Top Ferners underrated players
-
@Nepia Ha! I do feel that the criticism directed towards Ben May is justified though. He's gone a bit better though this year by his standards.
@African-Monkey said in Top Ferners underrated players:
@Nepia Ha! I do feel that the criticism directed towards Ben May is justified though. He's gone a bit better though this year by his standards.
Some of the issue with May for Magpies fans, aside from his upright running and tendency to look like he split in half sometimes in the scrum was that he was clearly a Hurricanes placement rather than a Magpies sourced player ... like Ben Thug Brother Franks was back in the day (great player, never really looked like he was keen on playing for the Magpies) ... which doesn't help when there was an only 3 Magpies in the Canes limit.

-
This thread is not for Hurricanes fans
-
This thread is not for Hurricanes fans
@mariner4life said in Top Ferners underrated players:
This thread is not for Hurricanes fans
And the Broken Record of all time award goes to.......
-
@mariner4life said in Top Ferners underrated players:
This thread is not for Hurricanes fans
And the Broken Record of all time award goes to.......
@sparky said in Top Ferners underrated players:
@mariner4life said in Top Ferners underrated players:
This thread is not for Hurricanes fans
And the Broken Record of all time award goes to.......
On here? I'm actually proud of that.
-
Jamie Booth was the head-turner for me
Also liked the work of Ayden Johnstone, Michael Collins, Josh Mackay, Quinton Strange, Cowley-Tuioti, Telea and Eklund from Blues and Boshier, Ah Kuoi and Vaai from Chiefs.
@ARHS said in Top Ferners underrated players:
Jamie Booth was the head-turner for me
Also liked the work of Ayden Johnstone, Michael Collins, Josh Mackay, Quinton Strange, Cowley-Tuioti, Telea and Eklund from Blues and Boshier, Ah Kuoi and Vaai from Chiefs.
Collins at centre is a revelation compared to his fullback displays.
Eklund has taken his opportunity this year (and has obviously been working on his throwing).
-
- Ben May. I just don't understand the hate for this long serving prop. Stupid penalties at times but solid in most phases.
- Jamie Booth. He's been excellent for the Canes this year.
- Ollie Norris. Not a single word on him after the Chiefs games in which he took part. Was OK against Lomax last Saturday. Remember he has just turned 20 so definitely a promising youngster.
- Ah Kuoi. In my view, he was the best Chiefs player in their tight five this year.
- Dillon Hunt. Consistently very good for the Landers. Better than Kirifi who does not know how to make a pass but who has the love of most Ferners.
@cgrant said in Top Ferners underrated players:
- Dillon Hunt. Consistently very good for the Landers. Better than Kirifi who does not know how to make a pass but who has the love of most Ferners.
Agree with this. Dillion Hunt is consistently fab but doesn't get much praise from the pundits or the Fern.
-
@Winger Haha Ben May cops plenty on here.
@African-Monkey said in Top Ferners underrated players:
@Winger Haha Ben May cops plenty on here.
Mainly from me.

-
George Bridge, gets a lot of stick on here, sure he's not Jonah Lomu or Doug Howlett, but he is a Test quality winger and rated No 1 in NZ by his peers.
@sparky said in Top Ferners underrated players:
George Bridge, gets a lot of stick on here, sure he's not Jonah Lomu or Doug Howlet, but he is a Test quality winger and rated No 1 in NZ by his peers.
Are those peers from Christchurch?
-
@sparky said in Top Ferners underrated players:
George Bridge, gets a lot of stick on here, sure he's not Jonah Lomu or Doug Howlet, but he is a Test quality winger and rated No 1 in NZ by his peers.
Are those peers from Christchurch?
@antipodean If that survey was legit, then it was probably just the Crusaders, who were most prominently mentioned. As Ben O'Keefe was ranked the best referee, I suspect it was made up.
-
Reed Prinsep - He's no world beater but solid enough and does a decent enough job. The hate for him is ridicuous on here mainly from Wellington and Hawke's Bay fans as they're moaning that one of their own hasn't been picked ahead of him.
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti - A bit too small to make the international scene but he's been very reliable for the last 4 years where he is strong around the field especially in the contact area and a safe bet at line out time.
Sione Mafileo - One of the best scrummaging tightheads in the country who like Cowley-Tuioti, goes under the radar. Probably lacks a bit around the field to really stand out to the public and make the next level, but he's outstanding at scrum time and good to have come on as the Blues don't lose anything at set piece time.
