46 replies to this topic

[BartMan]

Quote

The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union is pleased to announce the signing of 2009 All Black Lelia Masaga for 2010 and 2011.

Masaga, (23) made his All Blacks debut vs. Italy at Christchurch during the 2009 IVECO series.

Masaga has been a member of the Chiefs team since 2006 and has played 42 Super Rugby games. A great finisher, winger Masaga returns for his fifth Chiefs season in 2010.

Masaga stated “I am very excited about being involved with the Steamers. They are an exciting team and have a great environment that I am really looking forward to being a part of”.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union CEO Jeremy Curragh said “We are delighted to have signed a player of Lelia’s quality. To attract a player of Lelia’s caliber is fantastic and proves that the Bay can provide the right environment for players to make the All Blacks. We look forward to supporting Lelia in achieving his goal of again making the All Blacks”.

Masaga has scored 21 tries for the Chiefs and is now an experienced campaigner who brings flair and a deceptive turn of pace.

“Lelia is an excitement machine and brings the x-factor that we are sure our supporters will love to see. Not only is he going to make a strong contribution on the field, he has all the key characteristics that are so important to us off the field as we continue our work in the schools and community ” Curragh stated.

Masga will join the Union after the completion of his duties with the Chiefs.

[BartMan]

dirty poaching Steamers xzxcool

[Hooroo]

Dirty Poaching BOP aye! That's funny in terms that most assumed he was coming to Waikato. Good move I reckon

Edit: Snap Bartman!

[Baron Silas Greenback]

It is differnt when we do it..... eusa_whistle

Actually I feel bad for Counties. How the hell are they supposed to build a team when they are victims of poaching repeatedly?

For BOP this is a major coup as our outside backs have been a 'weak link' for a few years now and this is an important piece of the jigsaw for us. Good signing.

[mariner4life]

Fuck that is choice, a bit of pace and flair always helps, and has been lacking for a few years (oh, snap BSG)

Sorry Counties, truely.

[Scorz]

Strange move, must have been negotiated while Steve Tew's plan to bumroot the NPC was in effect. Glad he's still a Chief.

[taniwharugby]

dunno if also been mentioned, but both Kurt Baker & Andre Taylor leaving Manawatu and going to Taranaki.

[Southern Man]

They have also picked up Brett Mather, so it seems BOP are really working hard to improve their outside backs.

[JP]

Seems like the Bay is going hard to get in the top 7 next year more like it...

Good for us but like other posters feel for Counties.

[bayimports]

Major coup by DSBoP, just as long as our management havent fiddled the books to do this..

Instead I will celebrate the new BoP All black for Xmas, great news!

[Milk]

They should get their moneys worth too considering he'll struggle to get back in the ABs anytime soon. Be good to see him at this level with a better team around him.

[Baron Silas Greenback]

With the CEO we have, the chances of fiddling the books is about as likely as getting free biscuits at a BOP rugy union meeting... zilch.

[Cpt Kumera]

tell us more about brett mather
what position he play
good news!
any loses??
I see mark burman playing in the uk, I dont think that will be a loss with john moore having another crack as with callum

[WillieTheWaiter]

Hooroo said:

Dirty Poaching BOP aye! That's funny in terms that most assumed he was coming to Waikato. Good move I reckon

Edit: Snap Bartman!

yeh he was made a great offer from Waikato, so BOP must have pulled some nice funds to get him...

thought they had no money?

[Baron Silas Greenback]

Neither do Waikato, they have been laying off staff.

[Cpt Kumera]

dan waenga from hb to the bop as well?

[MN5]

Milk said:

They should get their moneys worth too considering he'll struggle to get back in the ABs anytime soon. Be good to see him at this level with a better team around him.

Too right, I'd honestly forgotten that he got a cap vs italy this year.

[WillieTheWaiter]

Baron Silas Greenback said:

Neither do Waikato, they have been laying off staff.

yep broke as...

[taniwharugby]

MN5 said:

Milk said:

They should get their moneys worth too considering he'll struggle to get back in the ABs anytime soon. Be good to see him at this level with a better team around him.

Too right, I'd honestly forgotten that he got a cap vs italy this year.

although wouldnt that have made his NPC worth rise, despite the fact he is unlikely to get another cap...

[Milk]

taniwharugby said:

MN5 said:

Milk said:

They should get their moneys worth too considering he'll struggle to get back in the ABs anytime soon. Be good to see him at this level with a better team around him.

Too right, I'd honestly forgotten that he got a cap vs italy this year.

although wouldnt that have made his NPC worth rise, despite the fact he is unlikely to get another cap...

It makes him expensive, yeah. He won't be being called away on AB duty very often so at least they'll have access to him unlike other ABs.

[KiwiPie]

Great signing for us, a back 3 of Masaga, Arnold and Hona with backup from Ben Smith and Lance MacDonald looks good. Mather a bruising midfielder to replace the departed Nigel Hunt (well unsigned Nigel Hunt) and Waenga to cover the playmaker roles. Now all we need is a good prop for the bench, a good lock to back up the incumbents (and replace John Moore when he eventually retires) and some serious pre-season fitness work.

Shame he has left Counties though, they need all the quality players they can get.

I can't recall any player actually moving to the Steamers while they are on the rise .....

[Cpt Kumera]

add in ben smithin the back 3 as well or is he going?

[Cpt Kumera]

would juinor polu be back?
bring back the rat (into squad) !

[FredDagg1979]

taniwharugby said:

dunno if also been mentioned, but both Kurt Baker & Andre Taylor leaving Manawatu and going to Taranaki.

Taylor said on the radio this morning that his main reasons for going to Taranaki are to play fullback and to get away from Palmerston North where he has spent his whole life.
So he must be a bit gutted that Baker is going as well - given they both want to play Fullback.
I'm reliably informed that Taylor's idea of getting out of PN and growing up would be good use of his time.

[Allstar]

i'm annoyed that Manawatu have had two of their better backs poached. I guess the upside is they're still in the Canes catchment area.

A bit disappointing that despite the Air NZ Cup being the same at least for now, the best talent from the weaker teams has still been cherry picked.

[Midge]

Brilliant news, I cant remember the last time we had two good wingers on the park at the same time

[Virgil]

Crucial will be gutted!!
Not a nice xmas present for him or other Counties fans.

[Baron Silas Greenback]

Swapacrate will be a pretty angry dude as well...... cant blame them really.

[mc mong]

FredDagg1979 said:

taniwharugby said:

dunno if also been mentioned, but both Kurt Baker & Andre Taylor leaving Manawatu and going to Taranaki.

Taylor said on the radio this morning that his main reasons for going to Taranaki are to play fullback and to get away from Palmerston North where he has spent his whole life.
I'm reliably informed that Taylor's idea of getting out of PN and growing up would be good use of his time.

palmertson north to new plymouth ...wow he's really shaking up his life eusa_whistle
i hope he can survive the culture shock of moving from one middle sized north island city to another middle-sized north island city.

[swapacrate]

A little bit upset at first, but not now, must have been all the talk of Counties going in the bottom four.

Fair enough for BOP and Masaga I think.

At least with the new NPC system, some certainty and the salary cap, we can start holding onto our players (I hope).
Build from the ground up.

My main hope for Counties is that we learn to tackle and defend. We always seem to have a good attack.