NPC - news, injuries etc
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@taniwharugby Its good two see Robinson back playing. He was excellent preseason last year with the blues before getting that bad injury and I don't think he has played since. Will also be interested to see what a decent forward coach like Whitcombe can get out of Isi Tu'ungafasi who looked a bit soft and lazy with Auckland but showed a bit more intent in one of the last games last season.
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Steamers team vs Auckland Today.
Head Coach Clayton McMillan has been forced to make two last minute changes due to sickness and injury in the locks with late call ups Aaron Carrol and Lars Morrice respectively securing a starting position and spot on the bench. Other notable starters is Te Puna’s Jeff Thwaites returning to the fold and Kaleb Trask moving into the starting first five eight position.An experienced bench will see the return of fullback Chase Tiatia following his super rugby duties, the introduction of prop Ross Geldenhyus, hooker Valentine Meachen and All Blacks Sevens representative Trael Joass on the wing.
Bay of Plenty Steamers:
- James Lay
- Liam Polwart
- Jeff Thwaites
- Aaron Carrol
- Tyler Ardron
- Hugh Blake
- Mitch Karpik
- Hoani Matenga
- Luke Campbell
- Kaleb Trask
- Matt Garland
- Terrence Hepetema
- Liam Steel
- Fa’asiu Fuatai
- Bailey Simonsson
Reserves:
16. Valentine Meachen
17. Solomona Sakalia
18. Ross Geldenhyus
19. Lars Morrice
20. Ajay Mua
21. Richard Judd
22. Trael Joass
23. Chase Tiatia
24. Tevita Mafileo -
Turbos preseason XV v Hawke’s Bay (Fri 10 August, Napier, k/o 1pm)
15 Junior Laloifi, 14 Jono Ihaka, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 James Tofa, 11 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 10 Hamish Northcott, 9 Kayne Hammington, 8 Brice Henderson, 7 Antonio Kiri Kiri (c), 6 Liam Mitchell, 5 Nick Crosswell, 4 Liam Hallam-Eames, 3 Sione Asi, 2 Tim Cadwallader, 1 Faalelei Sione. Reserves: 16 Sam Stewart, 17 Fraser Armstrong, 18 Sean Paranihi, 19 Brad Tucker, 20 Sam Wasley, 21 Griffin Culver, 22 Cody Hemi, 23 Shai Wiperi
https://www.turbosrugby.co.nz/news/thompson-named-for-turbos-preseason-match
I've posted the Magpies team in the Magpies forum.
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2018 Ta$man Mako squad
The wider squad were called "injury replacements". Note that Sione Havili is on loan from Auckland.
David Havili named captain, Wyatt Crockett and Mitch Hunt vice-captains.Strong looking squad. Title contender IMO.
8.4K views · 355 reactions | MITRE 10 CUP I Here is your Mako squad...
MITRE 10 CUP I Here is your Mako squad for our 2018 campaign. Congratulations to all named #FinzUp
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Good to see a few names hopefully back to full fitness
10 TJ Va’a. Last time I saw him play (2016) he lasted until he did his first sidestep. He wasn't touched but fell to the ground in pain. I wondered if he would ever recover so hopefully he is fully fit again. But he seems a bit on the small side. And fragile.
The Highlanders Umaga-Jensen (Thomas) looks the better player but both seem injury prone. And hopefully Isaia Walker-Leawere is fully fit and lasts the full season as he was class before his operation last year
Carlos Price is still young but he might be one to watch. He looked promising in the few minutes he got last year
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@williethewaiter What's the deal with Xavier Roe being named in the Taranaki squad?
I hope Waikato haven't lost him for good. Kylem O’Donnell for Roe means that Taranaki gets the better of that deal.
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Manawatu 2018 squad
Forwards:
Sam Stewart
Tim Cadwallader
Michael Alaalatoa,
Fraser Armstrong,
Sione Asi,
Sean Paranihi
Faalelei Sione
Brad Tucker
Liam Hallam Eames
Liam Mitchell
Jackson Hemopo
Nick Crosswell
Brayden Iose
Antonio Kirikiri (captain)
Bríce HendersonBacks:
Jamie Booth
Kayne Hammington,
Otere Black
Sam Malcolm
Jade Té Rure
Ngani Laumape,
Lifeimi Mafi,
Hamish Northcott,
Rob Thompson
Michael Tagicakibau,
James Tofa,
Te Rangatira Waitokia,
Nehe Milner Skudder
Junior LailofiQuite a strong looking back line if Laumape and NMS take the field, plus Thompson.
The long awaited return of Otere Black from injury will be in round 3
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@shark said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Did anyone know that BLK went bust? This explains why there's next to no NPC merch on the Rebel site when I looked for it. Wonder if thats why Canterbury had a weird looking jersey on in the Game of Three Halves
The two Canterbury teams that played on Friday were wearing different jerseys; maybe one jersey for the development/age grade team and the other for the NPC squad? Or old jerseys?
This was the jerseys for the game against Otago:
And this was the jersey for the game against the ABs:
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By the way, Rebels Sports isn't the only one without much gear. The Ryos and Stirling Sports websites also don't have jerseys. Maybe it will all be for sale from next week, when the competition starts?
Also, Paladin Sports now provide the gear of 4 Mitre 10 Cup teams: Hawke's Bay, North Harbour, Wellington and Northland. Plenty of gear available for those teams on the Paladin website.
@cgrant This is the Magpies jersey for this season (same as previous two seasons, only the socks seem different with more white in it and different sponsor name on the shorts); they had their photo shoot yesterday:
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TAB Odds, dont look to have changed much in past few weeks or since squads have come out, recon there are some generous odds in the Premiership side.
Championship Odds:
Otago $3.25
Waikaot $3.75
BOP $4.50
Manawatu $6.00
Northland $6.00
HB $10.00
Southland $41.00Premiership Odds
Canterbury $1.90
Wellington $5.00
Taranaki $7.00
Ta$man $7.00
NH $9.00
Auckland $12.00
CM $21
