Auckland Rugby 2023

[Tim]

Ta$man and MP player Mahonri Ngakuru playing lock for University this week.

[Steven Harris]

@Tim a few weeks ago i thought it was Manukau Rovers title to lose , but all the top 4 teams are suddenly being bolstered returning players

[Steven Harris]

List of players who will be pushing for Auckland selection outside the contracted players , all on development contracts

Interesting to see Edward Annandale on this list ,wonder if this confirms his Blues selection
Great to see some Manukau representation Faletoi Peni especially also hooker Oneone Faafou who is a beast
Although all the Manukau guys have not signed

[george33]

King Maxwell

[Steven Harris]

@george33 kids got game , he’s a mix of Rico Gear, Bruce Reihana and Charlie Ngatai all rolled up into one ..makes rugby look easy

[george33]

Yes looks real class maybe still a year away? And Payton Spencer ?

[KiwiMurph]

@Steven-Harris the word that comes to mind with Gear, Reihana and Ngatai's games is smooth.

[Bovidae]

I talked up King Maxwell last year after seeing him play for the Māori U18 team. Like Gear and Ngatai he went to Gisborne BHS.

[KiwiMurph]

Good to see Byron Smith involved. Hopefully he's sticking around - sounds like he's fairly talented

[Tim]

@Steven-Harris With Sam Wye gone (HB), a couple of those halfbacks might make the main squad. Unless Auckland have another player returning US competition or elsewhere.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Tim Funaki and Manu Paea (I rate Wye higher than Paea) then choose one of 30year old journeyman Pele Cowley, Japanese import Yamouchi or young Ngakete George who I know nothing about. My choice would be to go with current NZ u20 player Riley Williams. Always promote youth.

[Bovidae]

Is Cowley only 30? He seems to have been around forever.

[Tim]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Auckland Rugby 2023:

Manu Paea

Think he is in the Tongan WC squad.

[KiwiMurph]

@Daffy-Jaffy hopefully Williams gets some time off of the bench tonight vs Japan

[Steven Harris]

Call me biased , but I would have Riley Williams in the Auckland NPC squad before Pele Crowley or Manu Paea , Funaki has room for development given he’s with the Blues
Sam Wye always impresses me ..

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Steven-Harris Sam Wye has just been named in the Magpies squad.
Have you seen much of Ngakete George?

[Steven Harris]

@Daffy-Jaffy I’ve only seen limited minutes of Ngakete George as he’s the understudy to Henry Saker at Varsity , only 19 ex Rotorua Boys.
Looked very comfortable at senior level , with a reasonable pass and running game when he snips , played for the Blues U20 wider training squad earlier in the year in the game of 3 halves against Harbour and Northland
One for the future

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Tim said in Auckland Rugby 2023:

Hamdahn Tuipulotu - still in Auckland?

Just found out that he Hamdahn Tuipulotu is currently playing club rugby in Western Australia for the Cottesloe club. I wonder if he will return for NPC, or is he having a go at making the western Force Team. Auckland does have a glut of experienced and up and coming props to get past so he may be looking for another avenue to the pro ranks. His younger brother Tito is also a prop in the Auckland NPC 'contenders' group.

[KiwiMurph]

Only limited minutes for NZ U20s but Riley Williams looked to have good service at 9 when he came on - quick and good tempo.

[Bovidae]

@KiwiMurph IIRC he originally went to the wing before moving into halfback. He's very quick so spent some time out wide for the NZ U19s too.