@taniwharugby said in Northland v Otago:

Key is trying to get these talented kids from here but in Auckland on scholarships wanting to come back.

This is a huge point in my opinion. I think our point of attack needs to start at U19 level here. I saw the Auckland team had four or five Northland boys in there. I get that there’s a choice for these lads, but wouldn’t it be nice if we could have them playing for Northland from that age group upwards. Our U19s are way behind the 8-ball and need a boost. A lot of other unions are using the 19’s as a key development tool and it’s working. I noticed Hawkes Bay U19 had 3 or 4 of Wellington based (presumably uni students) players in their set up this year. We need to do the same and entice our Auckland/elsewhere based Northland lads back into our system. The NRU need someone to proactively scope this option out.

Yep, definitely agree on having guys playing in our comps. I don’t give a rats ass where in the country or world they’re from as long as they play club footy in Northland and commit to our cause. In terms of true blue local guys, I think it’d be great if we actually had enough of quality ones to make a “Northland Only” team, but the reality is we don’t and need to supplement from elsewhere from time to time.

On the coaches, I reckon the major thing they got wrong was the selections rather than the tactics. I think they are good coaches (DW more specifically) and deserve another crack. They just need to focus on selecting the right guys from week to week. Given it was hard with all our injury disruptions, but that midfield fiasco should never be repeated!

Wow, where was that performance all year? Bloody stoked to finish on a good note.

The one glaring thing for me was that game just showed why we should have had Gregory at 13 all season. His work on D really impressed me the most. Otago tried their hardest to gas the outside channels, but Gregory plugged it up with his pace. Gutted we wasted so much time with Johnson there.

The forwards were all on the same sheet today, was particularly impressed with Olsen, Temo and Byrne. I like the look of the new Fijian flanker too, hopefully we sign him up for next year.

Hopefully that was a little glimpse of what our whole season might be like for our centenary year next year.

Fingers crossed everyone is fit and healthy for 2020 so we can have a better campaign with our best available players!

Once upon a time I’d have given us a chance over Tasman...oh how times have changed.

If we can conjure another effort like last week I’ll take that. Just keep it reasonably respectable and try and scab a four try bonus.

@taniwharugby said in Wellington vs Northland

Cherrington didnt get much to do, but hopefully he gets a start.

Too easy that riddle.. Start Cherrington and drop Johnson. Johnson was terrible.

@taniwharugby yep some real ticker there, and that’s all you can ask for. All I wanted was for us to come off with our heads held high, and we’ve done that. I was expecting 70-80 points against and not many for.

Most of Wellington’s tries were very soft. To score five of our own was very pleasing though.

Our pack muscled up well bar a few scrums. The locks and loosies all shaped up. Stokes was supercharged! Also liked Byrne, if he can stack some weight he’ll be a beast.

Out wide Gregory, J Deb and Rae were my picks.

Hope we scrap Tasman the same next week. Could be a similar score maybe?? Got to get more than the donut Auckland received.

@kev 57-36 FT

Nice J Deb. 57-36

@taniwharugby said in Wellington vs Northland:

Defending narrow seems part of our game plan, but Leilua was way in there

And it happens again. Is it too hard to change that system on the fly, or do we just have no idea. 57-29.

@taniwharugby it is. Now Welly stroll in after our usual narrow defence botch up.