Crusaders 2026
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@Bovidae said in Crusaders 2026:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
I Moananu is leaving the Crusaders I believe to head the to Blues.
It says in a Stuff article today that Moananu is leaving. MP would be a better option so he starts every week.
I think it maybe the Blues but MP could be an option.
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@Bovidae said in Crusaders 2026:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
I Moananu is leaving the Crusaders I believe to head the to Blues.
It says in a Stuff article today that Moananu is leaving. MP would be a better option so he starts every week.
He'd start every week at the Blues too?
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@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
I Moananu is leaving the Crusaders I believe to head the to Blues.
Manumaua Letiu has been signed to replace him.I posted a month or so ago in another thread(maybe the 2025 blues or crusaders one?) about being told Moananu was heading to Auckland. It sounded likely it was the blues but couldn’t get a definitive answer then. Just asked again and it sounds likely that it is the Blues. Bradley Slater situation has thrown a spanner with the decision supposedly
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@Landers92 said in Crusaders 2026:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
I Moananu is leaving the Crusaders I believe to head the to Blues.
Manumaua Letiu has been signed to replace him.I posted a month or so ago in another thread(maybe the 2025 blues or crusaders one?) about being told Moananu was heading to Auckland. It sounded likely it was the blues but couldn’t get a definitive answer then. Just asked again and it sounds likely that it is the Blues. Bradley Slater situation has thrown a spanner with the decision supposedly
Edit: was the blues 2025 thread a few weeks back.
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@Landers92 said in Crusaders 2026:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
I Moananu is leaving the Crusaders I believe to head the to Blues.
Manumaua Letiu has been signed to replace him.I posted a month or so ago in another thread(maybe the 2025 blues or crusaders one?) about being told Moananu was heading to Auckland. It sounded likely it was the blues but couldn’t get a definitive answer then. Just asked again and it sounds likely that it is the Blues. Bradley Slater situation has thrown a spanner with the decision supposedly
Yeah I saw that you posted that I know Moananu signed a 2 year deal for the Crusaders for this year and 2026.
I have been hold they have now granted him a release from the 2nd year and have signed Letui . -
I wonder if Letiu had already been signed to the main squad for 2026 before Moananu had his great season.
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@zedsdeadbaby said in Crusaders 2026:
I wonder if Letiu had already been signed to the main squad for 2026 before Moananu had his great season.
No Moananu was signed for 2 years through to 2026,but was released by the Crusaders at his own request to be near his family.
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@Bones said in Crusaders 2026:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
released by the Crusaders at his own request to be near his family
Hopefully home cooked food will get him to eat more.
His mobility will be off the charts at that weight
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@Landers92 said in Crusaders 2026:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
I Moananu is leaving the Crusaders I believe to head the to Blues.
Manumaua Letiu has been signed to replace him.I posted a month or so ago in another thread(maybe the 2025 blues or crusaders one?) about being told Moananu was heading to Auckland. It sounded likely it was the blues but couldn’t get a definitive answer then. Just asked again and it sounds likely that it is the Blues. Bradley Slater situation has thrown a spanner with the decision supposedly
I've seen confirmed rumours for four 2026 Blues hookers now. Eklund and Mullan staying on and now with Slater and Moananu getting signed. Has the slater signing fallen through or is one of Eklund or Mullan not returning?
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@MN5 said in Crusaders 2026:
@Bones said in Crusaders 2026:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
released by the Crusaders at his own request to be near his family
Hopefully home cooked food will get him to eat more.
His mobility will be off the charts at that weight
113 kg, at 1.73 metres, isn't exactly svelte.
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George Bell signing with the Crusaders through 2028 confirmed.
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A bit of an odd choice in my opinion. He’s seen McCalister leave for game time and reap the rewards with and All Black call up. Unless Taylor is taking a sabbatical or cutting his minutes right back it doesn’t feel like this was the best move for Bell moving forward. He should be wanting to start every week and compete for the Black jersey. The best way to develop is by playing… That’s just my opinion.
Do I recall someone saying Letiu is signed? Leads you to believe Eli Oudenryn will be the hooker on the outside looking in. Player of the tournament in the u20 comp, he will attract a lot of interest from all franchises I am sure.
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@Landers92 said in Crusaders 2026:
A bit of an odd choice in my opinion. He’s seen McCalister leave for game time and reap the rewards with and All Black call up. Unless Taylor is taking a sabbatical or cutting his minutes right back it doesn’t feel like this was the best move for Bell moving forward. He should be wanting to start every week and compete for the Black jersey. The best way to develop is by playing… That’s just my opinion.
Do I recall someone saying Letiu is signed? Leads you to believe Eli Oudenryn will be the hooker on the outside looking in. Player of the tournament in the u20 comp, he will attract a lot of interest from all franchises I am sure.
Probably no difference than McAlister sharing time with Tuakeiaho.
Bell will come of the bench and get starts to manage Taylor’s minutes he will be involved in the 23 every week. -
@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
@Landers92 said in Crusaders 2026:
A bit of an odd choice in my opinion. He’s seen McCalister leave for game time and reap the rewards with and All Black call up. Unless Taylor is taking a sabbatical or cutting his minutes right back it doesn’t feel like this was the best move for Bell moving forward. He should be wanting to start every week and compete for the Black jersey. The best way to develop is by playing… That’s just my opinion.
Do I recall someone saying Letiu is signed? Leads you to believe Eli Oudenryn will be the hooker on the outside looking in. Player of the tournament in the u20 comp, he will attract a lot of interest from all franchises I am sure.
Probably no difference than McAlister sharing time with Tuakeiaho.
Bell will come of the bench and get starts to manage Taylor’s minutes he will be involved in the 23 every week.Definitely good enough to start for a couple other franchises and get more regular minutes is what I’m getting at, would increase his AB chances in the process.
Nevertheless it’s a huge win for the Crusaders.
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@Landers92 said in Crusaders 2026:
@Chris said in Crusaders 2026:
@Landers92 said in Crusaders 2026:
A bit of an odd choice in my opinion. He’s seen McCalister leave for game time and reap the rewards with and All Black call up. Unless Taylor is taking a sabbatical or cutting his minutes right back it doesn’t feel like this was the best move for Bell moving forward. He should be wanting to start every week and compete for the Black jersey. The best way to develop is by playing… That’s just my opinion.
Do I recall someone saying Letiu is signed? Leads you to believe Eli Oudenryn will be the hooker on the outside looking in. Player of the tournament in the u20 comp, he will attract a lot of interest from all franchises I am sure.
Probably no difference than McAlister sharing time with Tuakeiaho.
Bell will come of the bench and get starts to manage Taylor’s minutes he will be involved in the 23 every week.Definitely good enough to start for a couple other franchises and get more regular minutes is what I’m getting at, would increase his AB chances in the process.
Nevertheless it’s a huge win for the Crusaders.
After looking back at the 2025 SR season out of 17 games including finals McAlister started 6 games was on the bench for 6 and didn’t feature 5 times.
Probably similar to what time Bell will get in 2026 or Bell will get more as he should be in the 23 for more games.
