Kiwis 2025

[Jonty]

A Bit early yes but a good distraction from a desperate warrriors loss but what are you guys thoughts on jojo fifita at centre for the kiwis?

 

[Beavers Headgear]

I saw yesterday Weekes has turned us down

 

[Diesel]

Stacey has a bit of work to do. Madge had the team up for the 2023 Pac Champs and it fell apart in 2024. Not convinced on Jones but hopefully can prove me wrong with the players we have and another WC win

 

[Jonty]

Stacey has a bit of work to do. Madge had the team up for the 2023 Pac Champs and it fell apart in 2024. Not convinced on Jones but hopefully can prove me wrong with the players we have and another WC win

I think the only positive Stacey jones can bring to the kiwis is landing Kalyan ponga as I’m not sold on him as a coach.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I think the only positive Stacey jones can bring to the kiwis is landing Kalyan ponga as I’m not sold on him as a coach.

I think all of us are very well aware now that Stacey Jones is not much chop as a coach

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

A Bit early yes but a good distraction from a desperate warrriors loss but what are you guys thoughts on jojo fifita at centre for the kiwis?

Fifita would be in the mix but the probability of anyone eligible for Tonga and eligible to play Origin opting for NZ these days is approximately 0%

 

[Matua]

Fifita would be in the mix but the probability of anyone eligible for Tonga and eligible to play Origin opting for NZ these days is approximately 0%

Yeah, from wiki it looks like he's hardly spent any time in NZ, although he is Maori too which might see him lean back towards us (see Casey McLean for example), but I think I think your scenario looks likely.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Foran has put his hand up saying he will keep training incase Stacey calls him

I hope we do, Nikorima has had a fair year though but I’d be going Foran before Brown

Opposition wise, shit it is scary the potential Tonga have in their backline into the future with Katoa, Koula, Iongi and Hopoate

 

[hitro]

I wonder which team Halasima would want to play for if both NZ and Tonga want him

 

[Philip_Smith007]

I wonder which team Halasima would want to play for if both NZ and Tonga want him

Hopefully Stacey in his ear.

 

[Matua]

I wonder which team Halasima would want to play for if both NZ and Tonga want him

I thought he was Tongan, as in actually from Tonga, not NZ Tongan. But was he born there and grew up in NZ?
I assume he'd want to play for Tonga in the current climate. I'd also assume both would want him.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Yeah with all the out and out Kiwis and Aussies opting for Tonga it would be perverse if one of their 2 actual Tongans from Tonga didn’t play for them.

 

[jolly boys outing]

Yeah with all the out and out Kiwis and Aussies opting for Tonga it would be perverse if one of their 2 actual Tongans from Tonga didn’t play for them.

Would be so RL though.

id be surprised if he didn’t opt for Tonga.

 

[jolly boys outing]

Is ponga out of the pacific tests?

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Is ponga out of the pacific tests?

Ponga Australian, so would play in Ashes tour.

 

[jolly boys outing]

Ponga Australian, so would play in Ashes tour.

I thought he was switching to New Zealand?

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

I thought he was switching to New Zealand?

Still nothing official, but he might as just lock it in... even if he was having second thoughts, he wont make the Roo squad anyway.

Teddy and Walsh easily the form #1's and Edwards the incumbent looks to be coming right at the right time. Before Weekes went MIA on Sat he'd have been well ahead of Ponga too.

 

[jolly boys outing]

Still nothing official, but he might as just lock it in... even if he was having second thoughts, he wont make the Roo squad anyway.

Teddy and Walsh easily the form #1's and Edwards the incumbent looks to be coming right at the right time. Before Weekes went MIA on Sat he'd have been well ahead of Ponga too.

I don’t think it matters either way as the guy always seems to be injured or unavailable come the international window .

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

I don’t think it matters either way as the guy always seems to be injured or unavailable come the international window .

I'd start him if he switched. I know his form was poor before his injury, but I'd still take him over CNK and Kini if he's fully fit.

But I havent read anything recent about his recovery so no idea if he's even fit.

 

[shinobi]

Looks like no Jahrome Hughes either so even if he plays in the GF hes booked in for surgery.

We are running low on troops looks like we will be relying on Kodi and maybe even Foz if hes available. Any up and coming halves coming into grade that can play for the Kiwis?