Sean Wainui - Not one of the big names at the Chiefs but he's probably been the best for the Chiefs (aling with Ah Kuoi) this year.
@African-Monkey said in Top Ferners underrated players:
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti - A bit too small to make the international scene but he's been very reliable for the last 4 years where he is strong around the field especially in the contact area and a safe bet at line out time.
Maybe it's because the Blues are winning more and playing better so I'm watching them more closely, but Gerald Cowley-Tuioti has really impressed me this year: works hard, high accuracy rate, great awareness of what is going on around him, makes good decisions.
-
Jordie Barrett used to get way too much criticism on the Fern but has silenced his critics with a string if superb performances in Super Rugby Aotearoa. Think he's one of the most skilled players I've seen. Hope he sticks with the Canes for many seasons to come.
-
Jordie Barrett used to get way too much criticism on the Fern but has silenced his critics with a string if superb performances in Super Rugby Aotearoa. Think he's one of the most skilled players I've seen. Hope he sticks with the Canes for many seasons to come.
@sparky said in Top Ferners underrated players:
Jordie Barrett used to get way too much criticism on the Fern but has silenced his critics with a string if superb performances in Super Rugby Aotearoa. Think he's one of the most skilled players I've seen. Hope he stick with the Canes for many seasons to come.
Wtf does that have to do with an underrated players thread?
-
@sparky said in Top Ferners underrated players:
Jordie Barrett used to get way too much criticism on the Fern but has silenced his critics with a string if superb performances in Super Rugby Aotearoa. Think he's one of the most skilled players I've seen. Hope he stick with the Canes for many seasons to come.
Wtf does that have to do with an underrated players thread?
@Bones said in Top Ferners underrated players:
@sparky said in Top Ferners underrated players:
Jordie Barrett used to get way too much criticism on the Fern but has silenced his critics with a string if superb performances in Super Rugby Aotearoa. Think he's one of the most skilled players I've seen. Hope he stick with the Canes for many seasons to come.
Wtf does that have to do with an underrated players thread?
I think if he improves his composure he could be an All Time great, yet until recently there were posters on the Fern suggesting he should be way down the pecking order.
-
@Bones said in Top Ferners underrated players:
@sparky said in Top Ferners underrated players:
Jordie Barrett used to get way too much criticism on the Fern but has silenced his critics with a string if superb performances in Super Rugby Aotearoa. Think he's one of the most skilled players I've seen. Hope he stick with the Canes for many seasons to come.
Wtf does that have to do with an underrated players thread?
I think if he improves his composure he could be an All Time great, yet until recently there were posters on the Fern suggesting he should be way down the pecking order.
@sparky said in Top Ferners underrated players:
@Bones said in Top Ferners underrated players:
@sparky said in Top Ferners underrated players:
Jordie Barrett used to get way too much criticism on the Fern but has silenced his critics with a string if superb performances in Super Rugby Aotearoa. Think he's one of the most skilled players I've seen. Hope he stick with the Canes for many seasons to come.
Wtf does that have to do with an underrated players thread?
I think if he improves his composure he could be an All Time great, yet until recently there were posters on the Fern suggesting he should be way down the pecking order.
Yeah and rightly so, as his play reflected he should be well down the pecking order. Now that he's improved his play, he's rated accordingly with most having him starting - funny that!
He'd be listed at about last on a list of underrated players.
-
Jamie Booth was the head-turner for me
Also liked the work of Ayden Johnstone, Michael Collins, Josh Mackay, Quinton Strange, Cowley-Tuioti, Telea and Eklund from Blues and Boshier, Ah Kuoi and Vaai from Chiefs.
@ARHS said in Top Ferners underrated players:
Also liked the work of Ayden Johnstone, Michael Collins, Josh Mackay, Quinton Strange, Cowley-Tuioti, Telea and Eklund from Blues and Boshier, Ah Kuoi and Vaai from Chiefs.
Aidan Ross, Bradley Slater, Lachlan Boshier (and Sam Cane) were all consistently superb for the Chiefs this year. The 0-8 season record doesn't do their efforts justice.
-
@ARHS said in Top Ferners underrated players:
Also liked the work of Ayden Johnstone, Michael Collins, Josh Mackay, Quinton Strange, Cowley-Tuioti, Telea and Eklund from Blues and Boshier, Ah Kuoi and Vaai from Chiefs.
Aidan Ross, Bradley Slater, Lachlan Boshier (and Sam Cane) were all consistently superb for the Chiefs this year. The 0-8 season record doesn't do their efforts justice.