Blues 2026
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2026:
@CtownCowboy said in Highlanders 2026:
Can confirm XTH has signed a two year deal with the Landers . Blues weren’t convincing enough to get him to stay local.
Have taken this from the Highlanders thread regarding Xavier Tito Harris.
Exciting for the Highlanders. Looking forward to watching him play. Under the roof he should really thrive.
As a Blues I'm absolutely livid though. What the actual fuck are the Blues doing at wing? - they've lost Tangitau and XTH on top of Telea (and to a lesser extend Kade Banks) and Rieko won't be there next year (and isn't a wing).
Meanwhile they signed some no name R Paul who didn't play a game this year and a whole bunch of fullbacks (Perofeta, Zarn, Payton Spencer etc).
I thought Zarn looked really good in yesterdays game but Spencer should not be in the squad. I don't see Spencer as a long term prospect. He needs to put on some size and make some serious improvements to his defence - like the rest of the team.
Zarn looks like he has an extra yard of pace which is good to see. He did a lot for Hawkes Bay in setting up their win.
Losing Mark Tele'a is massive. He made so many tries out of nothing for the Blues or set up tries that shouldn't have been scored.
Losing Xavier Tito Harris is I agree unbelievably poor given he's been one of the few bright lights for Auckland.
Segner has gone backwards massively this year. Both he and Clark are part of the defensive issues. Clark has good potential but he needs to seriously up his defensive game. How he is in the Blues squad while a guy like Casey isn't even in the reckoning boggles the mindl.
I'm glad we haven't persisted with Vikena because his lineout has not improved at all and it's honestly a liability.
Northland, Harbour, Auckland and Counties are all in the bottom of the table which isn't good for us because it sets up a loser mindset. Our Blues players are spread too thin.
Harbour not managing a single win is especially sad.
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@brodean said in Blues 2026:
@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2026:
@CtownCowboy said in Highlanders 2026:
Can confirm XTH has signed a two year deal with the Landers . Blues weren’t convincing enough to get him to stay local.
Have taken this from the Highlanders thread regarding Xavier Tito Harris.
Exciting for the Highlanders. Looking forward to watching him play. Under the roof he should really thrive.
As a Blues I'm absolutely livid though. What the actual fuck are the Blues doing at wing? - they've lost Tangitau and XTH on top of Telea (and to a lesser extend Kade Banks) and Rieko won't be there next year (and isn't a wing).
Meanwhile they signed some no name R Paul who didn't play a game this year and a whole bunch of fullbacks (Perofeta, Zarn, Payton Spencer etc).
I thought Zarn looked really good in yesterdays game but Spencer should not be in the squad. I don't see Spencer as a long term prospect. He needs to put on some size and make some serious improvements to his defence - like the rest of the team.
Zarn looks like he has an extra yard of pace which is good to see. He did a lot for Hawkes Bay in setting up their win.
Losing Mark Tele'a is massive. He made so many tries out of nothing for the Blues or set up tries that shouldn't have been scored.
Losing Xavier Tito Harris is I agree unbelievably poor given he's been one of the few bright lights for Auckland.
Segner has gone backwards massively this year. Both he and Clark are part of the defensive issues. Clark has good potential but he needs to seriously up his defensive game. How he is in the Blues squad while a guy like Casey isn't even in the reckoning boggles the mindl.
I'm glad we haven't persisted with Vikena because his lineout has not improved at all and it's honestly a liability.
Northland, Harbour, Auckland and Counties are all in the bottom of the table which isn't good for us because it sets up a loser mindset. Our Blues players are spread too thin.
Harbour not managing a single win is especially sad.
Funny you said that about Mark Telea..... Right on cue I read this Just as he gets a line break to set up a try for North Harbour.
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@nonpartizan said in Blues 2026:
Funny you said that about Mark Telea..... Right on cue I read this Just as he gets a line break to set up a try for North Harbour.
The fact that he is not in the AB squad while we are losing every other game boggles the mind.
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@brodean said in Blues 2026:
@nonpartizan said in Blues 2026:
Funny you said that about Mark Telea..... Right on cue I read this Just as he gets a line break to set up a try for North Harbour.
The fact that he is not in the AB squad while we are losing every other game boggles the mind.
It's OK. they've got people who are totally committed to NZ Rugby like (checks notes) Leicester Fainga'anuku
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@nzzp said in Blues 2026:
@brodean said in Blues 2026:
@nonpartizan said in Blues 2026:
Funny you said that about Mark Telea..... Right on cue I read this Just as he gets a line break to set up a try for North Harbour.
The fact that he is not in the AB squad while we are losing every other game boggles the mind.
It's OK. they've got people who are totally committed to NZ Rugby like (checks notes) Leicester Fainga'anuku
checks more notes:
Richie Mo' moments Mo'unga. -
@nostrildamus said in Blues 2026:
@nzzp said in Blues 2026:
@brodean said in Blues 2026:
@nonpartizan said in Blues 2026:
Funny you said that about Mark Telea..... Right on cue I read this Just as he gets a line break to set up a try for North Harbour.
The fact that he is not in the AB squad while we are losing every other game boggles the mind.
It's OK. they've got people who are totally committed to NZ Rugby like (checks notes) Leicester Fainga'anuku
checks more notes:
Richie Mo' moments Mo'unga.Yeah he was front of mind, but hadn't really come back yet so left him out
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@cgrant said in Blues 2026:
If the Blues are chasing openside loose forwards, then Brash and Melvin were the in form 7s of the region.
Frankly Melvin is the only guy that should be considered from Harbour. Brash and Melvin have both had better seasons than Segner.
Brash and Church have both had a good second half of the season but they're also both very small, and they need some work on their defence.
Kellow has also had a good season. Not sure about his contract status but he should be considered. Good Auckland boy and has some solid experience under his belt.
Is Choat actually going overseas now? Wasn't sure about his off field dramas?
Wrampling-Alec has been good when available. Strong defender with a good defensive work rate.
I wondered if Dalton might move away from 7 but I think the best starting loose trio at this point would be:
- Wrampling-Alec
- Papali'i
- Hoskins Sotutu
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I like the Oudenryn signing. I assume this will be Eklund's last season then.
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@KiwiMurph said in Blues 2026:
Blues desperately needed a young hooker to develop once Vikena flamed out. Happy with that signing.
Didn't the Blues also have Vernon Bason as injury cover last year. He'd be my pick of the Hurricanes hookers coming through and he hasn't secured a contract for next season (that I know of). Maybe another option for the Blues.
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@Canes4life Yeah agreed. He would be better option for the Canes than Raymond Tuputupu as well (not to pick on the guy but he has displayed nothing to suggest he is Super Rugby quality).
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@george33 said in Blues 2026:
Sounds like Oudenryn has signed for 2027
But will be in the WTG for 2026What the Blues post stated an hour ago...
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@KiwiMurph I think Mullan, if fit should be a good option in the 23 for the Blues, his work in NPC has been good, throwing, carrying, defence and is a strong scrummager.
Hutchings was also good, a smaller fella in the RR mould, although Hutchings throwing started to falter later in the season, but dont think he is up to Super yet.
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@Landers92 said in Blues 2026:
@george33 said in Blues 2026:
James Cameron
Eli Oudenryn signed for Blues.And there goes the odd man out. I know I was talking about it a bit but didn’t expect him to end up with the Blues. What a great signing this is.
It had to Happen to many players in the Crusaders region, Cameron also blocked by A Tuivailala and Cooper Roberts coming through who the Crusaders have invested in.
Good to see both of them get a contract both talented players.
