Blues 2026
-
@Tim said in Blues 2026:
Now what of the forwards? Beehre, Tuipulotu, Sotutu, and Wrampling-Alec? Maybe Christie?
Front row players don't especially standout, but Fusitua and Renata are reliable. Tu'ungufasi would be nice. We really need a beast of a hooker.
I think your projected forward pack will be pretty close to what we’ll be seeing at the beginning of the season. Christie has looked promising at 6 in his limited appearances for the Blues so I think he’ll get a shot. I’d still like to see Papali’i get a season at blindside but it doesn’t look likely to happen.
In terms of the front row, Mason Tupaea looks like a solid bench option to me. Great carrier, hardworking in the loose. His scrummaging probably needs some more work but he mostly held on during the NPC. Tighthead is a lot more difficult though, there are not a lot of standout candidates right now.
Perhaps one, more left field option: I saw that Marco Fepulea’i (former Auckland tighthead) is playing as a medical joker for Aviron Bayonnais right now. He’s been playing in France for the past few seasons (Colomiers, ProD2) as well as Samoa. At 30 years old, he should be in his prime years as a tighthead (the little I’ve seen of him for Bayonne, he looked like a very solid player). But it might be difficult to pry him away from the Top 14.
-
-
Looking at loose forward versatility:
6/lock: Christie
lock/6: Cook
6/8: Wrampling, Che Clark (needs to have a huge season)
7/6: Papalii, Segner
8: Sotutu (would be interested in seeing him at 6 )From the WTG, Melvin is mostly a 7, Barnes seems to be an 8, and Hainsworth Fa’aofo is a 7.
Kind of makes sense that we might need a 7, as Choat has left, and Suafoa was replaced by Wrampling-Alec.
-
-
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2026:
Hamsahn Tuipulotu
Can't say I've been impressed by him. His brother Tito looks handier.
@Tim Hamdahn is off to Toyota Verblitz.
-
Looking at loose forward versatility:
6/lock: Christie
lock/6: Cook
6/8: Wrampling, Che Clark (needs to have a huge season)
7/6: Papalii, Segner
8: Sotutu (would be interested in seeing him at 6 )From the WTG, Melvin is mostly a 7, Barnes seems to be an 8, and Hainsworth Fa’aofo is a 7.
Kind of makes sense that we might need a 7, as Choat has left, and Suafoa was replaced by Wrampling-Alec.
-
-
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2026:
@Tim said in Blues 2026:
Any news on Kitiona Vai?
Back with NZ Sevens -
I think we can assume that all those players in the AB7s squad at the Ignite7s tournament will not be part of any SR squad or WTG. Just as importantly, who wasn't there - Mathis, Tito-Harris, Knewstubb, Cody Vai.
-
May be worth looking at recent NZ U20 props from the Blues system:
2025
Tamiano Ahloo
Robson Faleafa
Sika Pole2024
Sika Pole
Kurene Luamanuvae2023
Ben Ake
Maliu Niuafe -
@Tim Steven Harris had some oil that Terrell Peita is with the Blues. He was excellent for Northland this season and covers all 3 backrow positions.
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2026:
@Tim Steven Harris had some oil that Terrell Peita is with the Blues. He was excellent for Northland this season and covers all 3 backrow positions.
No problem with him being in the squad but I'm not convinced he covers 7
I hope there room in the squad for a young openside to replace Choat
-
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2026:
@Tim Steven Harris had some oil that Terrell Peita is with the Blues. He was excellent for Northland this season and covers all 3 backrow positions.
No problem with him being in the squad but I'm not convinced he covers 7
I hope there room in the squad for a young openside to replace Choat
@Duluth while he doesn't play 7 much, when I had seen him at club level I thought he played more like a 7, and while he has.the skills at 8, given his size, if he wants to be a genuine starting option, maybe needs to specialise, as alot of players get pigeon holed as a utility.
-
Not sure how accurate this is but I hear James White will be named in the Blues squad or WTG tomorrow.
