Blues 2019

[KiwiMurph]

@duluth Tupou's re-signing has already been announced. I'd say Olmstead is the odd man out (unfortunately).

[Duluth]

@kiwimurph I know, but he's been injured for a long time already. Haven't heard any updates about when he can play again

[Tim]

With Scrafton coming back from a very bad knee injury they might carry another lock or lock/six?

[Dice]

I've also heard from someone outside here that Manu is off to the Chiefs. Hope it's not true, but it doesn't look good for us.

[KiwiMurph]

@dice Cheers Tana. I reckon Blues will end up with Orbyn Leger. Call it a hunch.

[Tim]

@dice Bugger.

[African Monkey]

@dice Sounds about right haha

[gt12]

@dice

Oh oh, Um, mods, a little help?

https://clip2art.com/explore/Moves clipart happy dance/#go_post_7560_moves-clipart-happy-dance-16.gif

[Dice]

@gt12 :crying_face:

Since you guys don't even use Levi Aumua, why don't you give him to us? He's not that good :grinning_face:

[Dice]

A good chance we'll be running a Nonu-SBW midfield next season. They have a combined age of 70 and both are probably only going to be around for one more season.

[Tim]

@gt12 No.

[Nepia]

@dice said in Blues 2019:

A good chance we'll be running a Nonu-SBW midfield next season. They have a combined age of 70 and both are probably only going to be around for one more season.

Ma'a basically needs a Super trophy to cap off his career ... season of glory for the Blues next year.

[gt12]

@dice

No.

[Bovidae]

@dice Aumua would be available, as would Verney, unless they have been re-signed.

[Dice]

@bovidae said in Blues 2019:

@dice Aumua would be available, as would Verney, unless they have been re-signed.

If Aumua's available, I don't like our chances of landing him. I think the Crusaders will make a play for him as they'll want another power player to replace Tamanivalu, and Aumua fits the bill perfectly. He said he wants to be an All Black and there's no better place to be to make that happen than at the Crusaders.

Leon McDonald is our only hope of swaying him our way.

[Tim]

Ben Afeaki is Samoa's new scrum coach. Don't think it interferes with his Blues commitments.

[Dice]

Robbie Abel was interviewed yesterday and it doesn't sound like he has a Super deal. He talked about just waiting around and hoping to get a phone call when injuries hit.

[taniwharugby]

@dice problem is most super teams only have a few spots each year come end of NPC.

[Duluth]

@taniwharugby said in Blues 2019:

problem is most super teams only have a few spots each year come end of NPC.

Maybe there needs to be a change in the contracting where franchises are forced to keep a set number of spots open for promoting players from the NPC?
The NZRU should be wanting to keep a link between NPC performance and new contracts. They can't all be 18 year olds

As for who the Blues might miss out on.. I'm less concerned about missing out on people like Whetton/Abel because that can be explained by the contracting situation.
I'm more concerned about missing guys like Renata or Manu. Both of them played well for the Blues Dev team. Renata has been steadily improving for two years now. Manu even played well in his limited opportunities for the full side

The Blues should not be missing talent that is right under their noses

Hopefully the rumours are wrong and they have signed a few of the guys mentioned

[KiwiMurph]

The problem is the Blues continue to make average signings like giving Leni Apisai a 2 year deal.

The Blues could well keep spots open but time and again they rush to sign mediocre players. Why re-sign Tupou and Collins before the season was even over?

It's been happening for years. Like when they signed Hoani Matenga before the Mitre 10 Cup then had no spot to sign either Taleni Seu or Michael Fatialofa.