Northland 2023
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I know it's early, but NRU have started releasing some signings for next season already.
- Matt Matich has re-signed
- Rivez Reihana has re-signed
- Milo-Harris has re-signed
Are several key players that have not yet re-signed though.
- Josh Moorby (Waikato & Wellington are also chasing him hard, he should really give Waikato the
given they didnt want him for the 2022 season, but understand he is from there...) - Sam Caird
- Liam Hallam-Eames
Lock looms as a potential problem area now that Goodhue has gone, the 2 above could potentially pick up contracts off-shore meaning we go from 4 players with super experience at lock, to 1 lock/loosie in Tom (assuming he is right)
I understand there are a few other new signings that are close too (although not at lock)
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@taniwharugby Did Moorby only sign for 1 year?
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@taniwharugby said in Northland 2023:
Josh Moorby (Waikato & Wellington are also chasing him hard, he should really give Waikato the given they didnt want him for the 2022 season, but understand he is from there...)
Don't know if it was a typo but the Hurricanes squad announcement graphic had his NPC team listed as Manawatu
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@Bovidae yeah, I know he has had the Northland offer in front of him for some time now, so probably doesnt bode too well.
@Duluth yeah I hadnt heard about them as an option, only that both Wellington and Waikato were obviously very keen, with larger budgets @Steven-Harris might know if Manawatu was in the picture.
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@taniwharugby Moorby would have a better chance of starting for Waikato than ahead of Love at Wellington. A swap for Cook-Savage?
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@Bovidae who knows, he may want to return...
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Can understand Moorby is from Waikato etc, but I still think it’d be pretty shitty of him to bunk out after one season. He gave the Stags three years and that’s further from his homeland than us!
Not great from NRU with this one year deal business either, need to lock guys in for 2+ seasons minimum for continuity in building a team, which we seem to be doing in some aspects.
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@J77 We'll gladly give you Tiatia.
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@Stargazer yeah nah thanks..
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With Milo Harris and Hape both already re-signed I wonder if that means Nock is moving on? Seems a little strange to have all 3 locked in so far out.
No real surprises so far. Moorby probably the biggest concern - would be good to get him locked in for a few seasons. Will be interesting to see if Ranger gets another contract
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@Chiefy07 nah pretty sure he is still signed with Northland, given he recently extended his stay at the Blues.
For me, they shouldnt be plugging gaps for that 3rd spot this far out, otherwise where is the incentive for any club players next year?
Zion Going stands out as someone who they need to be lookign closer at, plus are a couple of others out there too.
My understanding is Ranger is keen for another round, but I do hope if they do they set some targets for him to meet, and then look at him at the end of club season, unlike the back-to-front way they did things this year in setting fitness/weight targets, player x achieves them, signed before club season starts, then player x carries on his average journey when playing.
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Good news!
Ofa was taniwha #984, think a couple others made debuts after him, so creeping closer to #1000
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Been other good signings (Caird, Goodhue, Nock, Mau'u, Leilua) but pretty happy with these 2 young fellas sticking around, def ones for the future, Woods in particular could go all the way.
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It's looking pretty good at this point for next year. Will feel a lot better if we get Moorby re-signed. Really good to see some young guys getting invested in
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NRU opts for the tried and tested in appointing new head coach
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Former Taniwha player sets goals for the team as head coach.
A 2-year contract with Graham Dewes remaining as assistant coach.
A unanimous decision from the interview panel which included Leon McDonald.
How much of this season's improved performance can be attributed to the new Head Coach? -
@Pepe given he lead the defence and aside from 3 games in a row where we leaked alot, our defence was pretty staunch, and this is what got our season rolling with the wins over 'naki and Wellington, along with that epic win over Auckland, I think this is the right call.
Dewes also doesnt strike me as head coach material, seems to be a good technical coach, gets his forwards doing good work, but think he probably works better as someones assistant, his half time chats on TV are not great either...
Am hoping the next announcement will be Josh Moorby re-signing now, I had heard he was waiting for the appointment of the new coach, hopefully this is the one he was waiting for before he re-signed.
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I agree with your thoughts in regard to Dewes.
Do we know who any of the other applicants may have been? -
@Pepe I did hear a couple other names, but no 'big names' that stood out (and cant even remember them now)
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This is what I was hoping for. Good appointment. Keeping Dewes as assistant is good too
Agree @taniwharugby hopefully the next re signing is Moorby
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@Chiefy07 they commented on social media saying there would be more announcements today...
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Josh Moorby has signed for another 2 years this will be announced early next week , absolutely wrapt the union got this one over the line
Also former NZ under 20 prop Rob Cobb has signed for 2 seasons , a really good pick up , was also being chased by Auckland..
