Chiefs 2022

[Bovidae]

@crucial That is who I think McMillan will select, not my own preferences. Wainui is one of the leaders so I expect him to be on the left wing. 5 tries in his last game there.

I'm not sold on Trask under the high ball from fullback. ENS would give you some of the x-factor we will miss from DMac on the counter-attack.

[Crucial]

@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:

@crucial That is who I think McMillan will select, not my own preferences. Wainui is one of the leaders so I expect him to be on the left wing. 5 tries in his last game there.

I'm not sold on Trask under the high ball from fullback. ENS would give you some of the x-factor we will miss from DMac on the counter-attack.

Agree. ENS naturally looks for space which means that as a winger he cuts in a bit too much. I'd love to see him get developed as a 15.

[Crucial]

@tim said in Chiefs 2022:

@bovidae

So what's your game day pack looking like? Assuming Moli isn't available, something like this?

1 Ross
2 Taukei'aho
3 Mafileo
4 Retallick
5 Vaa'i
6 Finau
7 Cane
8 Jacobson

16 Slater
17 O'Neill
18 Ta'avao
19 Ah Kuoi
20 Sowakula

Lord may have just moved past Ah Kuoi in the pecking order.
We never have our locking stocks at full strength but that's 4 good options now.
The whole pack and depth is pretty good really.

[Bovidae]

Ah Kuoi is also a no-show in the NPC so far. I wouldn't read too much into it. Good to have some options and Lord is a 2m+ lock.

[Dice]

@crucial said in Chiefs 2022:

@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:

So what is the Chiefs starting backline looking like now?

9 Weber
10 Ioane
11 Wainui/ENS
12 Tupaea
13 ALB
14 Lowe/Narawa
15 Trask/ENS/Stevenson

There's a fair bit of love for Wainui among the coaches. I seem to remember them commenting on his professional approach and experience. Something they will value.
I would like to see ENS at 15 but even Counties won't/don't give him a shot there. Maybe a bench spot in the 'top' setup?
They like a kicking option at 15 so Trask will likely get the nod. Stevenson has a massive boot but only seems to use it as last option under pressure. Would like to see him develop and start using that kick to better effect turning teams around/50/22s etc.

He plays mostly at fullback for Counties. He's only ever had two starts on the wing for Counties.

He sometimes finishes games on the wing though, usually when Laulala comes off the bench.

[mikey07]

@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:

It appears that Narawa has signed for the Chiefs but is he any better than what the Chiefs currently have?

Lowe
ENS
Wainui
Stevenson

I don't think he is a guaranteed starter.

Interesting the Blues never re signed him.

[Crucial]

@dice said in Chiefs 2022:

@crucial said in Chiefs 2022:

@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:

So what is the Chiefs starting backline looking like now?

9 Weber
10 Ioane
11 Wainui/ENS
12 Tupaea
13 ALB
14 Lowe/Narawa
15 Trask/ENS/Stevenson

There's a fair bit of love for Wainui among the coaches. I seem to remember them commenting on his professional approach and experience. Something they will value.
I would like to see ENS at 15 but even Counties won't/don't give him a shot there. Maybe a bench spot in the 'top' setup?
They like a kicking option at 15 so Trask will likely get the nod. Stevenson has a massive boot but only seems to use it as last option under pressure. Would like to see him develop and start using that kick to better effect turning teams around/50/22s etc.

He plays mostly at fullback for Counties. He's only ever had two starts on the wing for Counties.

He sometimes finishes games on the wing though, usually when Laulala comes off the bench.

You're right. I don't know why I was under the impression he wasn't getting starts at 15.Must be my old-timers.

[Stargazer]

https://twitter.com/NZRugbyHeaven/status/1444833285876576261

[Bovidae]

Unfortunately there is nothing in that article about the squad or possible additions to the coaching staff.

[Duluth]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300422403/josh-ioanes-resurgence-set-to-be-key-project-for-chiefs-coach-clayton-mcmillan

Getting out of Dunedin is probably a good thing

[cliff]

@crucial I bet kaylum boshier could sneak in there somewhere I liked his physicality when he played

[Nogusta]

@mikey07 he was signed until end of 2022 but asked for a release after the limited playing opportunities

[mikey07]

@nogusta well that makes a lot more sense then.

[Bovidae]

Tragically, time for an update on a possible squad for next season. This is based on the 2021 squad and what we know publicly about departures and signings via media releases, plus rumoured new signings. Players in italics would be most at risk of not being re-signed. I've also suggested a few likely replacements.

Hookers:
Samisoni Taukei’aho (signed until 2024)
Bradley Slater
Nathan Harris Tyrone Thompson

Props:
Aidan Ross (to 2023)
Ollie Norris
Reuben O’Neill
Angus Ta’avao (to 2021)
Sione Mafileo (to 2022)
Atunaisa Moli (it will be hard to justify continual selection of a player who sadly is always injured)

Locks:
Brodie Retallick (to 2023)
Tupou Vaa’i (to 2023)
Naitoa Ah Kuoi (to 2023)
Josh Lord
Laghlan McWhannell (I would keep him because depth is important, as the Chiefs will know)

Loose Forwards:
Sam Cane
Luke Jacobson
Pita Gus Sowakula (to 2023)
Samipeni Finau (to 2024)
Kaylum Boshier
Lachlan Boshier Tom Florence
Mitchell Brown
Mitchell Karpik
Simon Parker (one of these two could be retained, but unlikely both)

Halfbacks:
Brad Weber (to 2023)
Xavier Roe (to 2022)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi Cortez Ratima

First five-eighths:
Bryn Gatland (to 2023)
Rivez Reihana Josh Ioane (2022 only)
Kaleb Trask

Midfielders:
Anton Lienert-Brown (to 2023)
Quinn Tupaea (to 2023)
Alex Nankivell
Bailyn Sullivan Tei Walden

Outside backs:
Jonah Lowe
Damian McKenzie Emoni Narawa
Etene Nanai-Seturo (to 2022)
Shaun Stevenson (to 2023)
Chase Tiatia (to 2022)
Sean Wainui Gideon Wrampling

That would be 38 players.

[Crucial]

@bovidae do you think that Wrampling will continue as an outside back? He looks like his future is as a midfield unit.

Not saying that the Chiefs won't want him in the squad but maybe as a midfield/outside cover (direct replacement for Wainui like you have listed).

Question then is whether Walden is required? He isn't confirmed is he?

[Yeetyaah]

@bovidae ugh man this feels shit.

Tucker would also be decent to have on the books as a lock for depth. McWhannell has played well so I'd hope the Chiefs throw him a bone. I have a gut feeling that Ratima won't be signed for some reason. Walden already had a rumour around him signing with the Chiefs before his injury last year.
Wrampling would be a good bet.

Also wouldn't mind Dawai as a squaddie as he has some size and pace, which the Chiefs have lacked on the outside for a bit.

[Crucial]

@bovidae btw thanks for biting the bullet and kicking this off.

Does feel shitty to be talking about so soon but I think we can keep the two things apart (a bit)

[Kiwiwomble]

for those who haven't watched Otago recently, Ioane looking much more like his old self. if he can carry on like this he could be in fr another breakout season next year

[Bovidae]

@crucial None of my potential replacements are officially confirmed, but Thompson has been unofficially confirmed, as have both Walden and Narawa.

Wrampling is a midfielder. He is more suited to centre but does have the size and speed to be an option on the wing in a squad at his young age (20).

[Yeetyaah]

@bovidae said in Chiefs 2022:

@crucial as have both Walden and Narawa.

Have they? When and where?