NPC 2022

[ARHS]

Strong waikato forward pack dominating so far. Interesting looking flanker in 20 jersey

[Stargazer]

The Waikato instagram page calls today's preseason game "opposed scenarios" (with spelling mistake: screnarios).

[ARHS]

@Stargazer first half ended pretty even. 12 all. Magpie backs capitalised on defensive turnovers. Tiatia looking to spark anything he can. Tucker very influential for Waikato.
Ratima's kicking a bit rusty but good elsewhere.
Both teams playing lots of super players. Saw Mcwhannell in young looking bench group. Magpies attacking flow may be too good in second half.

Who is the Mooloo 10? And who is Zak in magpie backs?

[Stargazer]

@ARHS

@ARHS said in NPC 2022:

Who is the Mooloo 10? And who is Zak in magpie backs?

I assume that's Zach Simpson. He's a midfielder who was in our development team, last year. I don't know much about him, other than that he attended Te Aute College and plays his club rugby for Central Hawke's Bay.

[ARHS]

@Stargazer cheers. 26 all now. Magpies running through Mooloo backs early in half. Coombes fabling I think inspired the comeback.

[ARHS]

@ARHS magpies win 29 26 with a kick at the death

[Stargazer]

@ARHS Thanks for the updates!

[Bovidae]

@ARHS I'll post a few notes on the Waikato 2022 thread later. I recognised a few players in the 2nd half team but that seemed to be full of more U20 players.

HB took the soft option at the end kicking for goal, as there wasn't another penalty attempt all game.

Also, I don't think LCF played as he will be playing in the club final tomorrow. @Stargazer The Waikato fullback for the whole game was Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong. He scored a 2nd half try.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Do you think Smiler-Ah Kiong has a chance of making the NPC team? Still very young.

[ARHS]

@Bovidae If that was the guy in headgear then I stand corrected. I thought Mason Tupaea was one of the young guys in second half - but most were a mystery to me.

[Stargazer]

Liam Messam for Waikato and Marino Mikaele-Tu'u for the Bay. Don't know who the other Waikato player is.

More photos in this post from the same account.
For the Bay, I recognise at least Devan Flanders, Josh Gimblett, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Caleb Makene, Ollie Sapsford, Paraoian Manuel-Harman (I think), Chase Tiatia, Tom Parsons and maybe Lolani Faleiva.

Waikato players I recognise or are tagged are Cortez Ratima, Ayden Johnstone, Hamilton Burr, Sefo Kautai, Laghlan McWhannell, Rhys Marshall, Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong, Taha Kemara, Cody Nordstrom, Travis Church, Austin Anderson, Sean Ralph.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer said in NPC 2022:

Do you think Smiler-Ah Kiong has a chance of making the NPC team? Still very young.

It all depends on the makeup of the squad. In his favour Lansdown has retired due to injuries. I'm not sure about Waaka, who would be the other fullback option. Of course there is DMac and Tepaea Cook-Savage who can both play there too.

BTW, the Hawke's Bay pack in the 1st half included Rakete-Stones, Kereru-Symes, Parsons, MMT and D Flanders. The 9 and 10 were McLeod and Makene. I was focused more on the Waikato players so there could have been some other regulars too.

[ARHS]

@Stargazer Aha - so that WAS Kemara and Nordstrom. James Tucker was prominent. Mitch and Luke Jacobson played also. Was the try-scorer 9 Conor McLeod?

[Bovidae]

All the TA Sports players in that second-to-last photo.

[Tim]

Looks like there will be some B team games this year:

2022 North Harbour Rugby Development squad. Fixtures include, Thames Valley, Auckland, BOP, Taranaki, Counties Manukau, Northland, Waikato. Further fixture details to follow.

[Stargazer]

Manawatū have just named their team for the 2022 season:

[Bovidae]

No Stewart Cruden in the Manawatu squad.

[Grooter]

@Stargazer I like the Turbos loose forwards mix, that Tyler fella reminds me of a young Liam Squire

[Canes4life]

@Stargazer I'm surprised Raymond Tuputupu hasn't made this squad. Despite his age I feel like he's good enough for the NPC.

[Bovidae]

@Canes4life I know nothing about Keil-Schwenke but Strang is still only 20 himself.