@nzzp said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@mariner4life said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@ACT-Crusader said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@mariner4life said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@ACT-Crusader said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@antipodean Either have the Crusaders to be fair. Both sides will have to up their games.

We’ve been underdogs all year.

Just happy we are in the finals and have a fighters chance.

yep, your dogshit team of a thousand encumbent All Blacks is definitely the scrappy 10-point 'dogs to Australia's most storied State.

Best of luck Mighty Ducks.

I’m sure our boys will bring great effort and fighting spirit to this unenviable task at hand. Facing a rejuvenated and proud team like the Reds is a tough ask.

1996 called and it wants it's shit takes back

just remember 1996 lads. who woulda thunk the two sides would take the trajectories they did

View image

Qld choked at home in the semi to the Sharks. All the talk was a Reds v Blues final.

@Chris said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@george33 said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris-B so mounga of to Japan after season ?

He announced that he'd signed again for the Crusaders for next year at last weekend's match.

But, only a one year contract, I think.

I hear maybe Christie starting Grace on the bench.

Taylor,Mounga,Goodhue and Newell all back as expected.

any inside word in relation to midfield and back 3 selections?

@george33 said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Machpants no next year he announced it today

No.

@Chris said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@george33 said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris-B so mounga of to Japan after season ?

He announced that he'd signed again for the Crusaders for next year at last weekend's match.

But, only a one year contract, I think.

I hear maybe Christie starting Grace on the bench.

That's interesting and would be a bit surprising to me - wonder if that is a horses for courses pick?

I've thought Grace has been going well at 8.

@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@george33 said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris-B so mounga of to Japan after season ?

He announced that he'd signed again for the Crusaders for next year at last weekend's match.

But, only a one year contract, I think.

I hear maybe Christie starting Grace on the bench.

That's interesting and would be a bit surprising to me - wonder if that is a horses for courses pick?

I've thought Grace has been going well at 8.

Much prefer the added size Grace brings and Blackadder playing openside. Christie playing the final quarter adds a bit more speed.

@ACT-Crusader said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@george33 said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris-B so mounga of to Japan after season ?

He announced that he'd signed again for the Crusaders for next year at last weekend's match.

But, only a one year contract, I think.

I hear maybe Christie starting Grace on the bench.

That's interesting and would be a bit surprising to me - wonder if that is a horses for courses pick?

I've thought Grace has been going well at 8.

Much prefer the added size Grace brings and Blackadder playing openside. Christie playing the final quarter adds a bit more speed.

Perhaps Chris can answer this but according to Crusaders website Grace & Christie are both 105kg, can't be right?

@kiwi_expat I just looked at the Canterbury media guide from last year, and they had Christie at 104.5kg (1.86m) and Grace at 105kg (1.93m). I assume Grace is still working on getting more meat on his body at only 22 years old, but with Grace's added height, I assume Christie currently has more muscle mass.

@kiwi_expat That sounds right for Christie.

Other sites have Grace at 107kgs, but that's probably an old stat. I'd be surprised if he's not at least 110kg.

@Stargazer said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

Canterbury media guide

So Ennor apparently weighs the same as 1st five F.Burke despite being taller, no wonder he regularly leaks like a sieve on defense. Can't believe such an ineffective lightweight centre who gets physically dominated by all the other NZ team's midfielders ever made an All Black squad.

@kiwi_expat You're incredibly negative this year. Did someone in Chch piss you off, or something?

@Stargazer Crusaders could've signed 105kg midfield rock Rameka Poihipi but opted to retain all of their incredibly ineffective lightweight midfield backs, just really disappointed in their recruitment efforts post-2019 SR season in general.

@kiwi_expat said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@george33 said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris-B so mounga of to Japan after season ?

He announced that he'd signed again for the Crusaders for next year at last weekend's match.

But, only a one year contract, I think.

I hear maybe Christie starting Grace on the bench.

Taylor,Mounga,Goodhue and Newell all back as expected.

any inside word in relation to midfield and back 3 selections?

Jordan,LF,Reece I believe are back 3 I am hearing Goodhue is playing in the MF It depends were on they were tossing up between playing Havilli or Ennor.

@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris-B said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@george33 said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Chris-B so mounga of to Japan after season ?

He announced that he'd signed again for the Crusaders for next year at last weekend's match.

But, only a one year contract, I think.

I hear maybe Christie starting Grace on the bench.

That's interesting and would be a bit surprising to me - wonder if that is a horses for courses pick?

I've thought Grace has been going well at 8.

I believe the thinking is combating Liam Wright and Fraser McReight with an out and out fetcher like christie.
Pretty sure they will revert back to Grace,Matera and Blackadder for SF and Final if they get that far.

@Stargazer said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@kiwi_expat I just looked at the Canterbury media guide from last year, and they had Christie at 104.5kg (1.86m) and Grace at 105kg (1.93m). I assume Grace is still working on getting more meat on his body at only 22 years old, but with Grace's added height, I assume Christie currently has more muscle mass.

The Canterbury site is not really updated I think Grace is around 112 kg now.

@kiwi_expat said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Stargazer said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

Canterbury media guide

View embedded content

So Ennor apparently weighs the same as 1st five F.Burke despite being taller, no wonder he regularly leaks like a sieve on defense. Can't believe such an ineffective lightweight centre who gets physically dominated by all the other NZ team's midfielders ever made an All Black squad.

Thats way out too Ennor tips around 98kg I believe.

@Chris It's not from the Canterbury website, it's the NPC media guide. Kiwi-expat posted the link.

@ACT-Crusader And the Reds put 50 on us that year as well.

@kiwi_expat said in QF Crusaders vs Reds:

@Stargazer Crusaders could've signed 105kg midfield rock Rameka Poihipi but opted to retain all of their incredibly ineffective lightweight midfield backs, just really disappointed in their recruitment efforts post-2019 SR season in general.

Yeah I was one calling for Poihipi to pick up a contract 2 seasons ago ahead of Punivai and McLeod.

The Young forwards coming through have proved they are up to it.
selecting Newell,Williams,Brewis,Gallagher and Grace have been good.
I think Kellow and Gardner will be worthwhile.And Burke is starting to come along well.

But Mcleod,Punivai ,TTT and Hickey have been a waste of space.
And we need to recruit a young HB which I hear Hotham is being looked at for next season.