v North Harbour
-
Well before the last match we said it'd be a good gauge to see where we were at...we dominated Waikato, so took a huge step forward in proving we will be a handful for any team this year.
North Harbour will hit Whangarei brimming with confidence, and while we shared honours in the pre-season fixtures, both teams are much better than they were then, while our boys will be equally confident in what they are doing and getting the job done up here and dealing with the in form NH team.
Hoping the weather clears up cos this should be a cracker!
@Steven-Harris let us know if you hear any more on injuries, assuming Tua will be back form his 2 week shoulder injury, Josh Goodhue and Matt Wright may also be available for selection, creating a good issue for Whitcombe & Co!
According to this, we have the best defence in the comp to date, while we also have the best tackle %...long may both continue!
-
TAB odds:
1 Northland 2.40
2 Nth Harbour 1.57
3 Draw 21.00Fortunately for Harbour, Adrian Smith provides pretty good hooker cover.
-
Game of the round. Looking forward to this
-
@Stockcar86 said in v North Harbour:
Game of the round. Looking forward to this
haha, things you never thought you'd hear about these 2 teams!
-
@taniwharugby A great thing about the health of the competition. Just needs Canterbury to come well back to the pack.
-
Northland clear raging hot favourites here.
Be a choke of Greg Norman proportions if they lost this.. -
@Virgil said in v North Harbour:
Northland clear raging hot favourites here.
Be a choke of Greg Norman proportions if they lost this..Oi! Cut it out, enough of that talk on here
-
@Virgil you should check out the 2nd post in this thread, NH are massive faves, hope you guys take it easy on us!
-
@Tim said in v North Harbour:
TAB odds:
1 Northland 2.40
2 Nth Harbour 1.57
3 Draw 21.00Fortunately for Harbour, Adrian Smith provides pretty good hooker cover.
Is Porkroll actually injured? Havent seen much about it since the game
-
@JK Don't know, hasn't been any information from Harbour or the papers.
-
Saw a couple of instagram vids over the week which didnt indicate he was injured but may have been filmed prior to the weekend
-
@JK Cool. You've been digging deep!
-
@Tim said in v North Harbour:
TAB odds:
1 Northland 2.40
2 Nth Harbour 1.57
3 Draw 21.00Fortunately for Harbour, Adrian Smith provides pretty good hooker cover.
Pretty attractive odds for a Northland win considering their last two efforts.
-
TOLL NORTHLAND TEAM TO FACE NORTH HARBOUR
Toll Northland vs North Harbour
Thursday 14th September 2017
Kick-off 7:35pm- RossWright
- Matt Moulds
- Ropate Rinakama
- Murray Douglas
- Tim Bond
- Jack Ram
- Dan Pryor
- Jaycob Matiu (Blazer Game)
- Sam Nock
- Dan Hawkins
- Jone Macilai
- Jack Goodhue
- Rene Ranger
- Solomon Alaimalo (Blazer Game)
- Matt Wright
Replacements
- Jordan Olsen
- Howard Sililoto
- Phil Kite
- Josh Larsen
- Michael Faleafa
- Matty Markwick
- Peter Breen
- Blake Hohaia
Not Considered for Selection due to Injury
Josh Goodhue
Matt Matich
Kara Pryor
Tom Robinson
Tamati Tua
Namatahi Waa
Malcolm MacLeod -
Couple of new injuries this week. Matich out is a real bummer.
Would like to perhaps see Alaimalo and Matty Wright swap places to be honest. Wrights defence is a little suspect, can't fault his attack though..
-
A few changes, but still a strong team.
Good chance for Matiu, he hasn't had many starts (if any).
Hope we start getting some of the injured guys back - while our good depth means we keep putting out a strong team, we can't afford to lose any more!!!
-
@Gunner Yeah we don't want to lose too many more that's for sure. Be nice if we actually had reports on what the injuries are, we always seem to be in the dark with that. I mean what's up with Kara Pryor, hes been out for nearly two weeks now??
The only one we have heard about is Josh Goodhue with a head knock..
-
before the Southland game I had heard both Pryors had shoulder niggles so maybe Kara's got the best of him after that game? Think Tua's was a shoulder as well, and initially diagnosed as 2 weeks, now on his 3rd...now that I think of it Waa might also have a shoulder issue.
Robinson was always likely to miss most of the season anyway wasn't he?
Guess Goodhue could be back next week, or the one after, with these head knocks, who knows!
Did Matich take a knock to the head in the game?
-
Jordon Hyland probably the unlucky one to miss out.
Should see most of the players injured back next week from what I understand,only Namatahi Waa unlikely to be available.
Tom Robinson is back running which is good news.
-
@Gunner I noticed how hard Matiu hits. Looking forward to watching him. We want to win the physical contests to put pressure on. Our bench still looks good - Michael Faleafa is getting his first run in the reserves, I like Larsen, all our props have played well.
-
Late change with Matt Wright withdrawing, assume headaches?
-
@taniwharugby said in v North Harbour:
Late change with Matt Wright withdrawing, assume headaches?
Flu according to the Advocate.
I'm amazed that there is some commentary/explanation around an illness/injury as we don't normally get those details. -
Quite happy to see Alaimalo back at fullback, and Hyland onto the wing. Shame for Matty Wright, but defensively I think we'll be a bit more effective with what we have tonight.
The key is obviously starving their back three of ball, that's where Goodhue and Ranger will have to keep up the good work so far.
Still going to be a frickin tight game though! Us by 5
-
Untidy so far from Northland, not able to hold enough ball and build any pressure
-
Harbour have some serious rush defence going on, but gee they're pushing the offside line.
2 or 3 times the third defender out has started rushing from a metre offside.
-
Shit hometown AR call goes against us there which leads to 3 points to Harbour.
6-6
-
9-6
-
Northland penalised because the Harbou lifters dropped their jumper.... hmmmm?
2 shit calls have lead to Harbours last 6 points
9-9
-
@Gunner I think we have had the rough end of some decisions. They are about line speed so we need to bend the line with some forward rushes. We are looking competitive but need to watch if we turn the ball over.
-
Pretty decent half of footy.
Some great defence from both sides, including some great hits.
It's going to come down to who takes their chances in the 2nd 40.
C'mon Blue!
-
Great crowd for a Thursday night
-
Why don't they just make the Blues squad from these 2 teams?
-
@Stockcar86 easy name change to The Cambridge Blues
-
@taniwharugby said in v North Harbour:
Great crowd for a Thursday night
Looks to be the biggest crowd of the year so far.
I know the covered seats in the stand were all sold out by lunchtime today.
-
@Gunner said in v North Harbour:
@Stockcar86 easy name change to The Cambridge Blues
How about NotAuckland
-
We need to use the pick and go to get some go forward, they're shutting down our one out runners pretty easily.
-
@Stockcar86 said in v North Harbour:
@Gunner said in v North Harbour:
@Stockcar86 easy name change to The Cambridge Blues
How about NotAuckland
North Auckland.... I like the sound of that!
-
We've been kicking a bit aimlessly this half grrrr. Tidy it up fullas
-
Li looks like a superstar at this level
-
Feels like Harbour are starting to get on top...
Come on fullas, dig deep!
