Blues 2020
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@KiwiMurph I agree it is good to see Howlett involved with the team. They even supplied a couple of old burnt out cars on the beach for him to jump on! Can anyone I.D. the player who is the front right stretcher bearer next to San Nock at 4m.52s in the vid? It's been annoying me that I can't work out who he is.
Edit: I think the same player in the white T shirt in this pic - could it be Tamati Tua?
@Daffy-Jaffy It is Zarn Sullivan.
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Good to see Sullivan in the environment.
Does anyone know what happened to Lemeki Namoa the 2019 Blues Development Player of the Year?
He got injured last year I believe.
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
Good to see Sullivan in the environment.
He already was. I watched the Chiefs Dev and Blues Dev teams play each other earlier this year. Zarn was playing for the Blues and Bailyn for the Chiefs.
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Good to see Sullivan in the environment.
Does anyone know what happened to Lemeki Namoa the 2019 Blues Development Player of the Year?
He got injured last year I believe.
@KiwiMurph I saw Namoa on Sky's coverage of the recent Red Bull ignite sevens so he is fit and playing. Maybe he will turn out for Auckland at the national sevens on Dec. 14/15.
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Going by the Blues latest video the main leadership group is
Patrick Tuipulotu (captain)
James Parsons
Rieko Ioane
Tom RobinsonAlso - Doug Howlett looks to be involved - great to see!
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
Going by the Blues latest video the main leadership group is
Patrick Tuipulotu (captain)
James Parsons
Rieko Ioane
Tom RobinsonSo a demotion for Gibson - from co-captain to outside the leadership group
You can't trust his durability unfortunately
I suspect that means a first choice trio of Papali'i/Ioane/Robinson too. I think Papali'i is the best 6 in NZ but at 7 he seems to get the judgment calls wrong.
That's a physical trio though. Gibson and a specialist lock on the bench?
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
Going by the Blues latest video the main leadership group is
Patrick Tuipulotu (captain)
James Parsons
Rieko Ioane
Tom RobinsonSo a demotion for Gibson - from co-captain to outside the leadership group
You can't trust his durability unfortunately
I suspect that means a first choice trio of Papali'i/Ioane/Robinson too. I think Papali'i is the best 6 in NZ but at 7 he seems to get the judgment calls wrong.
That's a physical trio though. Gibson and a specialist lock on the bench?
@Duluth said in Blues 2020:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2020:
Going by the Blues latest video the main leadership group is
Patrick Tuipulotu (captain)
James Parsons
Rieko Ioane
Tom RobinsonSo a demotion for Gibson - from co-captain to outside the leadership group
You can't trust his durability unfortunately
I suspect that means a first choice trio of Papali'i/Ioane/Robinson too. I think Papali'i is the best 6 in NZ but at 7 he seems to get the judgment calls wrong.
That's a physical trio though. Gibson and a specialist lock on the bench?
I still think that Paps is the future at 7/6 off the bench (starting at 6/7 depending on Ardie) so him getting time at 7 makes me happy. He could be a bigger Cane and that’s a pretty good thing if he can pull it off.
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Pre-Season Fixture:
Gallagher Chiefs vs. Blues
Date: Friday 17 January
Time: 3.00pm kick-off, 1.30pm gates open
Venue: Waihi Athletic Rugby Club, WaihiA 3pm kickoff in the middle of January will test those fitness levels.
It's crazy to think these teams will be back playing six weeks from now. -
Pre-Season Fixture:
Gallagher Chiefs vs. Blues
Date: Friday 17 January
Time: 3.00pm kick-off, 1.30pm gates open
Venue: Waihi Athletic Rugby Club, WaihiA 3pm kickoff in the middle of January will test those fitness levels.
It's crazy to think these teams will be back playing six weeks from now.@Daffy-Jaffy I know, was thinking about that.
Probably not taking a season ticket this year. Starts too early, too many family clashes, despite the earlier kickoffs. Will just rock up on an 'ad hoc' basis.
Edit: I broke and picked up a BLues pass for me and the boy. Great value, and if I get to 3 games it's worth it. They throw ina free junior, so well well worth it.
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Pre-Season Fixture:
Gallagher Chiefs vs. Blues
Date: Friday 17 January
Time: 3.00pm kick-off, 1.30pm gates open
Venue: Waihi Athletic Rugby Club, WaihiA 3pm kickoff in the middle of January will test those fitness levels.
It's crazy to think these teams will be back playing six weeks from now.@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2020:
Pre-Season Fixture:
Gallagher Chiefs vs. Blues
Date: Friday 17 January
Time: 3.00pm kick-off, 1.30pm gates open
Venue: Waihi Athletic Rugby Club, WaihiA 3pm kickoff in the middle of January will test those fitness levels.
All these preseason games are played during the day so the conditions will be challenging. I went to the Chiefs-Blues game in Te Kuiti in 2018, and it was hot enough being in the crowd.
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Does anyone recognise any of the wtg/acadamy/injury cover players in the video above? I wondered if the player with dreads second from the right in the 'wedding photo' at 2m35s was the young Auckland halfback Taufa Funaki ?
@Daffy-Jaffy Taufa Funaki is with the Blues (on an ITC) but thats not him in the dreads. Thats Soane Vikena. MAGS/NZ20s hooker who along with Zarn Sullivan mst be the ITCs this year. Luteru Tolai is trainig pre-season with the Blues as well.
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@Daffy-Jaffy superb part of the world, Cornwall Park. Would have loved to pop down and see them
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@Daffy-Jaffy watching those kinds of clips make me think about doing some exercise...then I remember beer and my enthusiasm fades.
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Could also help with the team o the decade list
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@Machpants They got the pack almost spot on, but the backline needs a bit of work.
Mathewson over Pulu at halfback. His first season or so was easily the best play we got from a halfback in the last decade.
I'd probably go with Wulf on the right wing over Halai, even though he did play quite a bit of left wing. Rarely ever had a bad game for us and was always an automatic starter.
Toeava was probably our best 15, 13 and 12, but didn't even get in the team.:man_facepalming:
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
Is Emoni Narawa NZ qualified yet?
Probably some time in 2020 as he did not arrive in the country until 2017.
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@Tim said in Blues 2020:
Is Emoni Narawa NZ qualified yet?
Probably some time in 2020 as he did not arrive in the country until 2017.
@Number-10 said in Blues 2020:
@Tim said in Blues 2020:
Is Emoni Narawa NZ qualified yet?
Probably some time in 2020 as he did not arrive in the country until 2017.
Five years now, so 2022
