Chiefs 2020
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The Chiefs' main change for 2020 will be the change in coaching staff, with Warren Gatland announced to take over as Head Coach from Colin Cooper next year, and decisions on his assistants still to be made or announced.
While in some player positions the most crucial signings have been secured, most notably the backrow and midfield, there are still a lot of players of whom we don't know whether they've re-signed or not. Not an awful lot of players have announced to go overseas (Retallick's sabattical will have a huge impact though), but some positions definitely need some reinforcement.
In the blog post below, I've listed players who were named in the 2019 Chiefs squad, played for the franchise, re-signed or leaving players etc to assist a discussion about the 2020 Chiefs squad. I will update this list when further signings or departures are announced.
- The recruitment in which position is the most urgent?
- Who of the players of the initial 2019 squad would you like to see signed for 2020 (or longer)?
- Who of the players that played in 2019, but weren't in the initial squad, would you like to see signed for 2020 (or longer)?
- Which other player, who hasn't played for the Chiefs in 2019, would be on your wish list?
- Which player, who hasn't been signed yet, but played for the Chiefs in 2019, don't you want to be signed?
Blog post:
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The Chiefs need to re-sign Debreczeni he impressed at the end of the season then DMac can play his rightful position FB.
And Taukei'aho I think he's better then Polwart and maybe Harris too.If I were other franchises I would be recruiting those 2,
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Need a decent lock. Decent first five. Decent midfielder urgently signed
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IMO the Chiefs' need for good signings is the greatest for lock and first five-eighth. Unfortunately, good players in these positions are hard to find in NZ. I hope there will be good talent emerging from the Mitre 10 Cup, but franchises will all be fishing in that same NPC pond.
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@Yeahtheboys What's wrong with the mid-field? ALB is some kind of god and Nankivell and Manu have been great. Manu might head north but Nankivell has 2 more years. I've spoken heaps about Quinn Tupaea so hopefully he'll be picked up, I'll be super pissed if he goes somewhere else if the Chiefs fail to sign him.
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I'd hope that we keep Manu and sign Tupaea. I also didn't think that Sullivan was too bad either, he just didn't get many chances.
At first five, Big Deb is a must signing right now, plus I'd probably re-sign the food bill HB five-eighth and try to get another young one (the other young HB guy?). The semi final showed why we should get rid of MMac - invest in trying to win in in 2021 with Brodie back.
Beyond that, a young lock: Parkinson would be my first choice, but I can't see it. Whetton? Olmstead? Who else is there? Youngsters to target @Stargazer ?
I think we are lacking one to two other quality flankers/8s - Seu has been disappointing and we need more class there, for the inevitable Sam Cane injury/enforced rest weeks. Jacobsen looks great, but Frizzel would be a major boost if we could get him, otherwise, again, find the best young talent and try to get them going with a view to be contenders in 2021.
We also need to find out what's happening with our props - I assume that Hames is not returning, so we keep the current four if we can and try to find another few youngsters.
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@gt12 I liked Sullivan too. I feel like he'd be the one that gets dropped in favour of Tupaea though, unless Manu goes north, but I'd quite like to keep him. Also regarding locks, McWhannell didn't get any opportunity this year and I'd like to see him in action, but I do like the idea of Parkinson in the Chiefs.
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May be redundant now, but speaking yesterday to someone in the know, seems there was a view in the squad that they weren't learning anything from Cooper.
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@Yeetyaah Parkinson has not signed with the Highlanders so it could happen one of the better tall locks around
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I would take Nandos any day of the week
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@Chris I wonder if he stopped getting game time because he was leaving.
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@mariner4life Who?
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@gt12 I reckon Jacobson will be an AB if he stays healthy. He and Papalii are great prospects.
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@Tim said in Chiefs 2020:
@mariner4life Who?
Sorry, all I can think of when I hear Pari Pari is a nandos ad
It's nuffie as fuck, but I dub the nandos
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@Tim maybe it seems to happen players leaving to another franchise are out of favour
I thought he was playing well then he disappeared from the playing 15
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They'd be mad if they lost him; he has talent and size.
If he came to the Chiefs, with a couple of other signings, I'd be very happy looking at 2021.
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Highlanders are going to be absolutely gutted by the sounds of things. PPP would be a great signing if true.
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What would we prefer? Keep building around Debrenezi or sign Barrett?
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@Hooroo Rather keep Debs tbh. Barrett is obviously great and I wouldn't complain, but I think developing someone into a good five eight with some loyalty would be good for the club. He's a talent, and one year after leaving Australia he's already showing improvement.
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@Yeetyaah I agree. Barrett would probably not play more than 2 seasons and then possibly head off or retire. I'd try to keep Debreczeni for the present and develop young blokes like Falcon and another young player like - maybe - Kaleb Trask.
