The Silver Fern

Predicted list of those that will be snapped up/ signed for next year. I've included young talent (bolded) that have all but committed to the Canes and a ?? for those players that I think will move on / be surplus to requirements.

We need to strengthen our depth at prop, lock and halfback for obvious reasons, otherwise if we remain fairly healthy we look settled across all other positions. Enough to make the playoffs again but questionable whether we have the metal to compete with the Cantabs.

Props:

• Tim Farrell (Hawkes Bay)
• Toby Smith (Waikato)
• Jeff Toomaga Allen (Wellington)
• Fraser Armstrong (Manawatu)
• Alex Fidow (Wellington)
• Chris Eves ??
• Ben May ??

Hookers:

• Dane Coles (Wellington)
• Asafo Aumua (Wellington)
• Ricky Riccitelli (Taranaki)
  -Fourth hooker will be included, hopefully not O'Reilly as he seems too small for Super.

Locks:

• Isaia Walker-Leawere (Wellington)
• Sam Lousi (Wellington)
  Liam Mitchell (Manawatu)
• Big Safa Lock (S.A)
• Geoff Cridge??
  Someone like Mitch Dunshea from the Crusaders would be a great acquisition.

Loose Forwards:

• Vaea Fifita (Wellington)
• Brayden Iose (Manawatu)
• Gareth Evans (Hawkes Bay)
• Devan Flanders (Hawkes Bay)
• Ardie Savea (Wellington)
• Sam Henwood (Counties)
• Reed Prinsep (Canterbury)
• James Blackwell ??

Halfbacks:

• TJ Perenara (Wellington)
• Finlay Christie ( Ta$man) - signed but fairly questionable in playing ability.
• Folau Fakatava (Hawkes Bay) - A young talent that we will need to lock up quickly.
• Carlos Price (Wellington) - pending if he gets much game time for the Lions this year but he was involved with the Canes in 2018 so we must see something in him for further selection.

First Fives:

• Beauden Barrett (Taranaki)
• Jackson Garden Bachop (Wellington)
• James Marshall (Taranaki) / 15
• TJ Va'a (Wellington) / 9

Centres:

• Matt Proctor (Wellington)
• Ngani Laumape (Wellington)
• Billy Proctor (Wellington)
• Peter Umaga Jensen (Wellington)

Outside Backs:

• Vince Aso (Auckland)
• Ben Lam (Wellington)
• Wes Goosen (Wellington)
• Jordie Barrett (Taranaki)
• Nehe Milner Skudder (Manawatu)
  Jonah Lowe ??????????????????????????????????????????????????
  Another fullback option - we may use James Marshall as a utility like we did when we won the title.

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Spoiler Text

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Was at the game on Sunday. Wellington always looked in control even though they were fairly sloppy at times. I was amazed at the size of our front row - probably the smallest front row going around the ITM Cup.

Number of classy operators in the backline but our forwards will need to front week in and week out if we are going to contest this year. The return of Aumua and the pending return of Fidow will boost our chances.

@tim as a Centre. The problem with the Blues is they haven't found a classic "Smith/Nonu match" in the centres and the makeup of their backline always looks disjointed. Having Lowe at Centre will give them that Proctor type player who has the nous both on attack and defense - could be a perfect option with his speed and distribution skills to really unlock the Blues potential out wide. SBW, Leger, Tele'a and Manu are all similar to those that they have picked in the past. Expect the same results if they go with those four.

@stargazer @stargazer you obviously didn't get my private message. If you must know the man, the myth, the legend - Canes4life is back (under a new name). Only reason I am not using that account is I don't have access because of email issues a while back - so if someone can help reset my password for that account that would be super.