Blues 2022

[Tim]

Blues instagram account posted a picture of Bryce Heem training with the squad, so assume he is returning next year.

Marcel Reneta too.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim Also Tanielu Tele'a is there so with Ioane and Heem that is 3 of the five midfielders confirmed. Maybe Tua and Evans to complete the group? Or there is that Wrampling rumor about. They could still pick only 4, carry an extra forward and keep Evans in the wtg.
Edit: I doubt he is staying on but if he is, Emoni Narawa has looked more than useful for BOP in the midfield this season.

[george33]

@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2022:

@tim Also Tanielu Tele'a is there so with Ioane and Heem that is 3 of the five midfielders confirmed. Maybe Tua and Evans to complete the group? Or there is that Wrampling rumor about. They could still pick only 4, carry an extra forward and keep Evans in the wtg.
Edit: I doubt he is staying on but if he is, Emoni Narawa has looked more than useful for BOP in the midfield this season.

RTS will b there and heem a winger as for taniielu not sure doesn't look happy

[Tim]

Based on what we know from press releases and the this thread:

Props

Tu'inukuafe
Hodgman
Jordan Lay
O Tu'ungafasi
Laulala
Renata

Hookers

Vikena
Eklund
Riccitelli

Locks

Goodhue (healthy?)
Darry
Romano
1x or 0x lock

Lock/Loose Forward

Suafoa
1x or 0x lock/loose forward

Loose forwards

Choat
Segner
Papalii
Robinson
Plumtree
Sotutu
A Ioane

Halfbacks

Nock
Christie
Funaki

1st Five Eighths

Barrett
Perofeta
Plummer

Midfield

T Tele'a
R Ioane
2x Midfielders

Outside Backs

Tuivasa-Sheck
Clarke
M Telea
Heem
AJ Lam
Raumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Sullivan

[Tim]

Might see Plumtree, Evans, and Tua or Wrampling taking up three of those positions in the squad, but lock is tough to pick.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim They could be needing 4 Locks due to Goodhue having worrying head knock problems again. From the rumors it seems likely Romano and James Tucker will be 2 of them. After them who knows.

[Tim]

Also sounds like we know who some guys who will be at least in the WTS:

Josh Fusitua
Lini Ekeuasi
Cameron Church
Cameron Suafoa
Tamati Tua
Sione Ahio

[Tim]

@daffy-jaffy said in Blues 2022:

Romano

Forgot about him.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@tim I think they will keep James Lay as the 3rd Loosehead. He was rock solid early this season before his injury. They will need his experience early next year until the All Black props return to play post tour. Unless MP lure him away.

[Yeetyaah]

Nisbo confirmed James Tucker back to the Brumbies 😭

[Yeetyaah]

This post is deleted!

[cgrant]

McElroy could be a good signing, at least with the WTG. He is a strong scrummager and mobile. He is still young so has plenty of time to develop into a very good SR player.

[Tim]

@cgrant Yeah, he was WTG last year, and maybe called into squad? Only committed to rugby after getting his degree, so at 24 he could improve a lot.

[Nogusta]

@tim add Suafoa to the list. Loosie/lock?

[Tim]

@nogusta Full contract?

[Tim]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300447532/lockdown-blues-force-leon-macdonald-into-rethink-over-plans-for-roger-tuivasasheck

[Daffy Jaffy]

@yeetyaah said in Blues 2022:

Nisbo confirmed James Tucker back to the Brumbies

In an article on stuff today Hinton says that Tucker will be at the Blues. Who do we believe?
If so the Lock group may be Romano, Goodhue, Tucker, Darry, Plumtree. With Robinson and Suafoa covering 6/Lock.

[TJ]

@daffy-jaffy I've only seen Plumtree play a few times but surely he's more of a 6 than a lock? Particularly at Super level.

[bobily2]

@tj said in Blues 2022:

@daffy-jaffy I've only seen Plumtree play a few times but surely he's more of a 6 than a lock? Particularly at Super level.

Probably, but we (NZ) struggle with depth at lock

[Stargazer]

In the mean time, Geoff Cridge still seems to be without a SR contract. Mind-boggling. One of the best locks in NPC with Tom Parsons.