Northland 2023
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@Stargazer you’ve got the right team , won’t show up on the original squad named but was signed around 10 x days ago.
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@Steven-Harris yep things are def moving in the right direction, some interesting names I have heard that are talking with northland.
Any news on other parts to coaching team, as in to replace Veale, who moved into Konias role, who was backs coach, while Veale and Dewes are forwards.
Maybe time for Hawkins to step in😛
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@taniwharugby the search for a backline/attack coach will not take place until the middle of 2023 .
I know moving forward , senior players like Dan Hawkins and Matt Matich are being viewed as possible future pathway coaches .
Both are well respected for mine I think it’s a great idea.Their will be several spots left open for club options which is a good thing , guys like
Coree Te Whata Colley ,Rene Ranger have been training the house down post season both knowing that S & C has to be way improved .
Corey if he can get his conditioning right would bolt into any super rugby squad and Rene was way below his normal playing weight this year .
Other players still in the mix are Kalani Going and Blake Hohaia, personally if I had to go anywhere I would go with Kalani on saying that if a certain player that I can’t mention gets out of his contract I probably can’t see a way in for either even more so if Jack Goodhue doesn’t end up in Black
Terepai King is also an option , but still requires more conditioning in and around size and strength.
Kali Vaipulu has the size and athletic ability but his last fitness test bronco was very poor ,hopefully he’s got the message
I suspect another 7 will come from the club comp ..Zac Shanks from Mid Northern and Taniwha futures a possibility. -
@Steven-Harris said in Northland 2023:
@Stargazer you’ve got the right team , won’t show up on the original squad named but was signed around 10 x days ago.
Brazilian prop Wilton Rebolo?
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@Steven-Harris then there are always the ones that have left for schooling, or some of the WBHS boys starting to come through as well, the likes of Adyn Jones in the NH U21s this year.
Northland need a couple of solid seasons with consistent results (good ones, we've done consistent poor) and more of these young kids will want to return.
But as I've said before, as a parent, if a pathway missing out Northland and into other teams presented itself, I'd certainly suggest that (e.g Bell and Stewart in the Canterbury system)
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@Stargazer that’s the one , played for New York in the MLR and was part of the Brazilian front row that dismantled the NZ Māori front row a few seasons back ..destructive scrummager who can play prop or hooker would be a good pick up for an NPC squad
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@Steven-Harris known as Willie Nelson I believe. He is On the Road Again.
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Now official...signed on for 2023/2024
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@Bovidae
Kalani has a background in league , i am still staggered he only played one game for the Taniwha in 2022 , he was the standout midfielder at club level ,scored 4 tries in the Northland Club final playing for Mid Northern against Waipu , Came through with flying colours when it came to S&Cs , i would have understood if the Taniwha had very good midfielders ahead of him , but to see Blake Hohaia constantly being selected ahead of Kalani is still one of the great mysteries
Certainly a question i would love to put to George Konia -
Not unhappy with them re-signing Olsen, but him, Moulds and the south American (has that been confirmed @Steven-Harris ) who is pretty much replacing Ross Wright as a prop/hooker certainly not giving too many young fellas a chance.
Yates is a young hooker in the dev squad, coincidentally also plays at Mid Northern with Olsen, who played loosie last year...expect that'll happen again this year in club footy, so Yates has a good mentor at least.
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Our 2023 draw
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@taniwharugby Moulds will be lucky to play, returning from achilles injuries are no easy feat, and 9 months return is fast. So Olsen is an insurance policy theyll need to get him back to NPC fitness etc.
Most of last years squad has been re-signed by all accounts so very few contracts to hand out.
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@muddyriver yep, which is why I'm hoping they are bringing a young fulla through, assume that will be Yates given he has been in and around the squad.
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Northland Ranfurly shield map...
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@Chiefy07 yeah timing is not ideal, I'd be surprised if anyone of high calibre will be available this short of notice??
Maybe Bryce Woodward haha, I believe he might have a lesser workload form his usual day in recent months...but seriously, no idea, guess there were other applicants last year, but again, likely all placed somewhere now too
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Definetly came as a shock but after chatting to a few people in the know its 100% a family decision
to move back to the US
Marty was absolutely gutted as he can see some unbelievable potential in the union moving forward
He had implimented a game plan that was going suprise many in the NPC and the players had bought into it big time
The players have taken the news well and as long the same pieces can be put in place by the new coaching group its bussiness as usualOne real plus,the union is close to nailing one of the best young coaches in the world as an attack coach ,cant devulge his name as i have sworn to secracy on this one but it would have fitted in nicely Marty Veales attacking philisophy
The reality is there are better coaches from other parts world who look at the game through a lense
