Crusaders 2026
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Clears the way for Oli Mathis
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@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
Clears the way for Oli Mathis
Replacing a small openside with a midget openside will make things interesting.
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@Bones said in Crusaders 2026:
@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
Clears the way for Oli Mathis
Replacing a small openside with a midget openside will make things interesting.
Roughly the same size Christie 185 cm 104kgs Mathis 186 cm 102 Kgs though at 19 years old will probably put another 4 or 5 kgs on over Pre season.
Mathis has speed on his side but maybe he ends up a winger. -
@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
@Bones said in Crusaders 2026:
@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
Clears the way for Oli Mathis
Replacing a small openside with a midget openside will make things interesting.
Roughly the same size Christie 185 cm 104kgs Mathis 186 cm 102 Kgs though at 19 years old will probably put another 4 or 5 kgs on over Pre season.
Mathis has speed on his side but maybe he ends up a winger.Interesting, watching on telly Mathis looks like he'd be pushing 95 at best.
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@Bones said in Crusaders 2026:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
@Bones said in Crusaders 2026:
@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
Clears the way for Oli Mathis
Replacing a small openside with a midget openside will make things interesting.
Roughly the same size Christie 185 cm 104kgs Mathis 186 cm 102 Kgs though at 19 years old will probably put another 4 or 5 kgs on over Pre season.
Mathis has speed on his side but maybe he ends up a winger.Interesting, watching on telly Mathis looks like he'd be pushing 95 at best.
He put on weight when he was at the Crusaders as an injury replacement I hear he’s around 102kgs now.
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@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
@Bones said in Crusaders 2026:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
@Bones said in Crusaders 2026:
@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
Clears the way for Oli Mathis
Replacing a small openside with a midget openside will make things interesting.
Roughly the same size Christie 185 cm 104kgs Mathis 186 cm 102 Kgs though at 19 years old will probably put another 4 or 5 kgs on over Pre season.
Mathis has speed on his side but maybe he ends up a winger.Interesting, watching on telly Mathis looks like he'd be pushing 95 at best.
He put on weight when he was at the Crusaders as an injury replacement I hear he’s around 102kgs now.
I would assume that was before I watched him playing for Waikato
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@Bones said in Crusaders 2026:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
@Bones said in Crusaders 2026:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
@Bones said in Crusaders 2026:
@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
Clears the way for Oli Mathis
Replacing a small openside with a midget openside will make things interesting.
Roughly the same size Christie 185 cm 104kgs Mathis 186 cm 102 Kgs though at 19 years old will probably put another 4 or 5 kgs on over Pre season.
Mathis has speed on his side but maybe he ends up a winger.Interesting, watching on telly Mathis looks like he'd be pushing 95 at best.
He put on weight when he was at the Crusaders as an injury replacement I hear he’s around 102kgs now.
I would assume that was before I watched him playing for Waikato
Yes of course but eyes are deceiving aye.
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Up date in the 2026 squad
Hookers
C Taylor, G Bell, M LetuiProps
G Bower,K Sykes-Martin
F Newell,T Williams, S CalderLocks
S Barrett,T Cahill,J Hannah
A Shalfoon,L JackLoose Forwards
C Kellow,O Mathis, E Blackadder
D Gardiner,Savier Saifoloi
C Lilo-WillieHBs
N Hotham,K Preston
First Fives
T kemera,R Reihana,
Centres
D Havilli,D McLeod
L Fainga’anuku,B EnnorWings
S Reece,M Springer,
C Fihaki, Aki TuivailalaFBs
W Jordan,J McNicoll. -
@Chris So five more required?
A prop, a halfback, a first five, another loosie and probably another midfield back.
Maybe they go back to Brewis again.
I expect Louie Chapman (Drummond again a possibility, but I doubt it).
James White I'd imagine. Reihana and Kemara have enough experience now that we hopefully don't need an old shepherd like O'Çonnor.
Cullen Grace just not signed yet or more to the story that I've missed. Fletcher Anderson and Johnny Lee decent alternatives.
Can't think of a midfield option offhand?
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@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2026:
@Chris So five more required?
A prop, a halfback, a first five, another loosie and probably another midfield back.
Maybe they go back to Brewis again.
I expect Louie Chapman (Drummond again a possibility, but I doubt it).
James White I'd imagine. Reihana and Kemara have enough experience now that we hopefully don't need an old shepherd like O'Çonnor.
Cullen Grace just not signed yet or more to the story that I've missed. Fletcher Anderson and Johnny Lee decent alternatives.
Can't think of a midfield option offhand?
I think Brewis and Grace will be signed and Aki Tuivailala may still get signed.
Leaves a HB ,First Five and another, Fletcher Anderson I am unsure of as last year they had 8 Loose Forewards.
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@Grooter the reshuffle in the 9s for Canterbury this season looks to be a sign that they'd prefer Chapman to take that third spot at the Crusaders over Shearer. Shearer is a live wire, and has had a good start to the season, but Chapman is probably a better fit for the 3rd halfback spot.
Shearer is definitely going to latch on to a Wider Training Group somewhere, though.
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@BellsGeorg said in Crusaders 2026:
@Grooter the reshuffle in the 9s for Canterbury this season looks to be a sign that they'd prefer Chapman to take that third spot at the Crusaders over Shearer. Shearer is a live wire, and has had a good start to the season, but Chapman is probably a better fit for the 3rd halfback spot.
Shearer is definitely going to latch on to a Wider Training Group somewhere, though.
Chapman is the Fav for that position.
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I’ve heard similar - Drummond unlikely to be back, unless there’s an injury crisis. Finished with 150 appearances and has business interests. Nothing left to prove.
