SRA team grades and awards
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Crusaders: What can I say, the Crusaders jaggarnaut keeps rolling and it's difficult to see when it will stop. Another title, but I haven't given them an A+ due to that one loss against the Hurricanes. With a player drain unlikely for next year the Crusaders will once again be the team to beat when 2021 rolls around.
Season rank: A
Forward of the year: Codie Taylor
Back of the year: Richie Mo'unga
Most improved player: Will JordanBlues: The Blues are back. Not the perfect season by any stretch but it's a massive improvement on years gone by so I have given the Aucklanders an A- . The foundation is there to kick on and become a team that will consistently contend for the title, especially if they keep enticing players into Auckland rather than out of it.
Season rank: A-
Forward of the year: Hoskins Sotutu
Back of the year: Caleb Clarke
Most improved player: Akira IoaneHurricanes: I have given the Canes a B for Super Rugby Aotearoa. They wouldn't have been happy with how they started and finished the tournament, however a sweet run of five victories including a Kiwi grand slam shows there is plenty of firepower in this side to be a force moving forward. A couple of good off-season signings and they should be there or there abouts once again next year.
Season rank: B
Forward of the year: Scott Scrafton
Back of the year: Jordie Barrett
Most improved player: Peter Umaga JensenHighlanders: I have also given the Highlanders a B grade considering how they've responded from that massive player drain in 2019. They have played some enterprising footy this year and are starting to grow crucial combinations in key areas. Like the Hurricanes and Blues they have a good core group of young players that will help set the standard for success moving forward.
Season rank: B
Forward of the year: Marino Mikaele Tu'u
Back of the year: Aaron Smith
Most improved player: Pari Pari ParkinsonChiefs: The Chiefs have tried hard all year but their skill execution and inability to finish off chances cost them dearly in what was a brutal competition. I'm confident they will get back into the groove in 2021 but it may take a few hard truths within their environment before they get that chance.
Season rank: D
Forward of the year: Lachlan Boshier
Back of the year: Solomon Alaimalo (debate away)
Most improved player: Naitoa Ah Koui -
@Canes4life good post.
I'm not going to debate. Mainly because I haven't thought about it that much, but would suggest Paddy T as contender for Blues' FOTY.
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@Canes4life bubbling under would be interesting in the categories too. Tuipulotu, Aumua, Dixon would go close to FOTY. BOTY at the landers would probably go to Joane despite his game time, at the blues maybe Roane. MI at landers most likely Dickson, at the blues probably Papali'i...
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@booboo fair call, I was actually tossing up between him and Sotutu but went with Sotutu because I felt he really got the Blues on the front foot early which they needed.
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@Bones highly agree with Ioane (Landers version), he looked very classy in his last two outings. I hope the Highlanders keep him at 10 moving forward.
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@Canes4life said in SRA team grades and awards:
I hope the Highlanders keep him at 10 moving forward.
Don't put the house on it....
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@Bones said in SRA team grades and awards:
@Canes4life bubbling under would be interesting in the categories too. Tuipulotu, Aumua, Dixon would go close to FOTY. BOTY at the landers would probably go to Joane despite his game time, at the blues maybe Roane. MI at landers most likely Dickson, at the blues probably Papali'i...
Who the fuck is joane?
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@Machpants Josh of the Ioanes (to differentiate from the other Ioanes) but without an I and will forever more be called Joane.
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@Canes4life said in SRA team grades and awards:
Chiefs:
Back of the year: Solomon Alaimalo (debate away)Slim pickings but I would choose Wainui. IIRC only Weber, ALB, DMac and Wainui played all SRA games. Out of those 4 the choice is obvious to me.
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I'd got Pat T for Blues FOTY and even though he's a Bedean I'd question Alaimalo as Chiefs BOTY. He was much better two years ago and missed games through injury. I'd have to give this to Weber. But then it's the Chiefs so I don't really give a fuck.
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@shark said in SRA team grades and awards:
even though he's a Bedean I'd question Alaimalo as Chiefs BOTY. He was much better two years ago and missed games through injury. I'd have to give this to Weber. But then it's the Chiefs so I don't really give a fuck.
I don't really give a fuck either. However it shouldn't be Weber
I agree with @Bovidae - Wainui was the most consistent back
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@Bovidae said in SRA team grades and awards:
@Canes4life said in SRA team grades and awards:
Chiefs:
Back of the year: Solomon Alaimalo (debate away)Slim pickings but I would choose Wainui. IIRC only Weber, ALB, DMac and Wainui played all SRA games. Out of those 4 the choice is obvious to me.
Cruden showed his class when he played IMO
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@Canes4life this will be a short thread if you're going to be so reasonable
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@Kiwiwomble said in SRA team grades and awards:
@Canes4life this will be a short thread if you're going to be so reasonable
i was going to say "who hacked his log in?"
Really solid opening post.
Agree with those calling Wainui our back of the year. And holy shit that absolutely says something when our "solid" guy is the standout performer.
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I liked the term Kiwi Grand Slam too.
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@Kirwan said in SRA team grades and awards:
I liked the term Kiwi Grand Slam too.
at first i LOLed, and then thought "shit, that's actually quite the achievement"
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@mariner4life said in SRA team grades and awards:
@Kirwan said in SRA team grades and awards:
I liked the term Kiwi Grand Slam too.
at first i LOLed, and then thought "shit, that's actually quite the achievement"
Yeah, same. Obviously the Crusaders will have that a few times, but it's actually pretty tough.
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@Kirwan Yeah 5 in a row, even the saders dropped a few over the last few years, just not at home.
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@Kiwiwomble a bit more level headed today.
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I agree with Wainui, but it says a lot that when I dismissed Alaimalo and went looking for another candidate, Captain Solid didn't even enter my mind!
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@Canes4life Great post.
Maybe Ofa T as Forward of the Year for the Blues? Definitely Ardie Savea as Forward of the Year for the Canes.
