Magpies 2017
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From HBRU Facebook:
Exciting young talent commits to Hawke’s Bay Rugby. Outstanding young prospects, Folau Fakatava, Devon Flanders, Lincoln McClutchie and Danny Toala have committed their future to Hawke’s Bay Rugby for 2018 and 2019. Each player hails from the highly successful Hastings Boys High School First XV that finished runner up in the 2016 Top Four Schools competition and are currently unbeaten after a stellar 2017 season to date. “Folau, a Halfback, Devon, a Loose Forward, Lincoln, a First Five and Outside Back, Danny have formed the spine of the Hastings First XV over that period. Lincoln was a New Zealand Secondary Schools representative in 2016 and he along with Folau, Devon and Danny will be strong contenders for higher honours in 2017, we are delighted that they’ve committed to Hawke’s Bay Rugby.” HBRU Academy Manager, Joe Payton said today. “It means a lot to me to be signed on to the Magpies for 2018 and 2019, I grew up idolising the Magpies and now I get to be one.” Devon Flanders said today. “I’m really excited to sign with the Magpies.” Folau Fakatava said today. “This is the start of my dream, a new beginning. “ Lincoln McClutchie said today. “It’s a great experience for me to be a part of the Magpies for the next two years, it's an unreal feeling and pretty exciting to play with some experienced players that I didn't think I would be playing with.” Danny Toala said today.I assume this is also an article in the HBT today, but not online yet.
Great signings. I assume these 4 young lads of 17-18 years old being signed for next year and the year after means they'll play for the HB U19s in 2017?
By the way, the players below were the young players signed on Academy contracts in January; I wonder what happens to the rest of them?
I'd like really like them to keep Farrell as well, but considering he's already studying in Wellington, we might lose him? Devery played in the preseason game last Saturday. Kereru-Symes is a huge talent, I hear.
Hastings Boys High School
Lincoln McClutchie (1st five 8th)
Danny Toala (fullback)
Folau Fakatava (halfback)
Jacob Devery (hooker)
Kianu Kereru-Symes (prop)Napier Boys High School
Al Momoisea (winger)
Mitch Drew (center)Victoria Uni
Will Tremain (openside flanker)
Tim Farrell (LH prop) -
The launch of the 2017 Mitte10 Cup and the various squads were unveiled a couple of hour ago. Sadly the composition of the HB team has so far proved impossible to be sighted on any of the various sources you search to uncover information like this. Over to you Stargazer to ferret out this information for us, hopefully prior to the first match against Southland next Saturday.
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@Higgins Yep, if the Canes weren't so good in keeping their fans informed, I would have thought it's a Hurricanes region thing to be late publishing their squad lists. Only teams that haven't been announced yet are the Magpies, Lions & Turbos. (Ignoring Southland here).
Anyway, Mrs SG might be able to make it to the preseason game in Palmy on Friday. If we don't know the squad by then, I'll instruct her to squeeze the list out of the smallest HBRU staff member or Magpie she can get her hands on. Weber, West & Emerson will have to watch their back!
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Michael Allardice
Jarvy Aoake
Mark Braidwood
Richard Buckman
Geoff Cridge
Israel Dagg
Ash Dixon
Pasqualle Dunn - midfield
Mason Emerson
Gareth Evans
Tiaan Falcon
Timothy Farrell - prop
Matthew Gardner - loose forward
Hayden Hann - midfield
Mason Kean
Tony Lamborn
Jason Long
Jonah Lowe
Ben May
Sam McNicol - outside back
Marino Mikaele Tu’u
Nick Palmer - lock
Pouri Rakete-Stones - prop
Hugh Renton
Brodie Retallick
Fa’alemiga Selesele
Cardiff Vaega - midfield
Brad Weber
Ihaia West
Ellery WilsonNew caps in bold
Local new caps
Tim Farrell - NZ U20/Tech OB
Matthew Gardner - Napier OB Marist
Hayden Hann - Pirates
Pouri Rakete-Stones - NZ U20/Pirates -
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@Number-10 Cheers for that! Now, where was this published? Thought I'd looked at every possible site haha. Or not officially published yet?
No real surprises, with the 4 latest signings already published 4 days ago.
Compared to previous years, we see the return of Mark Braidwood & Richard Buckman; and the omission of Shannan Chase, Chris Eaton & Ben Hamelink. Unfortunately, no Karl Lowe. Biggest surprise to me: no Jorian Tangaere.
Last year, 21 forwards, this year 18. Last year 15 backs, this year 12. Are they all healthy now? McNicol, too?
I guess Eaton or whoever is the first choice halfback for the Saracens will be on the bench the first few rounds. Weber said in that Mitre 10 Cup video (which I posted in the main Mitre 10 Cup thread) that he'd probably play again in round 3 or 4.Props: Aoake, Braidwood, Farrell, Kean, Long, May, Rakete-Stones
Hookers: Dixon, no second specialist hooker??????
Lock: Allardice, Cridge, Palmer, Retallick (won't play)
Loosies: Evans, Gardner, Lamborn, Mikaele-Tu'u (no 8 ), Renton, Selesele (no 8 )Halfbacks: Weber, Wilson
First-fives: Falcon, West
Midfield: Dunn, Hann, Vaega
Outside backs: Dagg (won't play), Emerson, McNicol
Utility: Buckman, LoweWho of the props will become the reserve hooker with Tangaere not there? Looking at that list, my guess is Rakete-Stones.
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@Higgins said in Magpies 2017:
No Chris Eaton but, on the other hand, two under 20s props does leave me a little nervous. Also who will be the starting specialist openside flanker? TJ Vaega did not last long, what's behind his omission?
Agree with what you say about the props. Add to that Mason Kean, who's also still a rookie at this level.
