NPC - news, injuries etc
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Waikato squad
Forwards
Tim Bond (11) Morrinsville Sports
Jahrome Brown (2) Melville
Hamilton Burr (0) Hautapu
Sam Cooper (0) Hamilton Old Boys
Samipeni Finau (0) Hamilton Old Boys
Haereiti Hetet (5) Otorohanga
Josh Iosefa-Scott 20) Melville
Murray Iti (23) Otorohanga
Luke Jacobson (10) Hautapu
Mitch Jacobson (37) Hautapu
Ayden Johnstone (21) Hautapu
Sosefo Kautai (21) Hamilton Marist
Sekope Lopeti-Moli (9) Hautapu
Laghlan McWhannell (13) Hautapu
Api Naikatini (0)
Ollie Norris (0) Hautapu
Simon Parker (0) Hautapu
Taleni Seu (0) Melville
Antonio Shalfoon (0) Te Awamutu Sports
Toby Smith (57) Hamilton Old Boys
Samisoni Taukeiaho (23) Fraser Tech
James Thompson (0) Hautapu
James Tucker (34) Hamilton Marist
Manawa Veitayaki (0) OtorohangaBacks
Solomon Alaimalo (0) Hamilton Marist
Tyler Campbell (25) University
Matty Lansdown (22) Fraser Tech
Anton Lienert-Brown (19) University
Damian McKenzie (24) University
Brandon Mudzekenyedzi (0) Hautapu
Declan O’Donnell (34) Melville
Carlos Price (0) Hamilton Marist
Sevu Reece (33) Hamilton Old Boys
Rivez Reihana (0) Melville
Louis Rogers (0) University
Fletcher Smith (12)
Jack Stratton (11) Hautapu
Bailyn Sullivan (7) Hamilton Marist
Dwayne Sweeney (93) Morrinsville Sports
Raniera Takarangi (8) Hamilton Old Boys
Valynce Te Whare-Crosby (0) Fraser Tech
Newton Tudreu (0) Hamilton Marist
Quinn Tupaea (12) Hamilton Old Boys( ) = caps for Waikato
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A closer look at the Waikato squad shows no Manihera, Burn or Armstrong in the forwards from 2018. Bunce missing in the backs but fullback is well covered. A few names I am not familiar with at all.
It will be interesting to see the team selected to play Canterbury.
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A closer look at the Waikato squad shows no Manihera, Burn or Armstrong in the forwards from 2018. Bunce missing in the backs but fullback is well covered. A few names I am not familiar with at all.
It will be interesting to see the team selected to play Canterbury.
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A closer look at the Waikato squad shows no Manihera, Burn or Armstrong in the forwards from 2018. Bunce missing in the backs but fullback is well covered. A few names I am not familiar with at all.
It will be interesting to see the team selected to play Canterbury.
@Bovidae yeah, its a shame Manihera is not in the squad....I guess he's not favoured by the new coaching structure, he will be a big loss.
Burn didn't play much club rugby, I am not sure if he even made himself available...
Armstrong was used sparingly last season in the M10 Cup. He did play a full club season but again I'm not sure if he was available for M10 Cup....
Looks like Waikato have rewarded a lot of the young forwards that have come through the age group system, personally I think that is a good thing.
Looking forward to seeing if brothers Veitayaki and Hetet get on the field together, they are both really promising...sons of Joe Veitayaki, now he could scrum
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@Yeetyaah Lots of age-group players included too, which I like to reward those developed in the province.
Bond being back will help at lock.
@Bovidae Looking forward to seeing how Hamilton Burr goes, a young Scottish lad who come out here to strengthen his craft and finds himself with a M10 Cup gig, exciting.
Te Whare-Crosby is classy, will be good to see him develop, big and powerful but quick too!
Awesome to see Louis Rogers get a chance after making a switch from loose forward a few years ago and toiling away.
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@Bovidae Looking forward to seeing how Hamilton Burr goes, a young Scottish lad who come out here to strengthen his craft and finds himself with a M10 Cup gig, exciting.
Te Whare-Crosby is classy, will be good to see him develop, big and powerful but quick too!
Awesome to see Louis Rogers get a chance after making a switch from loose forward a few years ago and toiling away.
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@Bovidae Ah shit, Manihera is the biggest loss, he was so good last year. Can't wait to win the premiership.
