Chiefs 2018
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The 2018 Super Rugby draw for the Chiefs:
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Article on the Chiefs website: http://chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/508-gallagher-chiefs-to-host-four-home-nz-derbies-in-2018 -
What's your first choice XXIII going to be? I'm hesitant to assume that Ngatai will be available for > 50% of games.
- Hames
- Harris
- Laulala
- Retallick
- Bird/Allardice/Brown
- Seu/Brown
- Cane
- Brown/Messam
- TTT/Weber
- McKenzie
- Alaimalo
- Fa'auli
- Lienert-Brown
- Pulu
- Stevenson
- Polwart?
- is Mitchell Graham signed up?
- Moli
- Bird/Allardice/Brown
- Boshier/Karpick/Brown/Messam/Seu
- Weber/TTT
- Tiaan Falcon
- TNW
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@tim I don't see McNicol's name in that list. Is he still under contract in 2018?
And, can you remind me, which Brown is that at 5, 6 and 8?
What about Boshier? -
Haven't seen anything about a contract extension for McNicol. Also, he's been unavailable so often that I wouldn't want to count on him playing.
Forgot about Boshier for the bench.
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@tim Yeah, it's such a waste. McNicol, when fit and healthy, is a hugely talented player and he could have gotten far if he hadn't been plagued by injury so often and for so long.
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while I see no reason why Alaimalo wont go back to the Chiefs, I dont believe he is signed with anyone yet (initially only 1 year contract) but heard there are a few teams interested.
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According to the following article he has been signed for next year too.
Gone:
Hika Elliot, Tom Sanders, Michael Leitch, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Finlay Christie, Aaron Cruden, Stephen Donald, James Lowe.Staying:
2018: Liam Messam, Dominic Bird, Damian McKenzie, Charlie Ngatai, Tim Nanai-Williams, Toni Pulu, Solomon Alaimalo, Shaun Stevenson.2019: Kane Hames, Sosefo Kautai, Nathan Harris, Brodie Retallick, Michael Allardice, Taleni Seu, Mitchell Brown, Lachlan Boshier, Mitchell Karpik, Jonathan Taumateine.
2020: Nepo Laulala, Atu Moli, Brad Weber, Anton Lienert-Brown.
TBC:
Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Mitchell Graham, Liam Polwart, James Tucker, Sam Cane, Sam McNicol, Glen Fisiiahi, Johnny Fa'auli, Chase Tiatia.Arriving:
Tyler Ardron (till 2019), Luke Jacobson (till 2020), Tiaan Falcon (till 2019), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (till 2019). -
@tim ah ok, good for them and him...musta mis-heard what I had been told.
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@mikedogz Do you know if Orbyn Leger has been signed?
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Not that I know of. I would imagine he will get a WTG contract at least and play in development games.
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Siegfried Fisi'ihoi is playing in France (with Stade Français).
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To me Stevenson looks like a winger that can play fullback and Alaimalo looks like a fullback that can play wing.
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Is it rumour or fact that DMac is playing 10 in 2018 for The Chiefs?
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@hooroo said in Chiefs 2018:
Is it rumour or fact that DMac is playing 10 in 2018 for The Chiefs?
I'm not answering as I have no idea (obviously
) but (genuine question: who are the other options? Falcon (from @Tim 's post above)? And? -
@booboo said in Chiefs 2018:
@hooroo said in Chiefs 2018:
Is it rumour or fact that DMac is playing 10 in 2018 for The Chiefs?
I'm not answering as I have no idea (obviously
) but (genuine question: who are the other options? Falcon (from @Tim 's post above)? And?But your post isn't the first I've heard.
I hear the AB's have asked that he play 1st 5 which is against Colin Coopers wishes but I can't back that up as I can't for the life of me remember where I heard or read it.
I was hoping you would solve for me
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@hooroo said in Chiefs 2018:
@booboo said in Chiefs 2018:
@hooroo said in Chiefs 2018:
Is it rumour or fact that DMac is playing 10 in 2018 for The Chiefs?
