@sammyc with all due respect, his brother is far from my favorite 9 we have on contract.

His passing leaves a lot to be desired...

Well 10 is a problem area for us so who knows, I have heard Dale is doing a lot of good work in the development space up here for Northland.

First time I’ve seen the phrase Home Union used in that way. Makes for a refreshing change.

Not his first year in SR but I think Alaimalo will be the Chiefs superstar.

What a great contest - the Bay didn't lie down and we showed we had some game breakers as well. Pack was solid in the darkest times but now we have a really good back 5 behind a general in 10. Webber has been great all season, Tiatia really came on late in the season and his offloading has been spectacular.

We just couldn't defend aggressively enough to stop their offloads and once they start rolling, they are hard to stop.

Ardron - baffled too other than he looks like he should be a beast at 8. He's tall and broad etc. But he just doesn't seem to bend the line like Parete. Chiefs haven't made many bad signings in recent years though.

I fear that backline will be broken up before next season. Really hard to crack super rugby unless you get contracted young so we could lose a few of them overseas - especially after showing what they can do on a bigger stage.

@canerbry ... bit like Goonoo Goonoo up on the Liverpool Range as you leave the Hunter Valley for Tamworth, yeah. It's pronounced "Gunner g'noooo".

That'd be 25 kilometres past Wallabadah ("Wallab'daaahhh"), which is about 25 kilometres up from Murrurundi. Only locals know how to say that properly ... "M'rynnndeye" ...that would be an easy fit for the New Zealandish language.

Anyway, jegga's breakfast with Jerome had immediate credibility and no noisy brats.

A bit disappointed they didn't give Papps a crack at getting the top first class score ever by a NZer. Day 2 with 2 days to go. Give him an hour to see if he can do it.

@dogmeat you can have mine, but the only thing holding them together is a bit of blood, sweat and a roll of insulation tape...

Yep - good win. Particularly without Retallick and Franklin. I thought Callander was good. Blake and Karpik outstanding - be interesting to see what the loose trio will be for Wellington. Backline superb. Bring on the final.

@taniwharugby I wonder how many of us there are? Endless games of hope. Personally I don't think Northland rugby has ever been stronger. Can't wait got the day when we win the Premiership. Man would that be something...

haha he's such a crack up

@snowy 🙂

@bovidae said in New Deal for NZR:

Who were the 8 old farts that voted against the proposal?

Probably the 8 who think this is just a bullshit PR exercise... 🙂

Well that was a fucking waste of money.

Campbell now ahead of Judd - watching the replay, a lot of the dropped ball was the result of Judd's poor delivery. Not sure why he has regressed as the season progressed.

@nepia said in Shield Snorters v Manawatu:

@j77 said in Shield Snorters v Manawatu:

@nepia said in Shield Snorters v Manawatu:

While I'm disappointed we helped Northland I'm extremely glad we got a win over the Poo!

You love us really. Come on bro give us a hug..

I don't know who I want to lose worse in your semi final with The cough, splutter, stab myself with a fork Bay.

Anyway, to the game, I hope that the Super selectors were reminded enough of the class of Jonah Lowe from this match and he is duly selected for a team - any team, if the Canes as per usual can't see past Porirua and the Rimutakas.

Maybe, I'm reading too much in the following quote from an interview with Lowe, but to me that sounds like he has a contract with the Canes for next season:

The 2014 New Zealand Secondary Schools rep and 2016 New Zealand under-20 rep knows if he can string some consistent performances together for the Shield Snorters this season it will enhance his chances of cracking a spot in the Hurricanes 23 when the 2018 Super season begins. "I want to be in the 23 and I want to make my debut for the team," said the veteran of 16 first-class games for the Shield Snorters.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11914948

@rapido said in Nadene Lomu:

I can't remember if this has been discussed.

But to get an understanding of why Jonah may have been 'broke' when he died you should just google " Jonah Lomu father in-law".
Think that sorded back story came out last time, yeah shows why she is the way she is. Of course they deny taking advantage of Jonah..

I like watching my niece tar the shit out of opponents, and sometimes the rugby is very entertaining. But pay to watch it...? Please.

@stargazer The second XV have had good results for the last couple of years as have the under 15s and the under14s won a super 8 competition during tournament. Having said that I think this team was an exceptional one and we would be lucky to see one of this quality again. Only 700 boys and other competitive schools close by mean it is hard to dominate. No doubt Napier will come back strongly and in yesterday’s Shield Snorters Manawatu game ( at last ) there were 4 past Lindisfarne players and at least 3 ex Napier. One thing in our favour is the quality of our coaches esp Tafi Ioasa.

Who would have believed it,I am still in a state of shock,avoided the executioners noose by a fingernail,we looked a bit like the Queensland cowboys in the NRL,mad Monday was staring us in the face..,and then a result goes our way..next chapter please...?