Magpies - 2018 Mitre 10 Cup
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@stargazer Who are the imports?
Anyone keen to have a go at a top 22? I have no idea and would likely just pick all the recent schoolboys.
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@number-10 We disagree about this. IMO playing one season (some only half a season or less) of club rugby after being invited to come to the Bay (or coming at their own initiative after not making the WTG squad of their "old" province or getting little game time last year) doesn't make them local players in my book.
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@stargazer Stacey Ili was playing in Auckland (Manukau Rovers) earlier this year.
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@number-10 said in Magpies - 2018 Mitre 10 Cup:
Magpies facebook post also adds Ben May, Gareth Evans and Jacob Devery to the squad.
The only real import/signing is Stacey Ili - he played no club rugby.
Those are decent additions to the named squad (obviously apologies to Higgins and his war on Ben May
)!Sadly no McNicol which would have helped solidify the backline.
Also, why wasn't BBBR named? All the other squads name their ABs don't they?
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What do you guys think of the forwards - backs split?
Last year, there were 19 forwards (including Retallick) and 13 backs (and 4 backs - of whom 3 halfbacks - as temporary injury cover).
This year, there are 24 forwards (including Retallick) and 13 backs.Have all squads more players than last year?
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Lots of names I don't know but all I know is we better beat southland in round one. Can't have my Gf having bragging rights.
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@stargazer The heavy leaning towards the number of forwards is probably due to the fact that last year our forward pack was usually (with injuries admittedly) outplayed. Of the two divisions (forwards/backs), that needed the greatest strengthening. Forwards dominance or parity - now there's a concept I'm sure someone, surely, must have thought of before.
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hmm, no TBW. Injured or form since returning not good enough?
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I dont get all the sooking about imports,what locals have really missed out?Quite a few of the locals last year were hopeless and way out of their depth. They have had a whole club season and a few trials to impress, seems like everyone had a fair chance to me.What about TBW was he unavailable or just not selected?
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Now that I look closer, the Pirates winger Hann is not in the squad from last year. I think his debut year suffered from the players inside him more than anything, so expected he would get another crack.
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@stockcar86 Josh Eden-Whaitiri was better at lock last year than that Waratah lock, Palmer. JE-W probably would have made squad if Ulufonua hadn't been there.
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Ellery Wilson missed out too I forgot about him.
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I've attempted to pick a match-day 23. Not exactly my preferred team, but more what I think the coaches may go for. It was quite difficult because I don't know the preferred position of some of the new players.
1 Jason Long
2 Ash Dixon
3 Ben May
4 Michael Allardice
5 Geoff Cridge
6 Marino Mikaele-Tu'u
7 Will Tremain; I don't know who else of the loosies is a 7; maybe Josh Kaifa or Solomone Funaki? They may prefer a more experienced player than Tremain.
8 Gareth Evans
9 Brad Weber
10 Tiaan Falcon
11 Mason Emerson
12 Pasqualle Dunn
13 Sasa Tofilau
14 Jonah Lowe (I'd prefer him at centre, but he was announced as a wing & I think that's where they'll name him)
15 JJ Taulagi16 Jacob Devery
17 Tim Farrell (if fit) / Pouri Rakete-Stones
18 Pouri Rakete-Stones / Joe Apikotoa or Mark Braidwood
19 Tom Parsons
20 Fa'alemiga Selesele (I'd prefer Devan Flanders, but I think they'll go for experience)
21 Folau Fakatava (only two halfbacks in the squad, so they pick themselves)
22 Lincoln McClutchie (same as halfback)
23 Stacey Ili (again, I'd prefer Danny Toala, but I think they'll pick the more experienced player, which I think is Ili, who - from what I've read - can play at multiple positions) -
Think the big squad could be due to a number of reasons- Having 7 at high school last year & 4 at high school in 2016, it’s likely a number of them are on close to minimum contracts. Side note-Does anyone know coaches intentions of whether they intend to allow those 7players to play Jock Hobbs? Allowing most of the import players to come to HB, play club rugby and earn a spot also means they’re likely to be being paid less as they’re after an opportunity at M10 rather than signing players in July who have been impressive at club level in their provinces but not considered for whatever reason. Also know Funaki was told after Manawatu game they wanted to sign him for 2019 but had already signed all their loosies for this year so maybe a few extra spots were created with players who demanded their way in on form. Other reasons may include new coach inheriting contracts he probably might not have wanted. Also not a whole load of star players who demand big money in squad this year, West would have opened a bit of cap space.
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@trooa Can't answer your question about the coaches' plans for U19 tournament, although it's worth noting that all of Toala, Flanders, Fakatava, Devery, Tavita-Metcalfe, Kereru-Symes, McClutchie and Farrell were named in the initial U19 training squad in June. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they'd play at the Jock Hobbs U19 tournament.
