Magpies 2023

[Stargazer]

A nerd's view on the squad's changes:

2022			2023
2022 PROPS			2023 PROPS
Joe 'Apikotoa			Joe 'Apikotoa	likely unavailable (Tonga)
Mark Braidwood	still playing club rugby; was probably Waa's injury replacement in 2022
Lolani Faleiva	possibly injured; hasn't played recently for Toronto Arrows		Tim Farrell	2017 NZ U20; returns after a few years' absence; has 6 caps, 5 from 2017, 1 from 2019 (all off the bench); probably a bigger talent than Faleiva
Joel Hintz			Joel Hintz
Jason Long	retired		Isi Tu'ungafasi	2015 NZ U20; then AKL, NOR, TAS/Crusaders 2019-2021; 2023 Moana Pasifika
Pouri Rakete-Stones			Pouri Rakete-Stones
Namatahi Waa	retired		Isaac Salmon	Ta$man (38)/Toronto Arrows (26)
2022 HOOKERS			2023 HOOKERS
Jacob Devery			Jacob Devery
Kianu Kereru-Symes			Kianu Kereru-Symes
Tyrone Thompson			Tyrone Thompson
Gene Syminton	was Devery's injury replacement in 2022
2022 LOCKS			2023 LOCKS
Bryn Evans	retired		Tom Allen	from Academy; 2022 NZ schools; 2023 NZ U20; first year out of school
Frank Lochore	2021-2022 5 caps (all off the bench)		Frank Lochore
Tom Parsons			Tom Parsons
Brodie Retallick	played a few games, but mostly ABs		Brodie Retallick	will be with ABs
Sione Tuipulotu	lock/loosie; only played one game for us in 2022		Hunter Morrison	from Academy; 2021 NZ Barbarians Schools; 2022 NZ U19; 2023 NZ U20; second year out of school
Isaia Walker-Leawere			Isaia Walker-Leawere
2022 LOOSIES			2023 LOOSIES
Gareth Evans	was injured in 2022; now retired
Tiaki Fabish	should have gotten more chances than his 2 non-NPC caps		Cooper Flanders	Top 4 champ 2019; 2021 NZ Schools; 2022 NZ U19; 2023 NZ U20. From Academy; second year out of school.
Devan Flanders			Devan Flanders
Solomone Funaki	unavailable in 2023 (Tonga)
Josh Gimblett			Josh Gimblett
Josh Kaifa			Josh Kaifa
Marino Mikaele-Tu'u			Marino Mikaele-Tu'u
Sam Smith			Sam Smith	Really shouldn't be in the squad, but was maybe signed on a 2-year contract? Liam Udy-Johns deserved this spot.
Will Tremain	is overseas (not for rugby) in 2023		Patrick Tuifua	arrived in NZ from New Caledonia in 2020 on Lindisfarne scholarship; 2023 HB Academy
2022 HALFBACKS			2023 HALFBACKS
Ere Enari	unavailable in 2023 (Samoa)		Sam Wye	Fijian; ex-Auckland; one cap for Moana Pasifika
Folau Fakatava	was injured/with ABs		Folau Fakatava
Connor McLeod				Why Sam Wye and not Connor McLeod? Gone to another province?
Brad Weber	was with ABs		Brad Weber	still a small chance to make the ABs
2022 1ST FIVES			2023 1ST FIVES
Caleb Makene			Caleb Makene
Lincoln McClutchie			Lincoln McClutchie
2022 MIDFIELDERS			2023 MIDFIELDERS
Nick Grigg	left early in 2022 for stint with Carcassonne		Nick Grigg
Kienan Higgins			Kienan Higgins
Stacey Ili	unavailable in 2023 (Samoa)
Ollie Sapsford			Ollie Sapsford
Danny Toala	unavailable in 2023 (Samoa)
2023 OUTSIDE BACKS			2023 OUTSIDE BACKS
Neria Foma'i			Neria Foma'i	likely to be unavailable (Samoa)
Harry Godfrey			Harry Godfrey
Jonah Lowe			Jonah Lowe
Dennon Robinson-Bartlett	hardly got any game time		Paula Balekana	Fijian winger; 2018-2020 Zebre; 2021 Houston Sabercats; 2022-2023 NE Free Jacks; attended Kelston Boys'
Chase Tiatia			Chase Tiatia
Anzelo Tuitavuki			Anzelo Tuitavuki
Lolagi Visinia

