Magpies 2021
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@Stargazer said in Magpies 2021:
@kiwimatrix What's your source? I've heard some rumours, too, but haven't seen them confirmed anywhere.
Is this good or bad for Waikato?
@Hooroo Good poach. One of the best first five-eighth prospects in his age group (19). National Top Four winner with Hastings Boys' in 2019 (and MOTM of that Final).
Waikato reportedly already tried to sign him, last year, but he chose to stay in Hawke's Bay.
IIRC, he played most of his club rugby in 2020 at fullback. Did well at the Ignite7s, too.
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He would be a very good addition for Waikato, and will be behind McClutchie and Makene in the pecking order. So if Smiler Ah-Kiong wants to play he probably needs to move.
Tepaea Cook-Savage is the same age if Waikato is looking locally.
@Bovidae said in Magpies 2021:
He would be a very good addition for Waikato, and will be behind McClutchie and Makene in the pecking order. So if Smiler Ah-Kiong wants to play he probably needs to move.
Tepaea Cook-Savage is the same age if Waikato is looking locally.
We have also got Tiaan Falcon who must be back from Japan soon (maybe not until 2022 season?).
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@Bovidae said in Magpies 2021:
He would be a very good addition for Waikato, and will be behind McClutchie and Makene in the pecking order. So if Smiler Ah-Kiong wants to play he probably needs to move.
Tepaea Cook-Savage is the same age if Waikato is looking locally.
We have also got Tiaan Falcon who must be back from Japan soon (maybe not until 2022 season?).
@Higgins You think he's coming back any time soon? The money may be too good in Japan. I'm not sure he's still dreaming of a SR contract .... If he doesn't, he won't come back.
At the moment, if the rumours about Smiler-Ah Kiong are correct, I'd bet on Thompson-Dunn to make the step up.
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@Higgins You think he's coming back any time soon? The money may be too good in Japan. I'm not sure he's still dreaming of a SR contract .... If he doesn't, he won't come back.
At the moment, if the rumours about Smiler-Ah Kiong are correct, I'd bet on Thompson-Dunn to make the step up.
@Stargazer said in Magpies 2021:
@Higgins You think he's coming back any time soon? The money may be too good in Japan. I'm not sure he's still dreaming of a SR contract .... If he doesn't, he won't come back.
I wonder if he’ll have a crack in Aussie at some stage. He’s qualified to play for them
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@Stargazer said in Magpies 2021:
@Higgins You think he's coming back any time soon? The money may be too good in Japan. I'm not sure he's still dreaming of a SR contract .... If he doesn't, he won't come back.
I wonder if he’ll have a crack in Aussie at some stage. He’s qualified to play for them
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Born there. Or is he locked into NZ already?
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@Stargazer said in Magpies 2021:
@Higgins You think he's coming back any time soon? The money may be too good in Japan. I'm not sure he's still dreaming of a SR contract .... If he doesn't, he won't come back.
I wonder if he’ll have a crack in Aussie at some stage. He’s qualified to play for them
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@Duluth His father and grandfather both played for the NZ Maori team. How could he possibly even consider playing for the Aussies given the status and stature of those two folk?
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@Higgins I don't think he'll go to Oz because of the pull of the yellow jersey, either.
But if he's offered a SR contract there, and not in NZ, who knows?
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@Stargazer Well I think we can count out the Hurricanes as an option given we have that world famous (in Wellington anyway) superstar JGB with in a seemingly invinceable hold on the starting position.
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@Higgins Yeah, and don't forget their "Love" for certain schoolboys who are first signed up by the Wellington Academy and then get long-term Hurricanes contracts before they've even proven their worth at M10 Cup level.
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@Stargazer Love isn't the problem. Hickey is.
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Anyway, the player-drain from Hawke's Bay to the bigger provinces - or provinces with a university - is extremely frustrating.
Players like Zarn Sullivan, Tyrone Thompson, and now possibly Smiler-Ah Kiong, are a big loss. Julian Goerke, if he ends up playing for Manawatu. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few recent examples.
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@KiwiMurph I think Hickey is mostly a problem for McClutchie. Love is more a problem for younger guys like Smiler-Ah Kiong.
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@Stargazer Don't forget Aidan Morgan. He went down to Welly at the same time as Love, and was probably more highly rated.
@Bovidae Yeah, he was the player who was outplayed by Smiler-Ah Kiong in the 2019 Top Four Final. Yet, the Canes have probably been chasing him (resulting in the Wellington signing) instead of a player from their own catchment, who may now go to the Chiefs catchment ....
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@kiwimatrix What's your source? I've heard some rumours, too, but haven't seen them confirmed anywhere.
@Stargazer given Reihana is heading back to Northland next season, Waikato will be looking for a replacement, so makes sense.
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@Stargazer given Reihana is heading back to Northland next season, Waikato will be looking for a replacement, so makes sense.
@taniwharugby Yeah, from Waikato's point of view it does (and I'm happy for Northland). But it sucks big time for us if the Smiler-Ah Kiong rumour is true ....
I can't even say that Waikato should give Bailyn Sullivan back in return, because Bailyn has been a bit disappointing the last few years and we don't really need him.