My guess for specialist openside would be Renton.
I expect TJ Vaega to be named in the Saracens. Not sure how old he is, but he was in the Blues U20s this year, so still very young. -
Some of the players virtually have their own keys to the local ACC office they are injured so often and for so long meaning a good number of the others look like they will be putting in some long shifts without much rest if the injuries carry on.
Forgive me but who amongst this lot is a specialist fullback? I know The Barracuda is pretty versatile but his skills and abilities would be better utilized elsewhere. I am worried about there being a kicking option out of defense from the back should Israel Dagg not be available.
Looks like the first couple of games will have to be a look see to get a gauge on how well will go considering the misgivings I have at the moment.
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@Higgins The list also looks incomplete. Only 30 players. Unless I'm no longer able to count, most squads have 18 forwards and 14 backs (total of 32 players). So it looks like there should be two more backs?
About the fullback: I guess McNicol will play fullback, and Falcon and Buckman are covering? Falcon mentioned in an interview recently something about playing fullback. Unless one of those "missing" backs is a fullback. TJ Vaega can - according to google - also play fullback.
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Squad is taken from today's released Mitre 10 Cup Media guide
http://files.allblacks.com/NZRU_Media_Releases/2017/ALL_2017_M10C_SQUADS.pdf
The list is fully contracted players - other players can, of course, be brought in on match contracts, and as the guide says can be altered.
There will have to be at least one addition - Ellery Wilson is out for the rest of the season which means either of Chris Eaton or Zac Donaldson will take his place. In fact both might be there until Brad Weber returns.
I believe Mason Kean can play hooker. Although am surprised Jorian Tangaere is not apparently there.
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I am imagining this, or is McNicoll out for the whole provincial season with his head knock again?
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Disappointed to see Selesele in ahead of Penitito. Hopefully Mikaele Tu’u is the #1 choice at #8
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@Stockcar86 Selesele was signed for two years, last year, so I guess he was an automatic selection? Or does a contract not guarantee selection in the squad (for an experienced player)?
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@Stargazer said in Magpies 2017:
@Higgins The list also looks incomplete. Only 30 players. Unless I'm no longer able to count, most squads have 18 forwards and 14 backs (total of 32 players). So it looks like there should be two more backs?
About the fullback: I guess McNicol will play fullback, and Falcon and Buckman are covering? Falcon mentioned in an interview recently something about playing fullback. Unless one of those "missing" backs is a fullback. TJ Vaega can - according to google - also play fullback.
Surely the people being paid good money to organise things would have been able to come up with a full squad by now. I mean they have only had the best part of ten months to achieve this yet here we are, less than two weeks prior to the first match, they might still be trying to find a couple of players to fill out their squad. Questions must be asked why TJ Vaega who was paraded to the local press as a contracted player but come squad announcement time his name is nowhere to be seen. Has he been ditched already or did he ask for a release from his contract? Either way something has happened very quickly.
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In this morning's HB Today there are two more names in the squad:
Jacob Devery
TJ VaegaSo the full 32-man squad is:
Michael Allardice
Jarvy Aoake
Mark Braidwood
Richard Buckman
Geoff Cridge
Israel Dagg
Jacob Devery - hooker
Ash Dixon
Pasqualle Dunn - midfield
Mason Emerson
Gareth Evans
Tiaan Falcon
Timothy Farrell - prop
Matthew Gardner - loose forward
Hayden Hann - midfield
Mason Kean
Tony Lamborn
Jason Long
Jonah Lowe
Ben May
Sam McNicol - outside back
Marino Mikaele Tu’u
Nick Palmer - lock
Pouri Rakete-Stones - prop
Hugh Renton
Brodie Retallick
Fa’alemiga Selesele
Cardiff Vaega - midfield
TJ Vaega - outside back
Brad Weber
Ihaia West
Ellery WilsonNew Caps in Bold
Local new caps
Jacob Devery - Hastings RS
Tim Farrell - NZ U20/Tech OB
Matthew Gardner - Napier OB Marist
Hayden Hann - Pirates
Pouri Rakete-Stones - NZ U20/PiratesHalfbacks Brad Weber and Ellery Wilson will apparently miss the first three and six weeks respectively so Chris Eaton and Zac Donaldson are added to the squad as injury cover.
And it seems Sam McNicol is available.
Karl Lowe was not considered as has only played a couple of games after an injury layoff.
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Here's the article in the HBT.
I hope they name Karl Lowe in the Saracens (although he doesn't need the "development"), so they can still call him up if/when needed. The way our players have been dropping like flies in previous years, I'd like him to be available.
I don't agree with the reason for not including him, by the way. He'd add experience that's invaluable in a squad with so many rookies. You could clearly see that in the club rugby final. He had a massive game!I also hope Buckman & particularly Evans can stay fit and healthy this year. Evans has been so unlucky since moving back from Otago. Bucky also missed the most important (last) games of 2015.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=11900391
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My first attempt at a line-up (assuming everyone fit, except Farrell, Weber and Wilson):
1 Long
2 Dixon
3 May
4 Cridge
5 Allardice
6 Evans
7 Renton
8 Mikaele-Tu'u
9 Eaton
10 West
11 Emerson
12 Falcon
13 Buckman
14 Lowe
15 McNicolReserves:
16 Devery
17 Rakete-Stones (he can play TH and LH, can't he?)
18 Aoake
19 Palmer
20 Lamborn, with Evans covering 7 & 8
21 Donaldson
22 C Vaega, with Falcon covering first-five
23 Pasqualle Dunn with Buckman covering wing & fullbackIf McNicol is not available yet, I assume Buckman will start at fullback, with Dunn at centre and TJ Vaega on the bench?
What do you guys think?
