Is the Kurt Davies in the Dev Squad, the Kurt Davies who was halfback for the top side a few seasons back? He was pretty handy from what I recall. Interesting to see Campbell Matthews in there, thought he might have been Olsen’s understudy.

@Steven-Harris got up to experience some North Zone club footy today. Watched Otiria v Rarawa at Ahipara. Paora Allen is a big unit, didn’t really show out as being overly physical, but having said that the standard of footy was poor. He was the only lineout option for Otiria and took every one.

He stood out like dogs balls in terms of physique, the rest were pretty much carrying beer guts and love handles!

I haven’t had the chance to get to many games this year up north so I couldn’t really fill you in on the other Far North prospects unfortunately.

Good to see Jone Macilai back running about too..

@Chiefy07 Velcro gloves were an essential item in any Hokianga kit bag bro

Bloody PC gone mad tree hugging society we live in these days.

The game is becoming taylor made for soccer mums/dads.

What happened to the days when I played JMB in the Hokianga/Bay of islands wrestling with giant bush monsters every Saturday.. I would have been 30kgs wringing wet! Loved every minute of it though..

Harden up world!

Good on Moulds for choosing to cash in. Don’t blame him at all. Can imagine his frustration at the Blues being stuck behind Parsons and Apasai. I scratch my head every time he’s left out of the 23. Yes, he has lineout problems, but I think he’s improved tenfold there from when he first started. Around the field he offers shitloads more than those other two.

All the best to him overseas, it’ll be good to hopefully see him back one day to finish his career in the Cambridge Blue.

As for the Northland front, I think we are well covered with Olsen. Hopefully Campbell Matthews comes through as a back up, or we manage to entice someone else with quality.

Who skippers now? As TR said, Olsen is a prime candidate. I’d also look at big red, Matich or even J Deb..

@Duluth said in Looking forward to 2019...:

Debra and Wiseguy in the 23

He'll do as injury cover

Forgot about Wiseguy. He looked quite good in his brief showing last year. Puts a new spin on it for me in that case.

@Steven-Harris said in Looking forward to 2019...:

Hearing that Dan Hawkins could be back in the frame for the 2019 season returning to Northland..thoughts Taniwha heads..?

Wouldn’t be the worst thing to have him back. He’s a popular squad man that’s for sure. In terms of on field, as long as he’s not kicking from hand I’m happy. His last two seasons for Northland were quite good..a massive improvement from when he started.

Does this mean they now see J Deb as a fullback option?

Wow the NH tree hugging brigade are really taking a gamble here.

Don’t mind them scrapping club rep sides, but the union rep scrapping is a joke. It’s a big thing for young kids to get a taste of pulling on their provincial/sub union jersey. Helps aspiration..

Can see a good spin off for Auckland and Northland here. Southern parents may take their kids over the bridge and northern ones through to Wellsford.. that’s my only positive!

Thanks for the update @Steven-Harris

Sounds like a fair bit of movement going on already. Be interesting to see how our squad shapes up.

Really hope we hang on to Matich. I think he’ll be a crucial part of our loose trio this year. Can’t afford to lose that experience.

I’m anticipating a young looking side this season with some new faces from within and outside the union.

I guess it’s the norm now to only get a couple of seasons out of most players with all the opportunities abroad. So the M10 cup sides put out different looking teams from year to year, with the small core of experienced grafters keeping the foundations.

Hope Ranger comes right, won’t bank on it though. Good opportunity for Gregory to stamp his mark now.

As a side note I ran into Regan Verney over the Xmas period and he said he was real keen to come back, Although he was worried about his injury. Be good to keep an eye on his progress. Rated him for Wellington, looked set for big things until he got hurt.

Being doing well to win one! That’s the top four premiership teams..