Steamers in Super Rugby
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So by my calculations the total is 8. The All Blacks Cane and Harris, the lock-ins Franklin and the previously announced Delany and Ardron plus the prospects Ross, Polwart and Karpik. So no surprises at all and nobody from the back 5. We will need some names in the WTGs otherwise expect more overseas departures soon ....
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All 5 of them played well this year, Chase Tiatia was back to his best in the last few games, Webber was good all season (but will probably end up with the Sevens). The Chiefs area seems the toughest to find a gig given the Chiefs pull from far and wide whereas the other franchises tend to stick closer to home.
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As much as its disappointing, I suppose the number of Super Rugby players selected is no surprise. As usual there will be some losses to overseas etc but I'm hoping it will be minimal.
Ioane would have been a long shot to play again next year anyway, given his partner and children live in Aus. I'm guessing he will be picked up by one of the Aussie franchises.
The average age of our front rowers is less than 23 so I'm hoping most will hang around but I don't blame them for moving to more lucrative situations
I see Tiatia and Hepetema are in the NZ sevens development squad so "fingers crossed" we might see them again next year.
Foketi will hopefully make the Chiefs wider training group again.
I read somewhere that Hugh Blake would have been keen for a Super contract so he will be peeved to have missed out. He seems to play professionally around the world so maybe a return is possible.
I'm sure several will go though so recruitment will be vital. The contracting this year of Delany and Franklin was a materstroke.
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I'm surprised Foketi didn't appear anywhere, and although happy with the forward selections thought Parete may have also turned up somewhere too
Overall happy though
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@bayimports Foketi has signed with the Waratahs apparently
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How does Jordon Trainor get a contract ahead of Chase Tiatia..?,and I am staggered Monty Ioane has not picked up a contract.!,and I'm Taniwha man.
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@steven-harris I think some of the younger guys get long term contracts with NZR so they will stay in Super Rugby even if their form dips - for the other fellas it is more precarious, contract one year and not the next so they tend to move overseas for security of income.
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The bloke I feel for is Hepetema. I've watched him closely this year and he has been outstanding. I actually think at times, he had more sway over the BOP backline than Delany. His distribution and decision making skills were outstanding and he didn't shirk on defence. Not sure why he didn't pick anything up? Is he classified as Australian?
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@gagaboy said in Steamers in Super Rugby:
The bloke I feel for is Hepetema. I've watched him closely this year and he has been outstanding. I actually think at times, he had more sway over the BOP backline than Delany. His distribution and decision making skills were outstanding and he didn't shirk on defence. Not sure why he didn't pick anything up? Is he classified as Australian?
Not sure why he would be, he hasn't played for the Wallabies, plus if he was the Crusaders would surely have picked him up ;).
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@kiwidom said in Steamers in Super Rugby:
@gagaboy Hepetema has been called into the Highlanders as a replacement for Thomas Umaga Jensen whose out to April after shoulder surgery
Why am I not surprised that an Umaga-Jensen has a long-term injury? These poor lads seem to be injury magnets.
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Good to see Hepetema being given an opportunity. Not sure of the count - but it does appear if post/pre season injuries for Super squads is very high. I wonder if it is the culmination of a long season (Super, NPC, additional representative games) - where players haven't had a chance to allow for injuries to heal properly. Or alternatively, just the bashing undertaken in pre season is too much - although I would assume that it is fitness only (i.e. climbing bloody hills) as it is too early for contact.
I am sure that there is a PhD there for someone who looks at it hard enough!
