NZ domestic competitions 2018

[waiopehu oldboy]

OK so the first thing I've learned since becoming a Tasman supporter is that one no longer refers to them as the Makos but as the Mako, in keeping with correct Maori usage.

In my defence it took Tasman RU 11 years to make the change & me less than 24 hours so I reckon I'm alright viz the Correct Pronunciation Police

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

"The Ranfurly Shield is safe with Taranaki, but it was Wanganui who could hold their heads highest, after Saturday afternoon's contest in Hawera."

Taranaki 33 (Avon Lewis 2, Kiniviliame Naholo, Brayton Northcott-Hill tries, penalty try; Beaudein Waaka 3 con) Wanganui 10 (Tremaine Gilbert, Simon Dibben tries) HT: 28-5

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/p...g-in-ranfurly-shield-defence-against-wanganui

Next challenger is Manawatu on 24 August.

 

[Dan54]

"The Ranfurly Shield is safe with Taranaki, but it was Wanganui who could hold their heads highest, after Saturday afternoon's contest in Hawera."

Taranaki 33 (Avon Lewis 2, Kiniviliame Naholo, Brayton Northcott-Hill tries, penalty try; Beaudein Waaka 3 con) Wanganui 10 (Tremaine Gilbert, Simon Dibben tries) HT: 28-5

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/p...g-in-ranfurly-shield-defence-against-wanganui

Next challenger is Manawatu on 24 August.

Geez go the 'Tu', though to be fair the Naki is also a place I lived as a kid!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Coupla ex-AB in the 2018 TARANAKI SQUAD, most notably Brendon Leonard is back from Europe:

Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Scott Barrett, Lachlan Boshier, Mitchell Brown, Mitchell Croswell, Logan Crowley, Tom Florence, Chris Gawler, Mitchell Graham, Toa Halafihi, Fin Hoeata, Jarrad Hoeata, Jack Jordan, Brendon Leonard, Avon Lewis, Donald Maka, Manasa Mataele, Ciarhan Matoe, Marty McKenzie, Scott Mellow, Kiniviliame Naholo, Waisake Naholo, Brayton Northcott-Hill, Reuben O'Neill, Jesse Parete, Stephen Perofeta, Jayson Potroz, Leighton Price, Jared Proffit, Ricky Riccitelli, Xavier Roe, Bradley Slater, Asaeli Sorovaki, Pita Sowakula, Kyle Stewart, Angus Ta'avao, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Seta Tamanivalu, Kane Thompson, Latu Vaeno, Tupou Vaai, Beaudein Waaka, Sean Wainui, Daniel Waite, Tehorangi Walden, Adrian Wyrill.

"Injured Super Rugby players Mitchell Graham (ankle), Mitchell Brown (knee), Finn Hoeata (shoulder), Marty McKenzie (hip) and Sean Wainui (shoulder) have been listed in the squad but are unavailable for the season."

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/p...k-brendon-leonard-signs-with-taranaki-for-npc

Made the SF last year & the year before, will likely do so again this year one images.

 

[Dan54]

Geez WOB, I starting to really switch to ITM mode, there some serious talent in that Naki team!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Um it's Mitre10 these days but don't feel too bad, Shag called it ITM t'other day (& corrected himself real quick )

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

BoP squad also features a coupla names from way back with Mike Delaney & Tanerau Latimer returning. Also Bailey Simonsson who I'm still not sure whether he's a kiwi or an Aussie.

The Bay of Plenty squad is: Nathan Harris (29 games), Liam Polwart (14), Sabastian Siataga (13), Ross Geldenhuys (0), James Lay (10), Tevita Mafileo (0), Tom McHugh (0), Aidan Ross (24), Solomona Sakalia (33), Jeff Thwaites (21), Tyler Ardron (7), Kane Le'aupepe (0), Baden Wardlaw (1), Hugh Blake (20), Sam Cane (19), Mitchell Karpik (6), Tanerau Latimer (79), Aileone Junior Lafaele-Mua (1), Hoani Matenga (0), Luke Campbell (16), Richard Judd (10), Mike Delany (72), Jason Robertson (0), Lalakai Foketi (30), Terrence Hepetema (19), Liam Steel (4), Trael Joass (0), Matthew Garland (3), Fa'asui Fuatai (0), Kaleb Trask (0), Bailey Simonsson (0), Chase Tiatia (26)

Solid looking squad & should comfortably make the Championship SF.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Hawkes Bay meanwhile are very much in rebuild mode with a heap of newbies including six from the All-conquering Hastings Boys High School 1st XV*:

The Hawke's Bay squad is: Michael Allardice (41), Joe Apikotoa (0), Mark Braidwood (16), Hannon Brighouse (0), Michael Buckley (0), Geoff Cridge (18), Jacob Devery (7), Ash Dixon (82), Pasqualle Dunn (6), Mason Emerson (22), Gareth Evans (10), Folau Fakatava (0), Tiaan Falcon (19), Tim Farrell (5), Devan Flanders (0), Solomone Funaki (temporary injury cover - 0), Stacey Ili (0), Josh Kaifa (0), Kianu Kereru-Symes (0), Jason Long (30), Jonah Lowe (24), Ben May (9), Lincoln McClutchie (0), Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (11), Tom Parsons (15), Ben Power (0), Pouri Rakete-Stones (10), Brodie Retallick (9), Fa'alemiga Selesele (18), JJ Taulagi (0), Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe (0), Danny Toala (0), Sasa Tofilau (0), Will Tremain (0), Shae Tucker (0), Sam Ulufonua (0), Brad Weber (17).

