NPC 2025
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Hearing Northland have signed the younger brother of Brumbies utility forward Tom Hooper , Lachlan Hooper 21 years old 6’5 112 Kgs
Lachlan who played for Australia U20 in 2023 like his brother can play 6 or lock equally well is considered by many observers in Australia as an outstanding prospect and I believe the Blues and the Highlanders will be keeping a close eye on his progressAlso in the wind is Reesjan Pasitoa 23 year old who had limited time at the Western Force because of injury
Pasitoa who has a Niuean father and German mother has represented Australia at both schoolboy level and Under 18 level is considered a super intelligent player that can play 10 or 12 has a 6’1 98 kg frameThe rest of the Taniwha squad will be made up of local players who have stood out in the High Performance space
Corey Te Whata Colley will return to the Taniwha in possibly the best shape of his life
Then a host of Mid Northern players who have stood out at club level and ticked many boxes at HP
Zack Shanks specialist 7 (well deserved )
Matt La Toga no8/6
Jade Stewart 10 ( Form 10 in the Northland Club comp this year )
Impressed in the hit out against Auckland contenders
Rebuen Stewart 12/15 ( been one of the standout backs in Northland Club rugby this year )
Guy Waerehu 13/Wing exceptionally strong carrier of rugby ball there’s something about this player
And Hoani Reid midfielder from Ngati Hine Moerewa United Kawakawa
Reid is highly rated by some in the Blues , big midfielder with a turn of pace to boot seems to have had an attitude change
His father Brandon Reid was some player who should have gone on to play at a higher level but being from Northland got bitten by the vile weedMarley Murphy Kamo halfback orginally from Bop
Judah Andrew’s OBM fullback will be training with the squad
Very tidy footballer who is actually a wing
Also played well against Auckland contenders on a wet night that’s not always great for FullbacksGreat to see Northland taking a punt on locals
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@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2025:
Hearing Northland have signed the younger brother of Brumbies utility forward Tom Hooper , Lachlan Hooper 21 years old 6’5 112 Kgs
Lachlan who played for Australia U20 in 2023 like his brother can play 6 or lock equally well is considered by many observers in Australia as an outstanding prospect and I believe the Blues and the Highlanders will be keeping a close eye on his progressWe are well known collectors of 6'5 six-locks. He will fit in well with Will Sotdart, Oli Haig, TK Howden and Quinten Holland.
Do the Hooper boys have NZ links?
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@SouthernMann Not at all Lachlan I believe turned down a big money contract with an Australian team to cut his teeth in NZ
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@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2025:
@SouthernMann Not at all Lachlan I believe turned down a big money contract with an Australian team to cut his teeth in NZ
Did Joe Brial plenty of good down in Canterbury.
There is a kid doing it in Dunedin as well. Zach Nicol who was in the midfield for Aussie Schools last year. Didn't make the Landers U20s, and seems to be injured. A curious move none the less.
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@Steven-Harris dunno what the rest of NZ rugby is like, but are very few big tall locks running about up here, and even at 'only' 6ft 5, is a good size compared to most I see running about club footy.
Plenty of loosie/lock sized players, the few lock height ones are quite lightweight...Darcy Holwell is probably close to 2m, but very lightweight, although is only 19 still.
What about Petero Ratumaitavuki?
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@taniwharugby is Darcy's mum an Amazoness?
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@Mr-Fish ha, very similar to David
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@taniwharugby
David's father was a tall and a very handy lock/loose forward for Hora Hora and Mid Northern. Perhaps the height genes have skipped a generation? -
@taniwharugby @Trig Lisati is heading to Stade Montois (Mont de Marsden ) in the French Pro D2 on a 2 year deal and that is before the NPC , Josh Renton was signed as a back up to Sam Nock
Marley Murphy likely to be carried as the 3rd halfback -
@Steven-Harris is it former Otago player Josh Renton who has signed , or Jay Renton the Southland halfback? Or both
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Canterbury halfback shake up will be interesting. Hearing there is some movement with Nic Shearer off to a different region and a swap occurring between 9s from provinces. Interesting that Riley Williams is still playing club rugby in Auckland also
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@Fredsaua12 Williams didn’t play for Waitemata today
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@Fredsaua12 What's happening with their 10 situation?
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Now this is one of these rumours where the contact is not 100% sure that the destination is corect but maybe someone down in the Bay can fish around
Miracle Fai’ilagi heading to Hawkes Bay for the Npc -
Northland have bought on board former Canterbury assistant coach Blair Baxter as an assistant to Ryan Martin ,Baxter was with Matatu last year and was with Canterbury Npc previously
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@Bovidae found the post here.
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I see he played last Sat as Hamilton OB had a bye last round. Maybe Micah Fale had a quiet word. Waikato won't be short of loose forward options, so I doubt it was anything more than getting a game. I went to watch TK Howden play for Melville in a club game a few years back but it was just a favour to the coach.
