Blues v Sharks
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<p>He's not great but not as bad as he's being made out to be over the course of the season. He made a few errors last night but also did some good things and is the 3rd highest points scorer this season (not that anyone will care about that stat).</p>
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<p>I think we might just ride it out with West until the end of the season, as the other 10 options really aren't that good. If Banks is available next year, we should try to sign him.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gt12" data-cid="572973" data-time="1460872601">
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<p>Can Little play 10? I'd like to see him get a few more opportunities (mainly because the Littles are friends of the family and Michael is a good kid, I can't say I saw much of his NPC play).</p>
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<p>He can play 10, but I don't think he's played 10 at ITM Cup level for a few years. With Ranger out for the season, he's probably one midfield injury away from getting game time.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="572995" data-time="1460878405"><p>I think we might just ride it out with West until the end of the season, as the other 10 options really aren't that good. If Banks is available next year, we should try to sign him.<br><br>
He can play 10, but I don't think he's played 10 at ITM Cup level for a few years. With Ranger out for the season, he's probably one midfield injury away from getting game time.</p></blockquote>
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Be great to see him do well if he gets s chance, although I imagine he'll go on to represent Fiji anyway. -
Hickey to come back next season isn't he? Not that I really think much of him<br><br><br>
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<p>Hickey should stay where he is, where the level of play is slow and ponderous enough for him to be a star in.</p>
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<p>Has Breen been getting any time for the dev side??</p>
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<p>West didn't have a good game, but my observation was he was standing deep only when he kicked. Whenever he ran or passed he was up.</p>
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<p>I'm still bemused reading these Blues threads. Every time I read a thread about them I expect them to have Crusaders forward pack and a Canes backline with DC at 10 going by the comments.</p>
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<p>Then I see the team on paper.</p>
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<p>They scraped a win, but they won. When the 'good' teams scrape a win the comments are all "played badly but the sign of a good team is when they win the tight ones". </p>
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<p>Their losses have been to much better squads in the NZ conference.</p>
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<p>3 wins and a draw from 7 with that squad is pretty decent if you ask me. </p>
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<p>As I said in an earlier thread, being unattached to the team must make things different for me viewing how they're going.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="573185" data-time="1460943803">
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<p>I'm still bemused reading these Blues threads. Every time I read a thread about them I expect them to have Crusaders forward pack and a Canes backline with DC at 10 going by the comments.</p>
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<p>Then I see the team on paper.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>They scraped a win, but they won. When the 'good' teams scrape a win the comments are all "played badly but the sign of a good team is when they win the tight ones". </p>
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<p>Their losses have been to much better squads in the NZ conference.</p>
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<p>3 wins and a draw from 7 with that squad is pretty decent if you ask me. </p>
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<p>As I said in an earlier thread, being unattached to the team must make things different for me viewing how they're going.</p>
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<p>Hahaha well said mate especially the winning ugly part. When it's any other side it's described as fine and that they're slowly building to something special, where as if it's us, it's the same old 'Ihaia West is awful', 'the Blues game plan is awful', 'they're an embarrassment to all the other NZ sides', they have the highest talent pool in the country and are still shit' rubbish we hear week after week.</p>
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<p>We're far from the finished product don't get me wrong, but we've made giant strides from last year with what is still a youngish and inexperienced side and as Nepia said, we've played 4 NZ games already compared to everyone elses 2. </p>
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<p>We're going ok and we're also learning the art of winning ugly which is a great sign and Umaga is slowly building some depth throughout the squad which will hold us in good stead going forward.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="573187" data-time="1460944656">
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<p>Hahaha well said mate especially the winning ugly part. When it's any other side it's described as fine and that they're slowly building to something special, where as if it's us, it's the same old 'Ihaia West is awful', 'the Blues game plan is awful', 'they're an embarrassment to all the other NZ sides', they have the highest talent pool in the country and are still shit' rubbish we hear week after week.</p>
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<p>We're far from the finished product don't get me wrong, but we've made giant strides from last year with what is still a youngish and inexperienced side and as Nepia said, we've played 4 NZ games already compared to everyone elses 2. </p>
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<p>We're going ok and we're also learning the art of winning ugly which is a great sign and Umaga is slowly building some depth throughout the squad which will hold us in good stead going forward.</p>
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<p>West is still pretty average ;)</p> -
<p>Not as bad as as everyone makes him out to be. I'd put him ahead of one of the forum darlings Richie Mo'unga anyway.</p>
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<p>as I said above, if he had a good 9 playing inside, who knows how much better he might look, and similarly if Hall had a Cruden outside him...right now, probably the best the Blues have.</p>
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<p>Yeah overall im happy with the Blues progress - they are definitely on the improve and playing on the same level as their talent.</p>
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<p>The old argument "they have enough talent to win the title" which is complete BS in my opinion, it's up there with "Warriors have huge hulking forwards". </p>
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<p>I'm a little fearful without the Ioanes and now Ranger some of these close wins might turn into losses for the rest of the year but the side definitely has some spirit this year - coming back from deficits for all three wins/one draw.</p>
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<p>What i'd like to see by the end of the season is some of the younger squad members getting some gametime (e.g. Scrafton, Mariner, Nock, Little etc).</p> -
<p>Blues playoff chances have just gone down the drain IMO. I know Ranger is only one player in a large squad but with his injury, Gibson's injury and the pending departure of the Ioane bros its probably fair to say they will lack the firepower to compete with the bigger teams. I like the attitude and direction Tana has given to this side. They will defs be a threat next season, especially if they can nab someone like Otere Black from the Canes. </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="573193" data-time="1460945457">
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<p>Not as bad as as everyone makes him out to be. I'd put him ahead of one of the forum darlings Richie Mo'unga anyway.</p>
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<p>He's a better goal kicker.</p>
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<p>Not as good as Marty Banks though - who's spent a couple of ITM Cups making Jimmy Cowan and Billy Guyton look so much like Gareth Edwards that the Blues have signed them!
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="573248" data-time="1460960796">
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<p>He's a better goal kicker.</p>
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<p>Not as good as Marty Banks though - who's spent a couple of ITM Cups making Jimmy Cowan and Billy Guyton look so much like Gareth Edwards that the Blues have signed them! :)</p>
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<p>Wouldn't say no to Marty Banks.</p> -
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Didn't know Mo'unga was a forum darling.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="573083" data-time="1460932544">
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<p>Has Breen been getting any time for the dev side??</p>
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<p>I think he's started 2 games for them. He's shared the 10 duties with Bryn Gatland.</p>
