would be disappointed but not surprised. Stevenson is a NH boy so might want to be based there all year. It would also indicate that Alaimalo is their first-choice fullback.
A few decent Auckland outside backs will be available as the Blues can't sign everyone.
Stevenson is undoubtedly a talented player but when he did manage to take the field I often wondered if he played solely on instinct and that may also be why his starting opportunities were few.
Obviously something that experience will fix though.@crucial said in Blues 2019:
Stevenson is undoubtedly a talented player but when he did manage to take the field I often wondered if he played solely on instinct and that may also be why his starting opportunities were few.
Stevenson is not yet 22 so still very young. I'm on record as saying I prefer Alaimalo on the wing and Stevenson at FB, not the other way around.
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@crucial said in Blues 2019:
Stevenson is undoubtedly a talented player but when he did manage to take the field I often wondered if he played solely on instinct and that may also be why his starting opportunities were few.
Stevenson is not yet 22 so still very young. I'm on record as saying I prefer Alaimalo on the wing and Stevenson at FB, not the other way around.
@bovidae said in Blues 2019:
@crucial said in Blues 2019:
Stevenson is undoubtedly a talented player but when he did manage to take the field I often wondered if he played solely on instinct and that may also be why his starting opportunities were few.
Stevenson is not yet 22 so still very young. I'm on record as saying I prefer Alaimalo on the wing and Stevenson at FB, not the other way around.
Absolutely. And his playing experience is light. I guess I'm just pointing out that there may be a reason not to expect him to be fully at Super level yet so let him learn his trade a bit longer before expecting him to be really good.
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@bovidae said in Blues 2019:
@crucial said in Blues 2019:
Stevenson is undoubtedly a talented player but when he did manage to take the field I often wondered if he played solely on instinct and that may also be why his starting opportunities were few.
Stevenson is not yet 22 so still very young. I'm on record as saying I prefer Alaimalo on the wing and Stevenson at FB, not the other way around.
Absolutely. And his playing experience is light. I guess I'm just pointing out that there may be a reason not to expect him to be fully at Super level yet so let him learn his trade a bit longer before expecting him to be really good.
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@nepia said in Blues 2019:
@crucial He’s been pretty good for the Chiefs. Personally I’d prefer him to stay.
I would too. My comment was more around Blues fans getting excited as if he will walk straight in and be a star (my exaggeration)
As for his play with the Chiefs, yeah he had some good moments and showed an ability to do the unusual and unexpected but also lacked a little solidity in that you couldn't always feel comfortable when the ball was sent his way.
As pointed out though, he is still young and hasn't played that much due to injuries so has plenty of experience to catch up on.
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@nepia said in Blues 2019:
@crucial He’s been pretty good for the Chiefs. Personally I’d prefer him to stay.
I would too. My comment was more around Blues fans getting excited as if he will walk straight in and be a star (my exaggeration)
As for his play with the Chiefs, yeah he had some good moments and showed an ability to do the unusual and unexpected but also lacked a little solidity in that you couldn't always feel comfortable when the ball was sent his way.
As pointed out though, he is still young and hasn't played that much due to injuries so has plenty of experience to catch up on.
@crucial said in Blues 2019:
@nepia said in Blues 2019:
@crucial He’s been pretty good for the Chiefs. Personally I’d prefer him to stay.
I would too. My comment was more around Blues fans getting excited as if he will walk straight in and be a star (my exaggeration)
Compared to Collins he would walk in and be a star.
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@canes4life Manu is a much better distributor than Moala. While his passing game could still improve - he's put wingers away with passing (and with some excellent kicking) this season. He should be Blues starting Blues 13.
The problem for the Blues is there's only limited spots and they have some questionable signings taking up roster spots.
Rayasi absolutely should be in the squad but there's only so many outside back spots and with Collins (lol), Nanai, Duffie, Ioane and Clarke already signed (and Stevenson?) there's not many spots for a winger. Collins will leave after this season so how does that help the Blues. In the meantime they are likely to lose Rayasi to another franchise.
It's the same problem in the midfield - SBW, Nonu and Tele'a already signed, supposedly Faiane is signed, that doesn't leave much room for Manu. Blues could easily lose Manu to another franchise and then SBW and Nonu bugger off after next season leaving the Blues in strife.
@kiwimurph Very depressing reading that haha because we'll probably lose both Rayasi and Manu as you said. It would be nice to have a natural centre for once which Manu is and to have Rayasi there but as usual, it looks like we've made some poor signings like Caleb Clarke and Collins which is gonna hurt us in the long run.
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A big advantage that Stevenson has over Collins is that he possesses a long kicking game, and is comfortable with exits from his 22. Collins has a poor kicking game, with little distance on his punting.
@tim I will be happy to get Stevenson but the sad part is he will likely replace Trainor in the squad who has shown promise this year (after looking a bit frail and error prone previously) and has more pace and potential than Collins (Who should move to midfield cover, he is best at 12 where he started his carreer). Of course Trainor may be picked up elsewhere and is also only 21 years old so has time on his side.
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@tim I will be happy to get Stevenson but the sad part is he will likely replace Trainor in the squad who has shown promise this year (after looking a bit frail and error prone previously) and has more pace and potential than Collins (Who should move to midfield cover, he is best at 12 where he started his carreer). Of course Trainor may be picked up elsewhere and is also only 21 years old so has time on his side.
@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2019:
@tim I will be happy to get Stevenson but the sad part is he will likely replace Trainor in the squad who has shown promise this year (after looking a bit frail and error prone previously) and has more pace and potential than Collins (Who should move to midfield cover, he is best at 12 where he started his carrier). Of course Trainor may be picked up elsewhere and is also only 21 years old so has time on his side.
Rumour of a Trainor/Stevenson swap?
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@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2019:
@tim I will be happy to get Stevenson but the sad part is he will likely replace Trainor in the squad who has shown promise this year (after looking a bit frail and error prone previously) and has more pace and potential than Collins (Who should move to midfield cover, he is best at 12 where he started his carrier). Of course Trainor may be picked up elsewhere and is also only 21 years old so has time on his side.
Rumour of a Trainor/Stevenson swap?
