NPC 2025
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Hearing former Harbour & Northland player Marty Veale is on the shortlist to be the assistant coach of the Auckland Npc team
Was in charge of the Taniwha for short period before heading back to the states to link up with New York rugby -
Has Liam Pratt signed with Waikato? He has been the Canterbury B prop for the past few seasons but hasn’t had an opportunity at the next level. Looks to be playing club rugby for Te Awamutu Sports Club now
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@Fredsaua12 said in NPC 2025:
Has Liam Pratt signed with Waikato? He has been the Canterbury B prop for the past few seasons but hasn’t had an opportunity at the next level. Looks to be playing club rugby for Te Awamutu Sports Club now
My understanding is that the 6 Waikato props are already sorted. Ayden Johnstone has retired and will be replaced by Will Martin.
I note that Joe Walsh is back too from Southland.
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Patrick Pelligrini has signed with North Harbour for the 2025 Bunnings Npc season , however from what i have been told he will possibly be available for a limited number of games because of his involvement in the PNC for Tonga
Good pick up. -
Wonder which Australians will be heading over for the NPC?
With Cooper Grant potentially debuting for the Landers this weekend. Could he leave Ta$man for the NPC? He must be the fourth stringer for them?
Otago has today confirmed Lucas Casey has signed on for a couple of years. From all accounts has been outstanding in club footy. Primarily a 7, could roll as an 8 as well. Originally from Northland, I wouldn't have been surprised if they may have looked to have brought him back up there. Good to see he is being kept around down in Dunddin. I have read somewhere that Mac Ratxliffe has also been given a full contract as well.
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@SouthernMann Great pick up caught up with Lucas at a 7s tournament in Pukekohe last November
Wanted to head back to Northland but had another years study in Dunedin hes a big body 7 with a startling turn of pace as seen at the 7s tournament i was at . -
@Steven-Harris A mate in Dunedin was telling me he's bulked up big time over the summer as well
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@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2025:
@SouthernMann Great pick up caught up with Lucas at a 7s tournament in Pukekohe last November
Wanted to head back to Northland but had another years study in Dunedin hes a big body 7 with a startling turn of pace as seen at the 7s tournament i was at .Yeah was really impressed with what I saw during the NPC last year, and the highlights from club footy make it look like he has got bigger as well. Hasn't lost any pace though.
I'd like to see him have a go at 8 at NPC level. Could see him in that 30 minute impact role.
Glad he he has been talked into sticking around. Different type of player to Harry Taylor. Who is more of a no mistakes kind of flanker. While Casey is the kind of player who looks like he will go out and win a game for the team by doing something special.
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@SouthernMann i’m predicting he will be in a Highlanders jersey this time next year .
Northland missed a trick on this one -
@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2025:
@SouthernMann i’m predicting he will be in a Highlanders jersey this time next year .
So am I. A little surprised when Dermody was asked recently which local guys have been called in to cover the loosies and he said Harry Taylor and Sam Fishcli. I'd have Casey over both. The guy Casey remind me a bit of is Sam Harding. Similar running style and build.
Recent interview with Casey on the ODT's club chat.
ODT Rugby Chat: Form players share their insights
Today on ODT Rugby Chat we talk to two of the form players in club rugby this year, Lucas Casey from Kaikorai and Cam Burgess from Dunedin.
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@Fredsaua12 He had been studying at Lincoln University while playing Canterbury B's. He has now finished studying so might just be based in the Waikato for work.
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Couple more movements from Otago/Dunedin Club rugby to Southland, as stated by the ODT's Paul Dwyer.
Sam Fischli swapping the O for Southland. He will be a direct replacement for Blair Ryall who is now in Japan. From an Otago perspective I'm comfortable with this. Fischli was an everything man, covering lock, 6,7 and 8. Should mean we will see more of the likes of Casey and potentially Toleafoa. The locking rotation can be Holland (depending on internationals), Stodart, Haig and Tengblad. Loosies Lio-Willie (again depending on internationals), Casey, Taylor, Haig, Toleafoa, Max Ratcliffe also apparently signed up too.
The other guy is Aukustino Salanoa. A hooker originally out of Auckland who transfered to Zimgari Richmond this year. Southland looking like he is preparing for a hooking apocalypse with him, Jack Taylor, Nic souchon, Jacob Payne and Shaun Kempton on its books. NPC time is probably some way off for Kempton though. He needs to focus on getting the body composition of a top level hooker, instead of looking like a midfielder filling
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@SouthernMann I'm pretty sure Jacob Payne isn't returning to Southland this season. After a few years down there he was apparently advised by a certain Shag while he was playing in Japan that he would be better off trying his luck elsewhere like trying to crack Canterbury, hence him playing for UC in Christchurch this season.
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I think this might be a successful move as well with Canterbury having 5 hookers last season, two being Codie Taylor and George Bell, which they could potentially have Bell back for NPC, two having left for different Super Rugby and potentially NPC as well being James Mullan linked with Northland and Brodie McAlister playing in Chiefs country. The fifth hooker was Ben Funnell who might be retired but seems to have made a habit for returning for NPC when called upon. I see a situation where none of these players are available in the NPC this year but most realistically I would imagine George Bell getting alot of game time and potentially Brodie McAlister returning with a space in the squad as the third hooker for Jacob Payne. Manumaua Letiu is another option but I don't think there's need to rush him instead just be in training squad and pick up a couple of games through injury or something
