Rob42
Nicholas Shehadie (39)
I thought the usual was 35 in the full squad - but supposedly there are exemptions in 2025 to fit the former Rebels in.
Super Rugby Pacific 2025
- Thread starter rugbyAU
- Start date
zer0
John Thornett (49)
No Dylan Pledger, ay. I'm sure he'd enjoy the opportunity to play behind the Killdozer...
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
Blues squad for 2025
Props: Angus Ta’avao, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Marcel Renata, Jordan Lay, Joshua Fusitu’a, PJ Sheck, Ben AkeHookers: Kurt Eklund, Ricky Riccitelli, James Mullan
Locks: Laghlan McWhannell, Cameron Christie, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Josh Beehre
Loose forwards: Cameron Suafoa, Adrian Choat, Dalton Papali’i, Anton Segner, Hoskins Sotutu, Che Clark
Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Sam Nock, Taufa Funaki
First five-eighths: Stephen Perofeta, Harry Plummer, Beauden Barrett
Midfielders: Xavi Taele, Corey Evans, Meihana Grindlay, Rieko Ioane
Outside backs: Zarn Sullivan, Mark Tele’a, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Payton Spencer, Reon Paul, Cole Forbes
Ins: Ben Ake, Cameron Christie, Che Clark, Beauden Barrett, Xavi Taele, Payton Spencer, Reon Paul
Outs: Soane Vikena, James Thompson, Akira Ioane, Rob Rush, Lucas Cashmore, Bryce Heem, Kade Banks, Caleb Tangitau
zer0
John Thornett (49)
Old man Heem is a loss. It's injury related so hopefully he can still be around for off-field mentoring, perhaps in the old sus waterboy role. I'd much prefer AJ Lam at centre, but he may slide into 12 instead as he frequently did last season (iirc).
Otherwise, lock stocks are good. Drop Suafoa into replace Akira and the killdozer can roll on to another title
EDIT: Should even have an attack coach this season. So may be able to stick a little bit of finesse into proceedings. Like putting spoilers on a battle tank.
Otherwise, lock stocks are good. Drop Suafoa into replace Akira and the killdozer can roll on to another title
EDIT: Should even have an attack coach this season. So may be able to stick a little bit of finesse into proceedings. Like putting spoilers on a battle tank.
zer0
John Thornett (49)
So Grindlay is basically the same dimensions as Heem and, apparently, enjoys a good bit of crash-ball/physicality. If he can replicate Heem's efforts at IC then that would allow Lam to slide out to OC and Rieko onto the wing/bench. With Plummer and 10 and Sullivan at 15, you have the kicking game to drive the killdozer around the field and the play-making skills to let the meme sized backline hum along. All without Beauden or Rieko strangling any attack with their terrible passing skills/decision making from key positions.
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
That's not going to happen tbh, it'll be Rieko at 13.
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
Has there ever been a successful wing to centre back to wing conversion? And bearing in mind Rieko is 28 in March isn't it a bit late in his career to be trying it?
zer0
John Thornett (49)
I know it almost certainly won't happen, barring injury. I just really dislike him as a centre unless Jason O'Halloran can produce some absolute magic to make it work. The best anyone has managed was Schmidt's power game at the RWC. Which is fine, but I'm sure much more could be achieved with Rieko back on the wing - where his strengths can be better used - and a better centre setting him up into space.
He went well when he had to shift to the wing the final quarter or so of one of the RC tests. Wing is much simpler and he's still fast enough so I don't see why it would be too much of an issue. There's also the fact that he's a pro rugby player who would be asked to move back to a position he's already very familiar with. It's not like he'd be asked to move to TH prop or something outlandish. He adapts or is moved on.
EDIT: And there is the opportunity cost/roster management aspect of keeping him at centre. AJ Lam is a much better midfielder for mine and may move on if he's blocked by Rieko. We possibly lost Cashmore because we have to accommodate Barrett phoning it in, and may also lose Sullivan and/or Perofeta next season. It would be a travesty to lose Lam for similar reasons. It would be absolutely disastrous to lose them all for a 33 year old fullback with fantasises of being a 10, and a 28 year old minimal passing centre.
He went well when he had to shift to the wing the final quarter or so of one of the RC tests. Wing is much simpler and he's still fast enough so I don't see why it would be too much of an issue. There's also the fact that he's a pro rugby player who would be asked to move back to a position he's already very familiar with. It's not like he'd be asked to move to TH prop or something outlandish. He adapts or is moved on.
EDIT: And there is the opportunity cost/roster management aspect of keeping him at centre. AJ Lam is a much better midfielder for mine and may move on if he's blocked by Rieko. We possibly lost Cashmore because we have to accommodate Barrett phoning it in, and may also lose Sullivan and/or Perofeta next season. It would be a travesty to lose Lam for similar reasons. It would be absolutely disastrous to lose them all for a 33 year old fullback with fantasises of being a 10, and a 28 year old minimal passing centre.
Dismal Pillock
Michael Lynagh (62)
ffs some of these guys barely get a crack before getting shunted out; seemed like Rob Rush and Cashmore played about one half combined all season
Dismal Pillock
Michael Lynagh (62)
No worries, there's only so much cotton wool can do to save BB; at 33, with his Karen Carpenter musculature, the dude IS going to be injured most of the time.
Not saying I have a voodoo doll likeness of him that I summon in a trancelike state during my occult rituals but yeah um that is totally what I have right here in front of me.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Decent attacker but very weak defender. Would not displace Tom Wright in his 2024 Wallabies form.
Dctarget
Tim Horan (67)
RugbyPass would agree with you! Tom Wright is their highest ranked Wallaby in the world player rankings, coming in #30 apparently..
Another Aussie did come even higher on the list, Sione Tuipulotu at #16...
Derpus
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Yeah but they also have BB at 11 (lol) and somehow have de Allende below Sione at 22... So yeah they are fucking idiots.
Also I think our highest rated is Skelton.
Last edited:
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
Ross Filipo leaving Tribe coaching staff to concentrate on his Mooloo & NZ Maori gigs, Nic White also leaving to train racehorses full time.
Replacements are Jono Gibbes, who has some baggage in these parts after pretty much walking out on Mooloos a few years back, & current Fiji forwards coach Graham Dewes. Gibbes will be giving up his NZ U20's role.
www.stuff.co.nz
Replacements are Jono Gibbes, who has some baggage in these parts after pretty much walking out on Mooloos a few years back, & current Fiji forwards coach Graham Dewes. Gibbes will be giving up his NZ U20's role.
Stuff
www.stuff.co.nz
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
Shaun Stevenson leaving for Kurobuta immediately, won't play for the chiefs in 2025
x.com
x.com
Or maybe not...
Stevenson's NZ Rugby future in balance, seeks early release for Japanese move
Reports the one-test All Black has already signed are premature.
www.nzherald.co.nz
I'm hearing he'll be released from Harbour but not Tribe unless Kubota come up with what would effectively be a transfer fee to at least the value of SS's Super Rugby contract.