Blues 2019

[Tim]

@daffy-jaffy Who's the guy with the dread top-not? Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa? Jacob Umaga?

[Tim]

Rugby non-genius Ali Williams is picking the Blues to make the semi-finals. Heard that one before ...

[KiwiMurph]

@tim Umaga is back in the UK so i'd say its WRK.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim I'm sure that is Riedlinger-Kapa and you were right about Telea.
Here is a video of Tomas Aoake playing for Warriors u20.

[KiwiMurph]

I was impressed in the little I saw of Aoake for Ta$man. He's got some talent.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Also training with the team is young North Harbour lock Danny Dake. Its interesting that Coventry usually started Ben Nee Nee ahead of both Drake and Scott Pierce for Harbour but they both passed him into the Blues squad. I guess on youth and potential, they are 23 and 21 years old.

[Stargazer]

@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

Also training with the team is young North Harbour lock Danny Dake. Its interesting that Coventry usually started Ben Nee Nee ahead of both Drake and Scott Pierce for Harbour but they both passed him into the Blues squad. I guess on youth and potential, they are 23 and 21 years old.

Have they though? Ben Nee Nee played for Samoa on Sunday morning (NZT), so has maybe just returned from the NH and need a break before he joins the Blues squad?

[KiwiMurph]

@stargazer said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

Also training with the team is young North Harbour lock Danny Dake. Its interesting that Coventry usually started Ben Nee Nee ahead of both Drake and Scott Pierce for Harbour but they both passed him into the Blues squad. I guess on youth and potential, they are 23 and 21 years old.

Have they though? Ben Nee Nee played for Samoa on Sunday morning (NZT), so has maybe just returned from the NH and need a break before he joins the Blues squad?

Well Jacob Pierce definitely has - he is in the 38 man Blues squad and NeeNee isn't

[KiwiMurph]

Good to see Perofeta a part of this week's preseason training group. With his injury history I wasn't sure how long he might be out for.

[Tim]

From instagram stories it looks like Scrafton is training with the team, which is good news. Tanielu Tele'a might be in there too.

[Daffy Jaffy]

Two more 'development' players training with the team are Robb Cobb (NZ U20 prop) and Hawaii Ahokovi (young Pakuranga outside back who played preseason with Auckland).

[Tim]

Looks like the full training squad is in the last picture:

[Hooroo]

@tim Dunno if that third to last photo is a thing they should be working on

Interesting that it appears they have judo(?) coach helping them out. I can see how that would be helpful and moving bodyweights about

[taniwharugby]

@hooroo wasnt there an AB prop who was/is very good at Judo.

Can't recall,, but I think it was John Timu back in the day used to do ballet training for strength and balance.

[Duluth]

@hooroo said in Blues 2019 - (New Head Coach):

Interesting that it appears they have judo(?) coach helping them out. I can see how that would be helpful and moving bodyweights about

UFC fighter Dan Hooker

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby Don't know about Judo, but Joe Moody is a former NZ wrestling rep.

Edited to add that Moody won a junior Commonwealth Games bronze medal (freestyle wrestling) and competed at the world junior championships.

[Bovidae]

McDowall had a judo background.

[taniwharugby]

@stargazer just asked Aunty/Uncle Google...

Was Steve McDowell, coulda gone to Moscow Olympics.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11209385

[Duluth]

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training in the pre-season isn't unusual. I think the Crusaders did it first? That was at least 12 years ago. Pat Lam did similar sessions with the Blues

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim I see Lewis Gjaltema and Mike Tamoaieta there. Does anyone recognise the front row looking guy between Umaga and Mafileo?