[Higgins]

@Stargazer Olly Sapsford is in the Australian A Team that plays the 'Ikale Tahi up in Nuku 'alofa on July 14. That's quite an achievement going from the Magpies bench to that level in such short time.

[Stargazer]

Okay, to finish the mascot news, the name of the new Magpies mascot is Swoop.

[Stargazer]

Here's the HBRU media release.

https://www.sporty.co.nz/magpies/newsarticle/130396

You will notice some familiar faces missing from previous Magpies squads with several players expected to be selected for Samoa or Tonga in the Rugby World Cup and its likely more players will be added to the squad over the next couple of weeks. Players signed to the Magpies such as Brodie Rettalick, Brad Weber, Folau Fakatava, Joe Apikotoa, and Anzelo Tuitavuki have all recently been selected for the All Blacks and Tonga respectively so could still be named in world cup squads, if not then will be running out in a Magpies jersey on the 5th August against North Harbour at McLean Park.

[Stargazer]

A bit of info in this article about Paula Balekana.

https://djcoilrugby.com/2022/09/24/new-england-free-jacks-paula-balekana-2023/

[Stargazer]

Updated Magpies squad.
Tiaki Fabish, Connor McLeod and Lolagi Visinia have been added.

[Stargazer]

Particularly the addidtion of Connor McLeod is interesting. Normally we only have 4 halfbacks if one of them is either injured or in the ABs. Could this mean that Weber or Fakatava is expected to make the ABs, or will Weber leave for France early?

[Tim]

@Stargazer Top 14 starts on August 18 this year (pauses during RWC).

[Stargazer]

@Tim Yeah, I know, and he's supposed to stay for NPC if he's not in the RWC squad, but it has happened more than once that a player left for their overseas' club before the NPC finals.

[Higgins]

I wonder when the selectors will realise they have insufficient numbers (and class) of midfield backs?

[Stargazer]

@Higgins Yeah, was thinking the same thing, but I guess they may use Tiatia at 12 and Lowe at 13, if needed.

[Stargazer]

Hawkes Bay Today, Sport, Rugby, NPC, New Zealand

Magpies' Battle of the Bays poised for major cyclone fundraiser

A sponsor has been lined up for the fundraising derby.

[Stargazer]

Bronco morning ...

3.8K views · 96 reactions | Accountability ✅ | Hawkes Bay Magpies

Accountability ✅.

[Stargazer]

Folau Fakatava, Joe 'Apikotoa and Ollie Sapsford are all back training with the Magpies.

[Nepia]

@Stargazer Ah Sapsford is an Aussie, he has a bogan leg tattoo.

In all seriousness, yay to having them back training.

[Higgins]

@Number-10 said in Magpies 2023:

Magpies pre-season games:

Sunday 23 July v Auckland, Taupo

Friday 28 July v Waikato, Taupo

Anyone heard anything about this?

[Stargazer]

@Higgins I haven't seen anything, unfortunately. Zero fan engagement.

[Higgins]

@Stargazer Maybe we won by default!

[Tim]

@Higgins Auckland has had plenty of stuff on Instagram about the NPC team - training photos etc - but nothing about this game, so maybe it was a mistake or cancelled?

[kiwimatrix]

A friend of mine on Facebook who lives in Taupo now,attended a game there yesterday but the photos are very unclear.One team looks like Auckland but the other team wore sky blue jerseys.