Blues 2025
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Taele played well against good opposition.
Sullivan plays for Auckland, whereas Evans plays for Northland. Seems more likely that Sullivan has struggled to recover from persistent injuries.
James Thompson is a good player but wasn't picked up by other Super Rugby teams. Cam Christie (North Harbour) seems like a real talent.
I don't see a consistent pattern there.
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@Tim said in Blues 2025:
Taele played well against good opposition.
Sullivan plays for Auckland, whereas Evans plays for Northland. Seems more likely that Sullivan has struggled to recover from persistent injuries.
James Thompson is a good player but wasn't picked up by other Super Rugby teams. Cam Christie (North Harbour) seems like a real talent.
I don't see a consistent pattern there.
James Thompson played a significant part in our title last season. He immediately found his feet at this level. I didn't see Cam Christie delivering the same this season. I think we really struggled at 6 this year and Thompson's size could have made a difference.
Taele played well in the Blues some times and not for others.
He was poor for Auckland with error ridden performances which put us on the back foot. Nothing that warranted all the opportunities he got.
He's not particularly big or fast. He has some skills but I don't see the upside here. Grindlay is a big guy with good skills, high workrate and composure.
As for Sullivan he had one stinker. Maybe he was brought back to early but i would suggest that is because he was poorly managed. Sullivan is a talent that needs to be developed.
Coaches are meant to get the best out of players and I would say the only back who has been consistently good this year is Lam.
I also think Halangahu is the guy that likes that aerial game and maybe why a lot of our game is peppered with poorly timed contestables and aimless kicking. Probably why Christie is preferred over Funaki too.
I'd like to see a change in the back/attack coaches to freshen things up.
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@brodean to clarify - I'm not saying they are right in their assessments
I'm saying if you sign a guy on a 2 year deal and the guy features in one bench appearance in 2 years and he hasn't been injured I think it's fair to say he has not impressed.
It could also be the making of Grindlay going forward.
I remember Fekitoa barely featured for the Blues and then later admitted the shift to the Highlanders made him hugely improve his professionalism/preparation etc.
I agree that I have not been impressed by the backs this year and also agree would like to see some fresh blood come into the coaching ranks.
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@brodean I like Thompson as a player but 3 games off the bench for 9, 61 and 14 minutes is hardly "significant". Tidy cameo's nothing more. Whereas Christie has played 8 games this season including 5 starts and would likely still be in the 23 if not injured. Christie is a hugely promising 20 year old compared to 25 year old battler Thompson. In saying all that Thompson may yet come back into consideration next season with Choat and Suafoa needing to be replaced.
Likewise comparing a 19 year old Taele in his first NPC last year, in a dysfunctional Auckland team, with a 4 years older and more experienced Grindlay in a good Naki team is not fair. Where was Grindlay when he was 19? Taele is class, just green. Grindlay was just about the best player in the NPC in 23, quieter in 24. I would have liked to see him get some game time this year but unluckily for him Reiko and Lam seem to rarely get injured.
On the coaches McGrath is defense coach and the Blues defense ranked 1st last season and 2nd behind the Chiefs this season. I agree re: D.H. he may have been there too long. He is kicking/ skills coach. O'Halloran is attack coach. I have previously liked the way O'Halloran's teams have attacked. I wonder if his 'style' has been a bit restricted by Vern's pick and go up the middle style. -
Is this Josh Tengblad behind Gus at Blues training?
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@Daffy-Jaffy No
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@Daffy-Jaffy Clark?
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@Duluth said in Blues 2025:
@Daffy-Jaffy Clark?
That's not him either. Che Clark has a prominent tattoo on his left forearm.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2025:
@brodean I like Thompson as a player but 3 games off the bench for 9, 61 and 14 minutes is hardly "significant". Tidy cameo's nothing more. Whereas Christie has played 8 games this season including 5 starts and would likely still be in the 23 if not injured. Christie is a hugely promising 20 year old compared to 25 year old battler Thompson. In saying all that Thompson may yet come back into consideration next season with Choat and Suafoa needing to be replaced.
Likewise comparing a 19 year old Taele in his first NPC last year, in a dysfunctional Auckland team, with a 4 years older and more experienced Grindlay in a good Naki team is not fair. Where was Grindlay when he was 19? Taele is class, just green. Grindlay was just about the best player in the NPC in 23, quieter in 24. I would have liked to see him get some game time this year but unluckily for him Reiko and Lam seem to rarely get injured.
On the coaches McGrath is defense coach and the Blues defense ranked 1st last season and 2nd behind the Chiefs this season. I agree re: D.H. he may have been there too long. He is kicking/ skills coach. O'Halloran is attack coach. I have previously liked the way O'Halloran's teams have attacked. I wonder if his 'style' has been a bit restricted by Vern's pick and go up the middle style.I think you've down played Thompson's contribution. He played in the quarters and the semi's last year on the way to our first title in 20+ years. He got it right in key moments.
In terms of Cam Christie he might be talented but he looked green as hell to me and we've lost every one of the 5 games he's started in.
Can you explain the upside to Taele? Do you see him as another David Havili type player potentially? Taele is very small for a modern midfielder. He's made too many mistakes for me to consider him classy yet.
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This is where you wish your coms where sponsored by Firestone or an erectile dysfunction company
Sam Nock and the Blues have negotiated for the Northland 9 to continue with the franchise until the end of 2026 .
Fair to say iām a tad surprised given what i had been shared but from a Northland piece iām pretty wrapt hes staying
Hope he repays the Blues loyalty -
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@Steven-Harris think that is just to see out his existing contract right, he was looking for early release, that is usually granted...
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I see the Blues awards have just been announced
I am staggered that AJ Lam is not the back of the year but has been named the players player of the year which i assume is voted by the players
By my reckoning he should be walking away with both those awards
So who picks the back of the year ?, the coaches
Its a very odd one for mine -
@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2025:
This is where you wish your coms where sponsored by Firestone or an erectile dysfunction company
Sam Nock and the Blues have negotiated for the Northland 9 to continue with the franchise until the end of 2026 .
Fair to say iām a tad surprised given what i had been shared but from a Northland piece iām pretty wrapt hes staying
Hope he repays the Blues loyaltyHe might get to 100 games for both if he hangs around long enough now that he's staying.
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I see that Jacob Pierce started at lock for Toshiba in the Japanese final. One that got away.
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