Looking forward to 2019...
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@Steven-Harris there are 2 players in the Blues dev side saying they are Northland players (Caird and cant recall the other, but from NH) they must be recent too
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@taniwharugby Sam Caird signed with Northland before Xmas
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The other one was Glenn Preston
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@Steven-Harris said in Looking forward to 2019...:
@Duluth I think that might be a typo..I would be very surprised if Glen Preston would leave harbour for Northland
Or an Aucklander writing up the list - who figured "Northland/North Harbour... same diff".
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Thanks for the update @Steven-Harris
Sounds like a fair bit of movement going on already. Be interesting to see how our squad shapes up.
Really hope we hang on to Matich. I think he’ll be a crucial part of our loose trio this year. Can’t afford to lose that experience.
I’m anticipating a young looking side this season with some new faces from within and outside the union.
I guess it’s the norm now to only get a couple of seasons out of most players with all the opportunities abroad. So the M10 cup sides put out different looking teams from year to year, with the small core of experienced grafters keeping the foundations.
Hope Ranger comes right, won’t bank on it though. Good opportunity for Gregory to stamp his mark now.
As a side note I ran into Regan Verney over the Xmas period and he said he was real keen to come back, Although he was worried about his injury. Be good to keep an eye on his progress. Rated him for Wellington, looked set for big things until he got hurt.
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Hearing that Dan Hawkins could be back in the frame for the 2019 season returning to Northland..thoughts Taniwha heads..?
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@Steven-Harris said in Looking forward to 2019...:
Hearing that Dan Hawkins could be back in the frame for the 2019 season returning to Northland..thoughts Taniwha heads..?
Wouldn’t be the worst thing to have him back. He’s a popular squad man that’s for sure. In terms of on field, as long as he’s not kicking from hand I’m happy. His last two seasons for Northland were quite good..a massive improvement from when he started.
Does this mean they now see J Deb as a fullback option?
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@Steven-Harris I see he has been playing in Irish 2B league? No idea on the level, but assume it would be round Club Footy level here?
Cant fault the guys effort and attitude, but IMO his very best games are usually 7/10 at this level, and while he is reasonably consistent, I've always thought he lacks the pace and kicking length to provide a genuine option from 10.
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@taniwharugby I like a first that straightens the attack with first few steps. Add pace, skill and courage and you have perfect mix. Dan was courageous but his first movement has always been across field. But put him in the mix and he could be a good squad man.
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@taniwharugby said in Looking forward to 2019...:
@Steven-Harris I see he has been playing in Irish 2B league? No idea on the level, but assume it would be round Club Footy level here?
Cant fault the guys effort and attitude, but IMO his very best games are usually 7/10 at this level, and while he is reasonably consistent, I've always thought he lacks the pace and kicking length to provide a genuine option from 10.
The last few years, Dan Hawkins has played in Japan for Mitsubishi DynaBoars (Top Challenge League; just won promotion to the Top League). He is still listed on their website and his name hasn't appeared yet on a list of players that are leaving, but that may still come, of course.
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@Stargazer when I googled what he'd be upto last night it came up with Sligo RFC in Ireland and there was a pic of him in a team photo, although looked to be an age group team, so possibly as coach
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@taniwharugby He has indeed played for Sligo; he arrived there in September 2011. In this article, you can read about his arrival.
As his first season with Northland was that of 2013, you'd have to assume he played for Sligo RFC for one or two seasons (2011-12 and maybe 2012/13).
Hawkins has played for the DynaBoars from the 2017/2018 season, so for two seasons.
His most recent game for the Dynaboars was their promotion/relegation game of 23 December 2018.
No Top Leauge in Japan this year because of the RWC, so non-test players will be looking for something else. That could explain his possible availability for Northland in 2019.
So if he's really in Ireland now (was it a recent photo you saw?), he may just spend a holiday there at his old club? Wouldn't it be a bit odd if he wants to play for Northland this year and not play club rugby in Northland? I guess you'll find out when the club rugby season in Northland kicks off.
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the internet is awesome for information until it isnt.
As I said, was just a quick peruse last night, didnt see anything about Japan (which is where I thought he had gone) and was only the Sliga stuff that came up, so assumed that was the most recent.
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NRU just announced on thier FB page that Matich has re-signed for 2019.
Yes!!
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@taniwharugby Great news!