Magpies 2023
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@Stargazer said in Magpies 2023:
And meh news, we now have our own no-name Aussie prop from the Western Force (24 years old, 12 caps in two seasons). I hope he's any good.:
He is, presumably, Australian (even if his name indicates he might be a foreigner) and a bit part player from the Western Force that I cannot ever recall noticing so that might answer a few ponderings on his status. Still I will refrain from giving the official verdict until the time if he ever makes the field. I will be at the Development Team's game against the 'Poo at Park Island tomorrow so should be able to see him live for the first time if he is good enough to make their match day 23 and will report back on my observations.
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@Stargazer Surely there must be some sort of semi-decent prop at Manakau Rovers or some other club in Auckland that we could have coerced into become a Magpie? Still I suppose that it revolves around a club players full time work and family commitments over whether they want to relocate for a few months. Much easier I guess to get an existing full time professional player that has no qualms about moving for short periods as there will not be the same amount as disruption to their personal life when compared to the example I used above, even if you might get a more proficient player plying their trade at club level. The full time player does have the vast benefit of better fitness and endurance as well as the benefits of concerted work in the weight gym that the clubbie simply cannot find the time to achieve.
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@Higgins Here is Abra scoring a try against the Blues in 2022. (at 5mins 15secs)
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@Daffy-Jaffy Any vids of him scrummaging?
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His right arm was in a sling for the Otago game
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@Stargazer I saw that photo aswell, his arm was in a sling.
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Yeah, I know his arm was in a sling. I saw that, too. This was yesterday, so I assume he's had surgery on his shoulder (or arm).
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Actually it was left I think. Not that it makes much difference
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@Stargazer said in Magpies 2023:
Fire sale before the season is even over.
There's actually good pricing but, I can't buy a jersey with that green shit down the side.
Also, pity they don't have a bucket hat. My doc says caps are a waste of time and I should be walking in a bucket cap.
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I've been thinking about who of our non-SR MAgpies have put their hands up for a SR spot.
I think Frank Lochore is our most improved player, but doubt he'll get a SR contract. Maybe a NDC with the Canes?
I still think Cridge is SR material, but for some reason NZ SR franchises will probably overlook him again, which is crazy with our small locking stocks in NZ.
I also think Tim Farrell would be good for SR, but with Tu'ungafasi signed (why, oh why?), he doesn't get the opportunities to show it. Not sure he'd want it either, but again, he'd be someone they could be looking for a NDC.
Obviously, we have some MaGpies who are off-contract, who need a new contract. McClutchie and Ili (on the top of my head).
It will be interesting to see whether Devery will still be with the Canes in 2024, after another NPC season on the sidelines. Kereru-Symes has played half of the season at prop, so I think that will have reduced his chances for a contract as a hooker.
Don't care about Tiatia. The Force can have and keep him.
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Hawkeye needs to hitch a ride to the Magpies’ shield challenge in Wellington
Hawkeye's aged and all ready to go - just needs a tow.
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Looking at photos from training, Harry Godfrey is running and training with the team again. So at least we may have a back up for fullback/10 in case we get through to the semis and one of the incumbents gets injured. It also means that nothing nasty happened that may affect the start of his Hurricanes season.
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Tiaki Fabish, who didn't get a single minute of game time in black and white this year, has gone back to Spain. Maybe you'll remember that he played there last season as well, for relegated club Basque club Gernika Rugby Taldea. This year he has signed with a significantly better club: Valladolid (VRAC), who finished the 2022-23 season as Spanish champions. He played his first game (the club's second game of the season) on 8 October.
El VRAC se refuerza con Tiaki Fabish
El VRAC Quesos Entrepinares sigue con la confección de su plantilla 2023/2024. A los fichajes ya confirmados de Arnau Andrés y Álex Pérez, además del regreso de Pedro de la Lastra, se suma ahora Tiaki Fabish, jugador neozelandés de 22 años (generación de 2001) que puede actuar tanto de tercera como...
Edited to add that this media release is from 8 August 2023, so I assume they let him go early (before the end of the NPC) because they didn't intend to give him any game time anyway (we had an unusually long list of locks this year & he seemed to be at the bottom of the pecking order).
Edit 2: Just like last year, he will not only play in the Spanish División de Honor, but also in the National U23 competition (later in the season).
