Team v Raiders

[Meth]

We really have no excuse to blame the weather when playing them.

My main concern is over our seeming inability in the wet, not their ability

 

[Beavers Headgear]

i was reading these posts chronologically just now and i was puzzled by your earlier post. So glad you cleared that up for everybody. I live just outside of ChCh and didnt see the same forecast as you for tomorrow lol.

have been checking it all week coz I need to have stuff out at work on Friday, yesterday was saying a heap of rain and first thing this morning the same lol, quite a dramatic change

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Sounds like typical Saturday weather during cricket season when all I really want to do is go to the pub

Haha that’s true, went to the club nationals in Auckland a few times, 1 night it said thunderstorms and zero chance of play the next day, we played the rain card and out til 4am, wake up and see the big blue and nothing else in the sky

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Pretty much resigned to one of Niukore and Barnett staying in the middle, but question is whether we’re overcompensating by moving both? and to your point, what the alternative is?

For mine….more or less the same pack took us to a qualifying final last year, so why not back them to do it again?

We lost Curran but replaced (IMO upgraded) with Capewell, and Addin is still here. Put Niukore back on his edge and throw a young fella, or even two, into the prop rotation… if not Ale, then Maiu’u and/or Laban. Back them to deliver. Back Bunty to lift. Risky yes, but back them. Webby has shown a willingness and knack for doing that and getting it right. In the meantime, Cappy keeps searching for a specialist front rower to join next year.

I know the big risk down the line is we get to year-end and none of that’s worked. AFB then leaves, and we’re in the shit for '25. But the risk of focusing so much on the future is missing out on opportunities today.

And right now we have the opportunity to field a backrow combination that not only asks lots of questions themselves, but IMO, better unlocks the guys outside them too.

We got absolutely mothered in those finals we lost. Absolutely smashed to pieces up front. Both the Broncos and Panthers took care of AFB, which left us with nothing elsewhere.

I absolutely think we need Niukore's size in there, we really don't have anything else to match up to some packs like the Broncs, Panthers, even Manly is looking beastly this year.

I don't think you can back Bunty to lift. He hasn't really come on in all the seasons he's been here. He's been the 4th banana, 5th sometimes, for a long time.

The only way I could see Niukore and Barnett getting back into the back row is, as you say, back youth. And Maiu'u looked decent, but whether he is disciplined enough, has the engine etc I wouldn't know. It'd be a gamble.

And yeah, jeeper creepers do we need to recruit well for next year.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Haha that’s true, went to the club nationals in Auckland a few times, 1 night it said thunderstorms and zero chance of play the next day, we played the rain card and out til 4am, wake up and see the big blue and nothing else in the sky

Haha do you mean the one at Cornwall Park? I think I played that day, too, if you do

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Haha do you mean the one at Cornwall Park? I think I played that day, too, if you do

Yes mate that’s the one, think it was either 2013or 2015, downstairs in the number 2 changing room was the worst smelling she’d ive ever been in

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

And yeah, jeeper creepers do we need to recruit well for next year.

Yea and options are slim aren’t they with May and Molo probably the best of the ones still to commit for next year. I’d be stoked if we somehow jagged May but I’d also be staggered if the Roosters let him slip with JWH moving on.

Another possible option… what chance of Cappy tempting Taumalolo home to play front row?

Lots of recent chat on his declining minutes and output compared to his peak, but a perm shift to prop as part of a 4 man rotation may be exactly what best suits him now. Much like when Wiki came home and moved straight into the front row. Rumours NQ might be trying to clear cap space to retain their youngsters too.

He’s got 3 years left on his current deal at about a mill pa… if we cop say, 650 with NQ footing the rest, that’d be good value I reckon, even at his age. Same as what we offered BHU really.

Edit: to be clear, the irony of my suggesting Taumalolo after bleating on and on about converted back rowers isn’t lost on me either…

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Yes mate that’s the one, think it was either 2013or 2015, downstairs in the number 2 changing room was the worst smelling she’d ive ever been in

Ah okay I played from around 2005-11 at that tournament for Howick. Weird tournament, you had 4 teams on the piss from around the 2nd/3rd game (or earlier) once they were out of contention, the postage stamp 3rd ground, although back in the day it was pretty competitive. Trent Boult was batsman/top run scorer of the tournament one year

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Yea and options are slim aren’t they with May and Molo probably the best of the ones still to commit for next year. I’d be stoked if we somehow jagged May but I’d also be staggered if the Roosters let him slip with JWH moving on.