Keep an eye on Will Tremain, grandson of HB & AB legend Kel & captain of NZ U20. Kid has a big future. Struggled last year, only just avoiding the wooden spoon & cant see them improving much this year but could be a different story 2-3 years down the track.

* EDIT: Kiniviliame Naholo (Taranaki, younger brother of Waisake) was also part of that team.

 

[Dan54]

Um it's Mitre10 these days but don't feel too bad, Shag called it ITM t'other day (& corrected himself real quick )

DOH!!!! And I thought I was good remembering not to call it NPC anymore! I never used to have this problem, going on 64 is becoming a problem!!!

 

[Dan54]

BoP squad also features a coupla names from way back with Mike Delaney & Tanerau Latimer returning. Also Bailey Simonsson who I'm still not sure whether he's a kiwi or an Aussie.

The Bay of Plenty squad is: Nathan Harris (29 games), Liam Polwart (14), Sabastian Siataga (13), Ross Geldenhuys (0), James Lay (10), Tevita Mafileo (0), Tom McHugh (0), Aidan Ross (24), Solomona Sakalia (33), Jeff Thwaites (21), Tyler Ardron (7), Kane Le'aupepe (0), Baden Wardlaw (1), Hugh Blake (20), Sam Cane (19), Mitchell Karpik (6), Tanerau Latimer (79), Aileone Junior Lafaele-Mua (1), Hoani Matenga (0), Luke Campbell (16), Richard Judd (10), Mike Delany (72), Jason Robertson (0), Lalakai Foketi (30), Terrence Hepetema (19), Liam Steel (4), Trael Joass (0), Matthew Garland (3), Fa'asui Fuatai (0), Kaleb Trask (0), Bailey Simonsson (0), Chase Tiatia (26)

Solid looking squad & should comfortably make the Championship SF.

I see Matty Garland here again this year, he played a season for the Hawke Eyes a couple of years back. He has gone ok ,left Logan to go back home and give it a crack so pleased to see he still there abouts.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^ I'll be sure to keep an eye out for him if he gets some game time.

Re: the NPC/ ITM/ M10 thing, I think it's still technically the National Provincial Championship but now they play for the Mitre 10 Cup which I believe is a different trophy to the ITM & Air NZ Cups that preceded it. IIRC it's actually the original Cup from 1976-?? with some stuff added.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

The 14 M10 Cup Unions made a collective $3.8Mn surplus last year despite Counties Manukau, Manawatu & Hawkes Bay each making a loss (& people want to replace Super Rugby with a Trans-Tasman comp & "make" NZ field seven teams). Biggest earner was Auckland courtesy of the two B&I Lions Tests at Eden Park.

Male player numbers down slightly again but the "The Future of Rugby is Female" headline is typically OTT as there's still only 20K of them playing.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/p...s-unions-as-male-players-continue-to-drop-out

 

[Quick Hands]

The 14 M10 Cup Unions made a collective $3.8Mn surplus last year despite Counties Manukau, Manawatu & Hawkes Bay each making a loss (& people want to replace Super Rugby with a Trans-Tasman comp & "make" NZ field seven teams). Biggest earner was Auckland courtesy of the two B&I Lions Tests at Eden Park.

Male player numbers down slightly again but the "The Future of Rugby is Female" headline is typically OTT as there's still only 20K of them playing.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/p...s-unions-as-male-players-continue-to-drop-out

It would seem that a domestic league would also be in NZ's interests.

The sooner the better IMO as this would leave RA with no choice but to have a domestic league here.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^^^^ $3.8Mn surplus on revenues of $79.2Mn is under 5% which isn't sustainable IMO. If Hawkes Bay can't make ends meet when their biggest away trip is Invercargill or Whangarei, how are they suddenly going to fund trips to Canberra, Perth, etc?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Mitre10 Championship preview:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...preview-who-can-earn-promotion-rights-in-2018

Otago slight favourites on tab.co.nz but I'd be sticking my $20 on Waikato to go straight back into the Premiership after being relegated last year.

 

[Dan54]

You know what WOB?? I am so ready for the Mitre 10 cup to start!! Geez it still something I look forward to every bloody year, mainly to see what new boys are going to excite us this time!!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^^^^ plus once M10 starts it's only another week to wait until the mighty 'nua start running amok in the Heartland Championship!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Premiership preview:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...iew-can-anyone-stop-the-canterbury-procession

It's a brave man who'd bet against the Cantabs racking up another title but I think Taranaki & of course my Tasman Mako are capable of making them have to work hard for it. Other SF spot is wide open IMO, maybe Wellington?

It all starts tonight, North Harbour v Northland at Albany (expected attendance: fuck all, give or take 50).
Why oh why wouldn't you just start it tomorrow night with Tasman v Cantabs? No-one has to back up on Sunday so it can only be that Sky wanted a Thursday night game every week.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Highlights:

Really enjoyable game & Taniwha can count themselves a little unlucky.

 

[Dan54]

I agree WOB, a good start to the comp, because of limited time the first week or 2 are usually scrappy games, but I thought this a good opener. NH deserved the win, but the Taniwha showed their usual game of really giving it a crack and doing the unexpected, why I enjoy watching them, actually most M10 games, seems most teams are really enjoyng playing with a load of mates!