I'm not answering as I have no idea (obviously
) but (genuine question: who are the other options? Falcon (from @Tim 's post above)? And?But your post isn't the first I've heard.
I hear the AB's have asked that he play 1st 5 which is against Colin Coopers wishes but I can't back that up as I can't for the life of me remember where I heard or read it.
I was hoping you would solve for me
Interesting that Cooper picked DMac at 10 for the Maori vs the Lions then
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@kiwimurph solid point! Maybe I have it the other way round?!?
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@hooroo said in Chiefs 2018:
@kiwimurph solid point! Maybe I have it the other way round?!?
You sure you're not thinking of Rennie, Nisbo?
Wayne Smith has always been said to see DMac as a 10 and disagreed with Rennie playing him at 15 all the time, so no surprise if Hansen's thinking along the same lines too. I don't think we know what Cooper's planning yet but seeing as Cruden's gone and Beaver's been dropped (for shame!), there aren't exactly many options.
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@unco said in Chiefs 2018:
@hooroo said in Chiefs 2018:
@kiwimurph solid point! Maybe I have it the other way round?!?
You sure you're not thinking of Rennie, Nisbo?
Wayne Smith has always been said to see DMac as a 10 and disagreed with Rennie playing him at 15 all the time, so no surprise if Hansen's thinking along the same lines too. I don't think we know what Cooper's planning yet but seeing as Cruden's gone and Beaver's been dropped (for shame!), there aren't exactly many options.
I think if Wayne Smith was the coach of the Chiefs he would have been playing D Mac at 10 while Cruden was around too.
He does look to be the starting 10 in the squad at this stage - is Falcon the only other 10? M Mac hasn't been signed up has he?
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I hope DMac does get a full uninjured season at 10 just so we can all see how he may work in the future in the ABs.
I have seen glimpses when he comes in at first receiver and he has a good accurate kicking game. It is his distribution I am more concerned about. A bit like BB he tends to pass a bit early or a bit late. Doesn't have that perfect timing that the likes of DC had.
The squad selection so far certainly points toward a lot be banked on him at 10.
In a way he is a better version of TNW and I sometimes wish Timmy had been pushed toward 10 more. He was quite a good 10 that could have developed into a very good 10 if it wasn't for coaches wanting to use his broken play skills more. -
Seu is set for a huge year I feel, so can only see Mitch Brown as a reserve at best. Bird must be starting lock and Webber halfback. I don't see Fa'auli and Pulu as starters. Sure hope that Ngatai is raring to go, as I have not seen enough vision or accuracy from Fa'auli.
The reserve depth is very shallow in my opinion, except for prop where we have at least 4 goodies. I do like Boshier though and hope James Tucker can stay on the field and deliver his promise. Also hoping that they sign Taukei'aho and develop him as an explosive ball-carrier.
The Chiefs need to sign up a powerful winger and centre as the backs are too light throughout. Tamanivalu is badly missed. Maybe Sevu Reece will make the grade quickly, and maybe Nigel Ah Wong will be considered, but I certainly would like to see McNicol fit again! But no sign of the power player that drags in 3 defenders.
I am rather disappointed by the signings so far. Ardron?? Tough on folks like Parete and Manihera. I would also like to see Donald or Delaney on the bench as a flyhalf who can control the latter stages and get Chiefs to the right end of the pitch. Fingers crossed there. Richard Judd has impressed me more in ITM Cup than TTT or Taumeteine, so shame there. Also wonder about Karpik signed ahead while Mitch Jacobson has no contract.
It will be very interesting to see who gets the remaining berths in the squad. But, without a bruising three-quarter from overseas I fear a struggle to avoid fifth in NZ conference.
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@arhs said in Chiefs 2018:
@tim
Richard Judd has impressed me more in ITM Cup than TTT or Taumeteine, so shame there.Seriously? TTT has been one of, if not the, form halfback in the Mitre 10 Cup and being talked about as a bolter for the End of Year Tour.
