NPC - news, injuries etc

[Bovidae]

Is Reuben O'Neill fit to play now?

And no surprise, Fin Hoeata isn't.

[Stargazer]

@Chris Still injured, or maybe he's moved to another province? (I think his partner played for the Canterbury women's squad, last year.)

[Dice]

On paper, that Naki team should be good enough to win the Championship.

[Stargazer]

@Dice I hope not!

[taniwharugby]

@Dice squad doesnt look significantly different to last year, so will come down to coaching and early season confidence (and a bit of luck helps too)

Although I guess Waisake more likely to be playing for them this season...he should carve up at this level.

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby I can imagine one Naholo on the left wing and another on the right wing. The third Naholo didn't make the squad.

[Bovidae]

Less experienced and missing a couple of key players from recent seasons - Ta'avao and MMac. Edit: add in Tamanivalu.

Taranaki had a lot of injuries last year which meant many of their "name" players hardly took the field.

[Dice]

@taniwharugby Yeah, they didn't look that well coached last season. I think they had a pretty bad injury toll last season though? If they're relatively healthy, they should be contending for the title.

[Stargazer]

Of course, another Mako signing.

[Stargazer]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

Yarrow Taranaki Bulls Mitre 10 Cup squad; (forwards) Mitch Brown (c), Reuben O'Neill, Chris Gawler, Jared Proffit, Asaeli Sorovaki, Donald Brighouse, Kyle Stewart, Ricky Riccitelli, Bradley Slater, Scott Mellow, Tupou Vaa'i, Leighton Price, Josh Lord, Jesse Parete, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Tom Florence, Kaylum Boshier, Lachlan Boshier, Pita Gus Sowakula, (backs) Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Lisati Milo-Harris, Warwick Lahmert, Xavier Roe, Stephen Perofeta, Teihorangi Walden (vc), Regan Verney, Sean Wainui, Lukas Halls, Kiniviliame Naholo, Waisake Naholo, Jackson Ormond, Jayson Potroz, Brayton Northcott-Hill.

And this is the reason why I always look for (and post) the media release: more info!

Due to injury, Stephen Perofeta won’t be available for the Bulls until the end of August, which will likely see Daniel Waite be the first choice first five-eighth for Taranaki.

However, Rickards said wing Manasa Mataele and lock Fin Hoeata are the only two players ruled out for the season due to injuries sustained earlier this year.

Yarrows Taranaki Bulls and Port Taranaki Whio name competition squads

MEDIA RELEASE 22 July 2019 Taranaki Rugby s flagship provincial teams have named their squads ahead of the Mitre 10...

(also lists the Taranaki women's squad for the Farah Palmer Cup)

[Dice]

@Stargazer Not too bad for Perofeta. He'll only miss 3 games.

What happened to Ciarahn Matoe?

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer I don't think Ryan Coxon has been announced as a signing yet so he could be staying in Waikato.

Speaking of the Mako$, any update on Parkinson's injury?

[Stargazer]

@Dice I understand from what I've seen on his instagram that Matoe has taken a year off rugby for personal reasons.

[Stargazer]

Has anyone heard of Ma'a Nonu playing Mitre 10 Cup? He played club rugby for Ories on the weekend. Has he signed with Wellington?

[Canes4life]

@Stargazer if he does I hope he is in there for experience only and plays limited minutes. The likes of the Umaga Jensen bros and B Proctor need to develop at ITM. It would be great to have him in there teaching the young guys at training though.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:

@Bovidae The Waikato v Hawke's Bay game is also a regular preseason game. It's almost always in Taupo. Last year, it was on 4 August.

I sent an email to the WRU and their reply said this fixture is Friday 26 July. No time was given.

The Waikato squad won't be announced until early August, so probably after the Taranaki game.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae We already knew the date and venue; so we're none the wiser. Why is it so hard for unions to give supporters the info they need to support their team?

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer Ah, your post suggested you didn't know the date for this year's game. This Friday.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Nah, I posted the date and venue in an earlier post. I was looking for the kick-off time. A mate of mine lives near Taupo and I was thinking of going, but we both can only make a late afternoon or evening game.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer A 1 pm kickoff for the Waikato-Hawke's Bay game.