@Yeetyaah said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
@Bovidae Ah shit, Manihera is the biggest loss, he was so good last year. Can't wait to win the premiership.
bummer. he was really one of those guys that i felt if he got a super contract and become full time he woulda come on leaps and bounds... certainly outplayed that overrated chump Akira every time he came up against him.
looks like he's playing in the States for San Diego..
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@OleOleOle You've obviously seen more club rugby than me, so who is Mitch Jacobson's backup at openside? Iti is more a no.8 now.
I had heard good things about Quade Tapsell so was hoping he would make the squad
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@Bovidae I'd say the 7's are M Jacobson and Jahrome Brown....although I heard that Brown was injurted last week v Taranaki....maybe they will need to call in another 7. Tapsell was good this season.
@OleOleOle I was assuming Brown was the player seriously injured. @WillieTheWaiter ?
What position does Burr play?
I know nothing about Mudzekenyedzi either. I hope he plays, just to hear the commentators pronounce his name.
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@mofitzy_ said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Cheers. I guess Ainley is too long in the tooth these days. Papali'i is an ex-leaguie? Seems to be a big unit too. Any good?
Didn't play last week so not sure where he stands in the pecking order, probably brought in to provide some experience to a group of inexperienced locks. Wardlaw/Caroll played last year and will get the first opportunity I reckon, Van De Hoven new & White unknown, looks to be out of the Harlequins/NZRU partnership.
Papali'i huuuuuge, big ball carrier which brings a better balance to Steamers loose trio they didn't have last year. Fitness is a work in progress, I'd say he plays 60 then Mua comes on for him.@trooa Papali'i played at 8 at the weekend and looked really good. Got a shoutout from the coach when I asked for a non-Super Rugby player to watch and I was impressed by his performace
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@OleOleOle I was assuming Brown was the player seriously injured. @WillieTheWaiter ?
What position does Burr play?
I know nothing about Mudzekenyedzi either. I hope he plays, just to hear the commentators pronounce his name.
@Bovidae yes, I understand Brown was the injured player. If that is the case they are light at 7.
Burr is a lock/loose forward but probably only a 6, I wouldn't see him as 7 cover.
Mudzekenyedzi is Zimbabwean born and schooled in Wellington. I believe he has spent time playing in Japan. He played for the competition winning Hautapu side in the midfield and went well. don;t ask me how to pronounce his surname though.
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@Bovidae yes, I understand Brown was the injured player. If that is the case they are light at 7.
Burr is a lock/loose forward but probably only a 6, I wouldn't see him as 7 cover.
Mudzekenyedzi is Zimbabwean born and schooled in Wellington. I believe he has spent time playing in Japan. He played for the competition winning Hautapu side in the midfield and went well. don;t ask me how to pronounce his surname though.
@OleOleOle said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Mudzekenyedzi is Zimbabwean born and schooled in Wellington. I believe he has spent time playing in Japan. He played for the competition winning Hautapu side in the midfield and went well. don;t ask me how to pronounce his surname though.
So he is the guy in the front row between Reihana and Lansdown.
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@OleOleOle said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
Mudzekenyedzi is Zimbabwean born and schooled in Wellington. I believe he has spent time playing in Japan. He played for the competition winning Hautapu side in the midfield and went well. don;t ask me how to pronounce his surname though.
So he is the guy in the front row between Reihana and Lansdown.
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http://www.mooloo.co.nz/Mitre-10-Cup/2019-Waikato-Squad
Player portraits are here and mostly updated for 2019.
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I saw this match report of the Taranaki-Waikato preseason game on the TRFU website.
https://www.trfu.co.nz/newsarticle/80260
This was surprising to read.
Naholo could have, or probably should have, got a second. Intercepting on Taranaki’s own 22, Naholo had a clear run in front of him, but he was chased down by talented first five-eighth Fletcher Smith.
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I saw this match report of the Taranaki-Waikato preseason game on the TRFU website.
https://www.trfu.co.nz/newsarticle/80260
This was surprising to read.
Naholo could have, or probably should have, got a second. Intercepting on Taranaki’s own 22, Naholo had a clear run in front of him, but he was chased down by talented first five-eighth Fletcher Smith.
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Taranaki are the TAB favourites to win the Championship.
Brief review of the teams:
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The drip feeding of M10 squads this season, apparently dictated by NZR has been a bit ridiculous. I kind of expected that Auckland and North Harbour would be naming match day 23's today. However Harbour haven't even named their seasons squad yet 2 days out from their first game. Unless I missed it somewhere?
