24 replies to this topic

[kev]

I read on the main site that he is back for the next two weeks.

Also reflecting on the on the Auckland game, a few of the forwards will know what it will be like with Wellington and Southland. I would look for a change at prop if the Auckland loan player is fit and maybe Sam Barker (?? )to come onto the bench if fit ? I would still have Pryor starting - he is small for the breakdown but his speed covers the gaps that normally find us out on defence. I think Cam Eyre can go a whole game and Goodhue hasn't looked out of place but has minimal impact.

[justin77]

I agree Kev, I think it's time for Fa'anunu to have a crack, not sure what's up with Matt Wallis, but he hasn't looked the goods the last couple of weeks, he maybe carrying a slight niggle???

Correct about Pryor too, he's always there to sure up that inside channel and very rarely misses tackles, he has played a major part in the success of our defensive screen this year..

We will need to dig seriously deep to contain the forward packs we're up against in the next two weeks, especially Southlands..

[taniwharugby]

I wonder if it might be better slotting Ranger on the wing, Payne is going great at 13 and having Ranger roaming a bit will give us added strike power IMO, especially agasint a side like Wellington.

Reckon someone like Ranger would have been great against Auckland to try and breach them, but hey, he wasnt available.

[kev]

While we got hammered at the scrum and lost the breakdown, a lot of other facets of the game stood up - especially defense and when we didn't drop the ball out attack is really good. This team has talent so with a better competitive effort at scrum time we can upset some of the name teams. I think both the coaches and players have taken a good step up this year.

I saw what Payne was blowing up about with the Morland try. Iwi Hauraki was tackled without the ball leaving the line open. They would have scored anyway but ....

[taniwharugby]

yeah the comms were saying he was moaning about Morland not releasing, but it was obstruction or tackling a defensive player.

[Duluth]

taniwharugby said:

I wonder if it might be better slotting Ranger on the wing, Payne is going great at 13 and having Ranger roaming a bit will give us added strike power IMO, especially agasint a side like Wellington.

Hopefully this is what Woodward does. It's not so much about keeping Payne where he is but keeping Lachie where he is.

Ranger will be involved no matter were you put him. Likewise Payne will do well in the midfield or at fullback... then there's Lachie. I've always rated him as a fullback but he doesn't offer as much from the wing

[taniwharugby]

woodwards hand may be forced, apparently Lachie is touch and go with an injury he picked up yesterday.

also heard Auckland may need/want Heem back...

Edited by taniwharugby, 23 August 2010 - 06:20 PM.

[kev]

If Heem goes we have good backup - Simon Munro back ? , Hauraki was ok and Malupo

[taniwharugby]

yeah, although I expect we'd miss his workrate, I do hate how this loan thingeee works, which is part of the reason I hate them!

If a team doesnt want a player and is to loan them out, they should then not be able to recall them if and when they feel like it.

[kingster]

from what i have heard through the grapevine wallis may still be struggling with a calf injury he picked up during the club season

[taniwharugby]

although unfit, Wallis looked a pretty handy scrummager last season, so maybe he is carrying an injury or the loss of size has left him too light this year?

[justin77]

Whats the deal with Heem possibly going back to Auckland??

I agree TR, this is one of the reasons why the loan system is crap, I'm all for having the odd loan player but they need to be secured for a whole campaign. I recall Tevita Mailau being asked back halfway through our 2008 season..

[taniwharugby]

I think Mailau started for Auckland, then came up and then went back...

not sure what the deal is, just heard Auckland may like him back for whatever reason.

[justin77]

taniwharugby said:

I Mailau started for Auckland, then came up and then went back...

not sure what the deal is, just heard Auckland may like him back for whatever reason.

Thats right, that's what made it even more Mickey Mouse..

I guess with Ranger back it won't hurt so much, and as Kev said, Simon Munro (if fit) will be back in there. I was however impressed with Heem, and thats probably why Auckland want to take him back! bastards

[Duluth]

Pakalani is turning over too much ball IMO..

Personally I think the loan deal should be arranged for a full season. However I wonder if Auckland would have loaned anyone if it was more restrictive?
It's a difficult balance to make it beneficial for both sides

Wasn't there a NZRFU rule introduced that if a loan player played past a certain date they couldn't return to their home province?

Also, are there any other loan players in the NPC this year apart from the Auckland-Northland deals? Paku and Manawatu maybe? A few years ago it seemed like there was a lot more?

[justin77]

Duluth said:

Pakalani is turning over too much ball IMO..

Personally I think the loan deal should be arranged for a full season. However I wonder if Auckland would have loaned anyone if it was more restrictive?
It's a difficult balance to make it beneficial for both sides

Wasn't there a NZRFU rule introduced that if a loan player played past a certain date they couldn't return to their home province?

Also, are there any other loan players in the NPC this year apart from the Auckland-Northland deals? Paku and Manawatu maybe? A few years ago it seemed like there was a lot more?

Grayson Hart went over to Harbour didnt he? Was he still on your fellas books?

[Duluth]

Yeah I forgot that one.. I'm fairly certain he's still contracted to Auckland

We are so generous :whistle:

[justin77]

Duluth said:

Yeah I forgot that one.. I'm fairly certain he's still contracted to Auckland

We are so generous :whistle:

yeah but not when it comes to letting your little brothers win games!

[taniwharugby]

but if it were restrictive, then the loaning team need t omake a decision, let him go gain the experience, or sit back in the dev side...

I reckon if he is loaned out for the whole seaosn, it is still beneficial for both sides, as one side gets a player to fill a gap while the other side gets to see if he is up to it for the next season and worth further investment.

But hey, we aint the rule makers!

[kev]

I like what Auckland do for us - the only time it seemd to matter was when Arlidge kicked that conversion 43-42 was it? Still my favourite game of all time.

The great thing about the competition now is how quickly we are building depth for S15 & AB's with new players being exposed quickly. All those guys that were getting splinters are now getting game time. I think the 7-7 split was best of the bad options but would prefer status quo....(I'll move on)

Which gets us back on to the topic of getting into the top seven and having a decent scrum to do so. Its been a while since we have a decent scrum and the loss of Justin Davies has exposed us badly again (though his form is matter of legend now that he hasn't played for 3 seasons!).

Does anyone know whether Fa'anunu ( start ) and Barker ( bench ) are fit?

Edited by kev, 24 August 2010 - 06:33 PM.

[taniwharugby]

havent heard anything new, but last I had heard Fa'anunu was fit, but hadnt heard anything on Barker since he for whatever reason, didnt go to play King Country.

This'd be where Stand Wright coming back would be great!

[kev]

Now that Bronsan has really come of age it would be good to see Stan back - they were boys when they started out.

I hope Barker is still keen and healthy - we can't afford to be losing any more depth at this stage. I haven't seen him play yet !!

[cricketman]

Barker is still struggling with his back injury which forced him to pull out of the dev game. Hopefully not to far away though, just treating the injury very carefully.

[taniwharugby]

wasnt McKenty out for 6-8 weeks? so he could be back in 3, although loosie is probably not where we need the grunt, but McKenty's physicality at the breakdown wold have helped over Pryor I guess....

[kev]

Good to hear that Barker is still there but hope the injury comes right soon.

I like Pryor for his speed. It was noticeable that a number of Northlanders made good covering tackles - Pryor and Hamilton in particular - good small but physical men covering the inside channel. I think with the style we are playing, that having a more mobile player works for us. The downside is that we lack physical presence sometimes at the breakdown and on the odd tackle e.g. just before halftime in the North Harbour game. But if we get there we can usually slow it down to regroup - generally we have done that.

It would be good to have a bit more ammo though.