There are a couple other super players that are in the mix that have reached out to Northland as well as a South American prop/hooker that will be suiting up for an Australian Super Franchise in 2023
Can’t elaborate to much on these selections at the minute , but if they can get all 3 of them across the line , things will definitely be on the up. -
Cobb has been the no.3 LH prop at Waikato in recent seasons so probably needs to move if he wants regular minutes.
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@Steven-Harris said in Northland 2023:
Josh Moorby has signed for another 2 years this will be announced early next week , absolutely wrapt the union got this one over the line
Also former NZ under 20 prop Rob Cobb has signed for 2 seasons , a really good pick up , was also being chased by Auckland..
There are a couple other super players that are in the mix that have reached out to Northland as well as a South American prop/hooker that will be suiting up for an Australian Super Franchise in 2023
Can’t elaborate to much on these selections at the minute , but if they can get all 3 of them across the line , things will definitely be on the up.Santiago Medrano (Force)?
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@Stargazer you’ve got the right team , won’t show up on the original squad named but was signed around 10 x days ago.
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@Steven-Harris yep things are def moving in the right direction, some interesting names I have heard that are talking with northland.
Any news on other parts to coaching team, as in to replace Veale, who moved into Konias role, who was backs coach, while Veale and Dewes are forwards.
Maybe time for Hawkins to step in😛
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@taniwharugby the search for a backline/attack coach will not take place until the middle of 2023 .
I know moving forward , senior players like Dan Hawkins and Matt Matich are being viewed as possible future pathway coaches .
Both are well respected for mine I think it’s a great idea.Their will be several spots left open for club options which is a good thing , guys like
Coree Te Whata Colley ,Rene Ranger have been training the house down post season both knowing that S & C has to be way improved .
Corey if he can get his conditioning right would bolt into any super rugby squad and Rene was way below his normal playing weight this year .
Other players still in the mix are Kalani Going and Blake Hohaia, personally if I had to go anywhere I would go with Kalani on saying that if a certain player that I can’t mention gets out of his contract I probably can’t see a way in for either even more so if Jack Goodhue doesn’t end up in Black
Terepai King is also an option , but still requires more conditioning in and around size and strength.
Kali Vaipulu has the size and athletic ability but his last fitness test bronco was very poor ,hopefully he’s got the message
I suspect another 7 will come from the club comp ..Zac Shanks from Mid Northern and Taniwha futures a possibility. -
@Steven-Harris said in Northland 2023:
@Stargazer you’ve got the right team , won’t show up on the original squad named but was signed around 10 x days ago.
Brazilian prop Wilton Rebolo?
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@Steven-Harris then there are always the ones that have left for schooling, or some of the WBHS boys starting to come through as well, the likes of Adyn Jones in the NH U21s this year.
Northland need a couple of solid seasons with consistent results (good ones, we've done consistent poor) and more of these young kids will want to return.
But as I've said before, as a parent, if a pathway missing out Northland and into other teams presented itself, I'd certainly suggest that (e.g Bell and Stewart in the Canterbury system)
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@Stargazer that’s the one , played for New York in the MLR and was part of the Brazilian front row that dismantled the NZ Māori front row a few seasons back ..destructive scrummager who can play prop or hooker would be a good pick up for an NPC squad
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@Steven-Harris known as Willie Nelson I believe. He is On the Road Again.
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Now official...signed on for 2023/2024
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Stoked the NRU got that one across the line. I wonder what gaps we have left...certainly going to have good continuity for next season
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I was reading that Kalani Going is part of the Warriors training squad so must have switched to the dark side.
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@Bovidae yeah had heard late last he was looking to trial with them, given how few chances he got for us last year, that isnt a surprise unfortunately.
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@Bovidae
Kalani has a background in league , i am still staggered he only played one game for the Taniwha in 2022 , he was the standout midfielder at club level ,scored 4 tries in the Northland Club final playing for Mid Northern against Waipu , Came through with flying colours when it came to S&Cs , i would have understood if the Taniwha had very good midfielders ahead of him , but to see Blake Hohaia constantly being selected ahead of Kalani is still one of the great mysteries
Certainly a question i would love to put to George Konia -
Not unhappy with them re-signing Olsen, but him, Moulds and the south American (has that been confirmed @Steven-Harris ) who is pretty much replacing Ross Wright as a prop/hooker certainly not giving too many young fellas a chance.
Yates is a young hooker in the dev squad, coincidentally also plays at Mid Northern with Olsen, who played loosie last year...expect that'll happen again this year in club footy, so Yates has a good mentor at least.
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Our 2023 draw
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@taniwharugby Moulds will be lucky to play, returning from achilles injuries are no easy feat, and 9 months return is fast. So Olsen is an insurance policy theyll need to get him back to NPC fitness etc.
Most of last years squad has been re-signed by all accounts so very few contracts to hand out.
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@muddyriver yep, which is why I'm hoping they are bringing a young fulla through, assume that will be Yates given he has been in and around the squad.
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Northland Ranfurly shield map...