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@Stargazer I liked what I saw from Falcon. Trask would be a good pick up for development. Assuming DMac gets used at fullback and Gats sees that MMac is shit. Could be Debs, Falcon, and Trask for five-eigths next year. I also liked Matty Lansdown, but he's probably more of a fullback.
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Seu needs to playing at lock not no.8. I still have high hopes for McWhannell if he gets an opportunity. The Chiefs have had a permanent foodbill for the last 2 seasons in Fin Hoeata - another of those Taranaki signings. Parkinson would be a great buy with Ardron and Allardice already there.
I'm sure Tupaea will be in the full squad next season. They only had 3 specialist midfielders this season with Wainui and Sullivan as backups. I like Sullivan but he might be used more as a winger initially.
Props: Remember that Reuben O'Neill was also out for the season with a serious injury. He was rated high enough to make the extended AB squad for Japan last year.
Debreczeni has done enough to get a new contract. There are enough young 1st 5s around the region for that 3rd stringer. Not just Trask, Rivez Reihana is in the system and played for the Chiefs Dev team.
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@Chris said in Chiefs 2020:
And Taukei'aho I think he's better then Polwart and maybe Harris too.If I were other franchises I would be recruiting those 2,
One thing that was very noticeable was that the Chiefs scrum was never as good when Polwart was playing - too small. Taukei’aho still needs to work on his throwing but impact around the field and scrummaging are top notch.
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@Bovidae Yep that seems a work on for a few Hookers the throwing to the line outs hasn't been flash over all this season.I like his work around the park sort of what Makilo brings of the bench at the Crusaders.
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@gt12 Yeah He would be a great pick up for anyone,Frizzell too there is some rumours around him as well.
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@Chris I watched Taukei’aho play a bit at schoolboy level (St Paul's Collegiate) and he used to play no.8 as much as hooker. Was devestating as a ball-runner.
I think the Chiefs need a no.8 too so maybe Frizell could be that guy.
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@Bovidae Yep he would be he's just needs the game time Frizell and keep backing him hes a real athlete.
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If we re-signed Big Deb, plus added Parkinson and Frizell, I'd be so stoked. Just dreaming though - I doubt we'll get either. Having Gats coming back though could be good - he's an international level coach and should lure some players.
I forgot about Reuben O'Neill @Bovidae - with him, we should have a pretty good prop rotation if we can keep everyone. Just need a better back up hooker, a quality lock, one more good loosie, invest in 10s, and hold our midfield...
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@Stargazer According to this article Nanai-Seturo is signed
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/113896018/super-rugby-warren-gatland-must-fill-the-hole-left-by-brodie-retallick-at-the-chiefs
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@Chris Thanks, that's possible, but I only follow official announcements as the media have proven to be unreliable in some instances. I've never seen an announcement that included ETN's contract duration.
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@Stargazer No neither have I ,Just wanted you to be aware its in the Article
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@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2020:
@Stargazer I liked what I saw from Falcon. Trask would be a good pick up for development. Assuming DMac gets used at fullback and Gats sees that MMac is shit. Could be Debs, Falcon, and Trask for five-eigths next year. I also liked Matty Lansdown, but he's probably more of a fullback.
how about Fletcher Smith - he was on fire for waikato.. if he has another good NPC. Not sure how long he's signed with the Canees
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@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2020:
Seu needs to playing at lock not no.8. I still have high hopes for McWhannell if he gets an opportunity.
yep poor bugger getting broken in club footy just when he would have got an extended run!
I'm looking forward to seeing how Seu looks compared to Jordan Manihera in npc.. i reckon Manihera has plenty of raw talent and a stint in a super side he'd come on leaps and bounds.
and just finishing of with complete waikato eye patch on - if James Tuckers stays injury free he needs to come back into the chiefs too
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@WillieTheWaiter said in Chiefs 2020:
and just finishing of with complete waikato eye patch on - if James Tuckers stays injury free he needs to come back into the chiefs too
Tucker should have been picked ahead of Parete as an injury replacement. Playing the latter as a lock was a selection fuckup.
Gatland will obviously have different ideas on what type of player he wants so I expect some new players.
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@Bovidae Wasn't James Tucker injured? His knee?
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@Stargazer said in Chiefs 2020:
@Bovidae Wasn't James Tucker injured? His knee?
Yes, but I saw his name listed in a Blues preseason match-day squad and he has been playing club rugby. I am assuming his injury wasn't as serious as first thought. Not 100% sure when he returned.
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@WillieTheWaiter Yeah I liked Fletch, he was bloody good. I think someone on the fern said he was signed for 2 years at the canes though.
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@Yeetyaah yeah he is with the Canes next year.
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