@stargazer Probs a fair point re joining the Blues. You get the drift though, he is down the pecking order at the Canes and would probably be better off looking elsewhere. I've met Jonah and he seems like a good kid - I wish him all the best if he does end up moving franchise.
Carnage
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@stargazer @stargazer you obviously didn't get my private message. If you must know the man, the myth, the legend - Canes4life is back (under a new name). Only reason I am not using that account is I don't have access because of email issues a while back - so if someone can help reset my password for that account that would be super.
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@nepia But when you look at options in that position from a Wellington point of few, there aren't many. Loose forward stocks are quite slim with most of the down at the Highlanders, therefore I think he is a safe bet and i'm confident history won't repeat itself. Or we might do something stupid and sign Thomas Waldrom instead.
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@stargazer Has he just joined the Fern though? Seriously though what is the point at Lowe staying at the Canes, he would be better off at the Blues where he will atleast get more minutes and a chance to show how talented you think he is.
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@nepia He is still very young so will probably make more cameos off the bench this year than starting opportunities. He just seems like a smart footballer and seems to make great decisions with ball in hand. Who knows, the Crusaders picked Read when he was a young fella, so the Canes may give him a crack. Hugh Renton was probably another guy that didn't reach his potential and promised alot out of college.
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@tim as a Centre. The problem with the Blues is they haven't found a classic "Smith/Nonu match" in the centres and the makeup of their backline always looks disjointed. Having Lowe at Centre will give them that Proctor type player who has the nous both on attack and defense - could be a perfect option with his speed and distribution skills to really unlock the Blues potential out wide. SBW, Leger, Tele'a and Manu are all similar to those that they have picked in the past. Expect the same results if they go with those four.
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@nepia This might be a big call at this stage of his career but Flanders has All Black written all over him and I will be gutted if the Canes pass on him. Perfect size for a number 8, great skillset and has a lot of pace for his size. Laban described him as a hybrid between Read and Zinny.
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@nepia Change made
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@chris-b With the Crusaders flush with excellent tight five options do you think someone like Mitch Dunshea would make the move north? He was outstanding against Ta$man the other night and was the more impressive lock vs Romano.
Typical Canes look about the 2019 squad. Great backs, ho-hum forwards. Hopefully Coles, Aumua, Fidow all stay fit and we could tip you fellas over.
Much as I hate to say we do need more experience in those areas and unfortunately they don't grow on trees. Bring back the Tongan Bear.
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@nepia Yeah Lowe is a good player but B Proctor takes his spot for me. Best chance for him is to have a crack at the Blues.
Flanders and Farrell trained with the Canes in the pre season last year and I was fortunate to visit one of the trainings. Plumtree is a massive fan of both apparently so I will be surprised if they aren't signed. Fakatava has to be snapped up, he looks like a young Will Genia.
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Predicted list of those that will be snapped up/ signed for next year. I've included young talent (bolded) that have all but committed to the Canes and a ?? for those players that I think will move on / be surplus to requirements.
We need to strengthen our depth at prop, lock and halfback for obvious reasons, otherwise if we remain fairly healthy we look settled across all other positions. Enough to make the playoffs again but questionable whether we have the metal to compete with the Cantabs.
Props:
- Tim Farrell (Shield Snorters)
- Toby Smith (Waikato)
- Jeff Toomaga Allen (Wellington)
- Fraser Armstrong (Manawatu)
- Alex Fidow (Wellington)
- Chris Eves ??
- Ben May ??
Hookers:
- Dane Coles (Wellington)
- Asafo Aumua (Wellington)
- Ricky Riccitelli (Taranaki)
-Fourth hooker will be included, hopefully not O'Reilly as he seems too small for Super.
Locks:
- Isaia Walker-Leawere (Wellington)
- Sam Lousi (Wellington)
Liam Mitchell (Manawatu) - Big Safa Lock (S.A)
- Geoff Cridge??
Someone like Mitch Dunshea from the Crusaders would be a great acquisition.
Loose Forwards:
- Vaea Fifita (Wellington)
- Brayden Iose (Manawatu)
- Gareth Evans (Shield Snorters)
- Devan Flanders (Shield Snorters)
- Ardie Savea (Wellington)
- Sam Henwood (Counties)
- Reed Prinsep (Canterbury)
- James Blackwell ??
Halfbacks:
- TJ Perenara (Wellington)
- Finlay Christie ( Ta$man) - signed but fairly questionable in playing ability.
- Folau Fakatava (Shield Snorters) - A young talent that we will need to lock up quickly.
- Carlos Price (Wellington) - pending if he gets much game time for the Lions this year but he was involved with the Canes in 2018 so we must see something in him for further selection.
First Fives:
- Beauden Barrett (Taranaki)
- Jackson Garden Bachop (Wellington)
- James Marshall (Taranaki) / 15
- TJ Va'a (Wellington) / 9
Centres:
- Matt Proctor (Wellington)
- Ngani Laumape (Wellington)
- Billy Proctor (Wellington)
- Peter Umaga Jensen (Wellington)
Outside Backs:
- Vince Aso (Auckland)
- Ben Lam (Wellington)
- Wes Goosen (Wellington)
- Jordie Barrett (Taranaki)
- Nehe Milner Skudder (Manawatu)
Jonah Lowe ??????????????????????????????????????????????????
Another fullback option - we may use James Marshall as a utility like we did when we won the title.
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Spoiler Text
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Was at the game on Sunday. Wellington always looked in control even though they were fairly sloppy at times. I was amazed at the size of our front row - probably the smallest front row going around the ITM Cup.
Number of classy operators in the backline but our forwards will need to front week in and week out if we are going to contest this year. The return of Aumua and the pending return of Fidow will boost our chances.
Hurricanes 2019 Discussion
Hurricanes 2019 Discussion
Hurricanes 2019 Discussion
Hurricanes 2019 Discussion
Hurricanes 2019 Discussion
Hurricanes 2019 Discussion
Hurricanes 2019 Discussion
Hurricanes 2019 Discussion
Hurricanes 2019 Discussion
Hurricanes 2019 Discussion
Hurricanes 2019 Discussion
Wellington vs Otago