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@kiwimurph said in Chiefs 2018:
@arhs said in Chiefs 2018:
@tim
Richard Judd has impressed me more in ITM Cup than TTT or Taumeteine, so shame there.Seriously? TTT has been one of, if not the, form halfback in the Mitre 10 Cup and being talked about as a bolter for the End of Year Tour.
Agree, TTT, Hall and Drummond are head and shoulders above the other halfbacks in the comp.
From a Crusaders perspective I'd be super happy if Judd was chosen over TTT for the chiefs
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Fair enough. Probably still blinded by TTT performance against Lions, and agree he playing much better now. But worried about Chiefs lack of power players, and losing a strong defender like Kerr-Barlow. Webber clears well, but not so physical, so looking for a more tigerish defender option and saw glimpses of that in Judd. Hall has been very good, but I think Drummond could be the best of the lot. Of course I hope I am proven wrong about physicality of Chiefs halfbacks, as they have already been selected. I was disappointed to see Christie go after his displays for Chiefs at end of season.
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I'll have a go at a likely Chiefs squad. A disclaimer, with a new coach it is hard to know their preferences/biases, and I have no inside information.
Props (6):
LHs - Hames, Graham, Ross
THs - Laulala, Moli, KautaiHookers (3):
Harris, Polwart, Faiva/Taukei'aho/Su'aLocks (5):
Retallick, Bird, Allardice, Seu, +1Tucker might get selected again as he did last the NPC season and like Seu can play at 6.
Loose fowards (8):
Cane (6, 7, 8 )
Boshier (6, 7)
Karpik (7)
Brown (6, 8 )
Jacobson (6, 8 )
Messam (6, 8 )
Ardron (lock, 8 )
+1 - maybe ManiheraHalfbacks (3):
Weber, Tahuriorangi, Taumateine1st 5s (3):
DMac, Falcon, +1 (ideally a more experienced 1st 5, Beaver could have filled that role)Midfield (5):
Ngatai, ALB, +3 (options are Vaega, Wainui, Fa'auli, Nankivell, Leger, Sullivan)Wingers/fullbacks (5):
Alaimalo, Pulu, Stevenson, TNW, +1 (Reece, Tiatia, Mataele, O'Donnell) -
@bovidae Maybe McNicol too?
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Forgot about him, and he provides a wing/fullback option. How is his melon?
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@bovidae said in Chiefs 2018:
Forgot about him, and he provides a wing/fullback option. How is his melon?
He played the whole 80 minutes of Hawke's Bay's last match v Manawatu so should be okay.
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@bovidae He returned from his head injury on 25 August, when he finally made his Magpies debut. Then he suffered a rib injury against Otago on 10 September, from which he returned on 15 October in the final round robin game against Manawatu. He only played 5 games, but played well.
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@mikedogz It's nice they have a photo of Brodie from back in the unders 9's team
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Who's in your XXIII, Chiefs fans?
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Some home-town signings from Cooper. I though Marty McKenzie might be in the squad. Hoeata was involved in the wider squad this year but I don't think he is a better lock than Tucker.
We must be able to do better than Verney for a midfield back.
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Out of that lot, apart from Weber, who are the halfbacks?
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See my post last night.
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@hooroo Jonathon Taumataine, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
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Thanks.
I didn't see their positions under their names!
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@tim said in Chiefs 2018:
Who's in your XXIII, Chiefs fans?
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Hames
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Harris
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Laulala
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Retallick
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Bird
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Brown
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Cane
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Messam
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Weber (to start with)
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DMac
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Alaimalo
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Ngatai
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ALB
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Pulu
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Stevenson
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Taukei'aho
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Graham
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Moli
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Seu
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Boshier
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TTT
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Falcon
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TNW
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List of 2017–18 Super Rugby transfers - Wikipedia
