Chiefs 2025

[Yeetyaah]

@cliff Defs be open to him returning. Always thought he'd do well back when he was playing for Waikato. Deceptively fast for a dude of his size.

[Bovidae]

@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2025:

Broken collarbone for ALB apparently. Gone for the season.

Bummer. I can't like this post. The X-ray doesn't look good. I would think it is only for SR as usually up to 12 weeks for recovery.

So Wrampling comes onto the bench and Narawa can be used as a backup. Gibson Popoalii has been the WTG cover. We wouldn't want to lose any more midfield backs with Poihipi also gone for the season.

[Machpants]

In the news as rumour, tbc. But probably correct

Apr 27

Exclusive: All Blacks, Chiefs midfielder to announce Japan sabbatical

1News understands that Anton Lienert-Brown will join former Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie at Kobe next year.

[Yeetyaah]

ALB in for surgery tomorrow.

[Bovidae]

Players unavailable due to injury:

Damian McKenzie, Hand, Returning Soon
Etene Nanai-Seturo, Hamstring, Returning Soon
Kaleb Trask, Ankle, TBC
Liam Coombes-Fabling, Knee, Mid-term
Anton Lienert Brown, Collarbone, Mid-term
Malachi Wrampling, Hamstring, Mid-term
Fiti Sa, Shoulder, Long-term
Rameka Poihipi, Knee, Season

[Bovidae]

It appears that Chiefs HQ were deliberately silent about the Taua-Hunters game but I've been told that the Chiefs won by about 20 pts. There would have been quite a few changes to Chiefs Dev team from their first game.

[Trig]

@Bovidae Why would they need to be deliberately silent about these development games. I enjoy that the Chiefs seem to put out alot of info about these games but still not as much as they could be. There is a lot of engagement that all of our super teams are missing out on

[Bovidae]

@Trig No idea. My info came from the father of one of the players. Very poor from the Chiefs either way. The Hurricanes never reported the result either, but did at least release their team list. Amateurs!!

[Tim]

Do you guys have a list of players who are off contract at the end of the season?

[cliff]

Players that are definitely not coming back are alb and Aidan ross I hope we can create space for oli Mathis, we definitely need another quality winger the likes of mataele and Liam coombes fabling are too average

[Bovidae]

The Chiefs haven't regularly announced contract lengths so it's hard to know who is signed, and for how long, unless there has been a media release. For some players, their "known" contract has long ended.

Based on what is available, a lot are signed until 2026, 2027 or even 2029 (DMac).

Stevenson is another who will leave. Tupou signed a 2-yr contract, so might not be re-signed.

[Tim]

@Bovidae Have there been any announcements on Sione Ahio?

[Bovidae]

@Tim said in Chiefs 2025:

@Bovidae Have there been any announcements on Sione Ahio?

Ahio was signed until 2026. I think I posted the details at the time.

[cliff]

With alb leaving we need a quality center, ens should replace Stevenson at fullback

[Bones]

@cliff I can't see any issue with Rona - seems to be rather underrated (at least in media circles). Rarely puts a foot wrong and does a lot right (while being shuffled around the backline).

[Bovidae]

Rona is perfectly fine. Poihipi should be back, Wrampling can play 12 or 13, so there are options. I would prefer more depth on the wing, especially if ENS moves to fullback.

[Tim]

How about Narawa at 13?

[ARHS]

Why? The issue is back 3. Plenty of midfield options

[Bones]

@Tim said in Chiefs 2025:

How about Narawa at 13?

Reckon ENS could do well there, but maybe wait until 2027, very Mils like.

[Bovidae]

@Bones ENS was a centre at St Kents. I think he can be more dangerous at fullback with the extra space.