Steamers Preseason

[Snollygoster]

Okay, the first preseason game is next weekend against North Harbour followed by the "Game of three halves" against Counties and Wellington on the following weekend.

Anyone have any news of new signings, the make up of the High Performance Group or player departures .Does anybody care ?

The BOPRU should be congratulated for its complete lack of news about the Steamers.......... Hopefully that will change soon.

[Stargazer]

All I've seen from the Steamers thus far is the announcement of its coaching team:

2019 Steamers Management:
Head Coach: Clayton McMillan
Assistant Coaches: Mike Rogers, Marty Bourke and Mike Delany
Manager: Wayne Brill
Player Development Manager: Ati Aaifou-Olive
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach: Thomas Stebbing
Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach/GPS Analyst: Connor McNeill
Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach: Scott Joblin
Physio: Paul Cameron
Head Analyst: Koichi Kinoshita
Assistant Analyst: Hannah McDonald

Welcome to BOP Rugby Union

Bay of Plenty Rugby is dedicated to inspiring passion for rugby in the Bay of Plenty by providing support and resources to rugby players, coaches & referees.

[Stargazer]

What is this Bay of Plenty Wasps team?
.

boprugby:
Join us in Katikati as the Bay of Plenty WASPS go against Wellington and Counties Manukau in a Game of Three Halves!

1.00pm: Wellington v Bay of Plenty
1.50pm: Wellingotn v Counties Manukau
2.40pm: Bay of Plenty v Counties Manukau

[Snollygoster]

Its effectively a Bay of Plenty team. I understand the official team announcement is three days after this game. Given how other Unions have already revealed their teams it seems strange how BOP are keeping things secret. Even tomorrows game against North Harbour is very very low key with no team lists or details of the game anywhere.

[Snollygoster]

Bop 43...Harbour 12 in preseason.

[Tim]

@Snollygoster Any idea of the strength of each team?

[Snollygoster]

@Tim I have no idea. Both Unions never gave any real details of teams. This post is all all can find ...

https://www.facebook.com/boprugby/photos/a.176893255654560/2778914582119068/?type=3&theater

I think I can figure out from the picture who quite a few of them are but many I can't.

[Stargazer]

Game of three halves at Katikati Rugby Club:

1.00pm: Wellington v Bay of Plenty
1.50pm: Wellington v Counties Manukau
2.40pm: Bay of Plenty v Counties Manukau

[Duluth]

@Stargazer

looks like they got 1 & 2 around the wrong way

[Donsteppa]

Also interesting to see Dan Hollinshead listed on the left wing.

[bop78]

Like the look of the front row of the reserves bench! Great to see Chase Tiatia back along with Webber. The mid field will be interesting think Hepetema will be missed a shame he wasn't offered a super contract, looks to be a totally different mid field with no Lalaki Foketi also.

[KiwiPie]

Haven't we usually named a squad well before now? Who's heading to the domain for the first game?

[trooa]

Squad named Tuesday hence they played under Wasps banner today. Team looked good today, B Team against Wellington was competitive, thought Collier played particularly well. Half against Counties & likely top team next week was Ross Harris Thwaites Wardlaw Carroll Blake Karpik Papalii Judd Hollinshead Fuatai Garland Webber Narawa Tiatia. 34-0 win, defence brilliant. Three tries through defensive pressure forcing silly passes on their own goal line for intercepts. Tiatia was exceptional, talk huge could always hear him barking & menacing on attack. Papalii definitely what we needed with his big abrasive style. Everybody played well in second half except Webber, dropped a few balls & looked rusty.