Blues 2025

Mr Fish

@frugby said in Blues 2025:

Have heard the hooker merry-go-round continues next year, with Bradley Slater heading to the Blues.

Sensible for both Chiefs and Blues. Chiefs will be wanting to bring Koloise into the mix with Taukei'aho and McAlister both great starting options. Slater is a good squaddie but doesn't have the upside of the other two guys. A relatively safe pair of hands for the Blues though, who are presumably losing one of their more experienced guys.

Tim

@Mr-Fish Riccitelli was mentioned as leaving on here, maybe 12 months ago?

Bovidae

Koloise needs to get more time on the field for BOP. Throwing accuracy is still a big work-on.

African Monkey

@frugby said in Blues 2025:

Have heard the hooker merry-go-round continues next year, with Bradley Slater heading to the Blues.

Ugh, not a fan.

Tim

@African-Monkey He'd be fine as 3rd hooker, but we really need a good replacement for Riccitelli. Mullan should stay at NPC level.

barky1

@Bovidae
On that, are there stats available for lineouts? And throwing accuracy?

zedsdeadbaby

Riccitelli off and wouldn’t be sure Eklund would go around again. Not sure Slater would be the guy I’d want though

Steven Harris

@Tim Mullan was pushed up this way by Jason Ryan ,the All Black forward coach who rates him some young hookers just need time in the saddle has played limited minutes even at NPC level
Hopefully he gets that required game time for the Taniwha

Bovidae

@barky1 said in Blues 2025:

@Bovidae
On that, are there stats available for lineouts? And throwing accuracy?

No idea. I'm just using the eye test.

SouthernMann

With James Arscott rumoured to be going to Auckland. Does he find himself at the Blues next year?

African Monkey

@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2025:

@Tim Mullan was pushed up this way by Jason Ryan ,the All Black forward coach who rates him some young hookers just need time in the saddle has played limited minutes even at NPC level
Hopefully he gets that required game time for the Taniwha

Yeah, he's a work in progress, throwing needs work, but there were parts to his game that I liked.

African Monkey

So is Angus Ta’avao definitely retiring next year? Like, yes, he is over the hill a bit, but with our lack of options in the front row, would he be worth having around the squad next season?

zedsdeadbaby

My understanding - and this was months ago - was the expectation was this season was his last.

African Monkey

Looks like the tumor has reappeared for Cam Suafoa.

All the best to him, poor guy.

Daffy Jaffy

@African-Monkey

Bones

That's shithouse, poor guy.

Canes4life

Shit news for the guy. Hopefully he can battle on. Puts rugby into context at the end of the day.

Landers92

Is there a list in this thread of Blues players who are under contract and off contract for next year? Scrolled back but didn’t see one, although it’s possible I missed it.