Another possible option… what chance of Cappy tempting Taumalolo home to play front row?

Lots of recent chat on his declining minutes and output compared to his peak, but a perm shift to prop as part of a 4 man rotation may be exactly what best suits him now. Much like when Wiki came home and moved straight into the front row. Rumours NQ might be trying to clear cap space to retain their youngsters too.

He’s got 3 years left on his current deal at about a mill pa… if we cop say, 650 with NQ footing the rest, that’d be good value I reckon, even at his age. Same as what we offered BHU really.

Edit: to be clear, the irony of my suggesting Taumalolo after bleating on and on about converted back rowers isn’t lost on me either…

Taumalolo is 33, and isn't the lion-heart that Wiki was. Pretty anonymous for the Cows last year. I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole, but I do agree with you that we need to get a bit funky and start thinking outside the box a bit. There's not a lot available. If we don't get any big names we'll be forced to invest in Maiu'u and Laban, I reckon.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

My main concern is over our seeming inability in the wet, not their ability

No weather around in Christchurch tonight, we'll be sweet - at least rain wise. The radar is completely clear all day/night

 

[Big Marn]

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Ah okay I played from around 2005-11 at that tournament for Howick. Weird tournament, you had 4 teams on the piss from around the 2nd/3rd game (or earlier) once they were out of contention, the postage stamp 3rd ground, although back in the day it was pretty competitive. Trent Boult was batsman/top run scorer of the tournament one year

The Boult year was the first one I went too, there was this crazy lady there stalking him every day. Funny watching him get a new bat as batter of the tournament, our guy got an inflatable boat for being bowled of the tournament. Was always a highlight when the bloke came down that was walking his cat on a lead and the cat was wearing a hat. That number 3 ground was crazy. Remember watching Boults brother win the toss with a pillow under his arm, choose to bat and head straight upstairs for a couple of hours sleep

We lost the final each time, was a great week though, shame NZC decided to cut all funding to it

 

[Penrose Warrior]

The Boult year was the first one I went too, there was this crazy lady there stalking him every day. Funny watching him get a new bat as batter of the tournament, our guy got an inflatable boat for being bowled of the tournament. Was always a highlight when the bloke came down that was walking his cat on a lead and the cat was wearing a hat. That number 3 ground was crazy. Remember watching Boults brother win the toss with a pillow under his arm, choose to bat and head straight upstairs for a couple of hours sleep

We lost the final each time, was a great week though, shame NZC decided to cut all funding to it

Hahaha these are all wonderful memories.

I think the crazy lady, from memory, was the old Grafton CC scorer - although it could have been someone else. She was friends with Heath Davis and hung around like a bad smell. The guy with his cat on a lead, I think was Michael Guptill-Bunce's old man (Michael played for the Aces).

Pardon this self indulgence but I won bowler of the tournament one year and got a bat too, it was an absolute piece of shit. The cheapest one Cricket Express could pass on. That was a fun time to go to that week, and it is a shame it got funding cut...although I can see why. They would've heard it was a piss-fest. We played Jesse Ryder in the final one year, he was still absolutely hammered when he batted. Got stumped, not even attempting to be in his crease or to get back into it. And the year a Canterbury club wanted to kill me (not sure which one, Llorne Howell's club) because on the final day, in an inconsequential 3rd v 4th they'd played a huge rain card and wanted it called off, but our coach (Dipak Patel) made me keep them around and we eventually got a 15-over game in.

 

[Izz]

Taumalolo is 33, and isn't the lion-heart that Wiki was. Pretty anonymous for the Cows last year. I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole, but I do agree with you that we need to get a bit funky and start thinking outside the box a bit. There's not a lot available. If we don't get any big names we'll be forced to invest in Maiu'u and Laban, I reckon.

Laban's a back rower, right?

 

[Izz]

Also, Egan apparently ok but Walker out, Jazz onto the bench. CHT & Laban extended reserves. Chances high, imo, that CHT plays and Egan doesn't

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Yea and options are slim aren’t they with May and Molo probably the best of the ones still to commit for next year. I’d be stoked if we somehow jagged May but I’d also be staggered if the Roosters let him slip with JWH moving on.

Another possible option… what chance of Cappy tempting Taumalolo home to play front row?

Lots of recent chat on his declining minutes and output compared to his peak, but a perm shift to prop as part of a 4 man rotation may be exactly what best suits him now. Much like when Wiki came home and moved straight into the front row. Rumours NQ might be trying to clear cap space to retain their youngsters too.

He’s got 3 years left on his current deal at about a mill pa… if we cop say, 650 with NQ footing the rest, that’d be good value I reckon, even at his age. Same as what we offered BHU really.

Edit: to be clear, the irony of my suggesting Taumalolo after bleating on and on about converted back rowers isn’t lost on me either…

Roosters will probably grab Taylan May and have both of them there

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Hahaha these are all wonderful memories.

I think the crazy lady, from memory, was the old Grafton CC scorer - although it could have been someone else. She was friends with Heath Davis and hung around like a bad smell. The guy with his cat on a lead, I think was Michael Guptill-Bunce's old man (Michael played for the Aces).

Pardon this self indulgence but I won bowler of the tournament one year and got a bat too, it was an absolute piece of shit. The cheapest one Cricket Express could pass on. That was a fun time to go to that week, and it is a shame it got funding cut...although I can see why. They would've heard it was a piss-fest. We played Jesse Ryder in the final one year, he was still absolutely hammered when he batted. Got stumped, not even attempting to be in his crease or to get back into it. And the year a Canterbury club wanted to kill me (not sure which one, Llorne Howell's club) because on the final day, in an inconsequential 3rd v 4th they'd played a huge rain card and wanted it called off, but our coach (Dipak Patel) made me keep them around and we eventually got a 15-over game in.

100% correct with that lady, she was telling us many stories of her times with Heath Davis and what they got upto haha. Good work on the bowler, I had highest strike rate one year. Same guy that got the boat won bowler again next time and they gave him an office chair

We lost to Cornwall in the final the last time I went, Guptill-Bunce in that side, first year I went up lost to Takapuna in the final. All up over my time my club went up 4 times and lost the final each time, the last one rested the core guys the day before the final as it was a clear forecast for finals day, lost that so came in 2nd on the ladder then out of nowhere it rained all day the next day and they awarded it to the top qualifier. Heard the yarns about Jesse being on 160 and just walking off because he was bored in 1 game. Probably Lancaster Park for Howell I think but not quite sure

Great weeks up there and those pies at lunchtime were outstanding. This has been an unexpected thread hijacking

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Taumalolo is 33, and isn't the lion-heart that Wiki was. Pretty anonymous for the Cows last year. I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole, but I do agree with you that we need to get a bit funky and start thinking outside the box a bit. There's not a lot available. If we don't get any big names we'll be forced to invest in Maiu'u and Laban, I reckon.

To be fair he wasn't alone in being anonymous for the Cows last year and he's actually 30 (31 later this year) so if he joined next year he'd a few months younger than Wiki when he came over. But yea he's no Ruben in the heart stakes. Saw him around recently, the man looks like he could still slot onto the bench himself.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

Roosters will probably grab Taylan May and have both of them there

Yea been following that recently, its perfect for them isnt it.... Terrell steps up for JWH, Taylan replaces Manu, both already top drawer players but still with their best years ahead.

I would wet the bed if Cappy did a Cronulla and snuck in to grab both.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Ah okay I played from around 2005-11 at that tournament for Howick. Weird tournament, you had 4 teams on the piss from around the 2nd/3rd game (or earlier) once they were out of contention, the postage stamp 3rd ground, although back in the day it was pretty competitive. Trent Boult was batsman/top run scorer of the tournament one year

You don't post at cricketweb do you? There's a Howick-Pak regular poster there who must be around your vintage.