He was good for the ABs last year, especially against Ireland. He attracts some irrational comments.
Blues
Match thread
Waratahs 2025
Reiko Ioane responds to all the (IMHO some of it justified) criticism he's received with a hat-trick. Good for him!
Blues player of the match poll:
@Tim said in Blues vs Waratahs 2025:
He attracts some irrational comments.
No he doesn't. He attracts criticism in the same way a shit Cody Taylor or Scott Barrett does.
Baffles me that the tahs have the amount of $$ and wallabies as they do and they end up like this every season. Even with some of the rebels landing with them it’s the same old tahs
Dalton Papalii's been massive this game. Actually he's been great all season for the Blues.
Nice captaincy by Rieko to hand Harry a final moment for his time at the Blues on Eden Park.
@Landers92 said in Blues vs Waratahs 2025:
Baffles me that the tahs have the amount of $$ and wallabies as they do and they end up like this every season. Even with some of the rebels landing with them it’s the same old tahs
Says a lot about culture. Compare to Brumbies who always look well coached with players who step up.
@Tim said in Blues vs Waratahs 2025:
He was good for the ABs last year, especially against Ireland. He attracts some irrational comments.
There's a well identified weakness in his game, a below par ability to put his outsides away due to a poor passing game, lack of vision, or both.
Aside from that, which is pretty fuckin important, he's a good center.
Just watching the highlights.
Not sure why he was cut down from behind by Kellaway.
Is he losing some pace or did he not realize all he had to do was pin his ears back?
So I think Rieko now goes level with Doug Howlett on the all time top tryscorers list for the Blues.
Thought the Tahs would actually show up.
A few thoughts
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Lam looks like an AB - that late grubber was a beauty and a perfect example of why you grubber late at the line and not early.
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Rieko showing some form will please the AB coaches
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Sotutu really stood up in this game
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Tuipulotu with a game that will please Razor
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Fusitua didn't do his chances any harm
@sparky said in Blues vs Waratahs 2025:
Reiko Ioane responds to all the (IMHO some of it justified) criticism he's received with a hat-trick. Good for him!
Great to see him score the three tries.
BUT
None of them were examples of, or results of, great "centre " play.
He could have scored them from the wing.
A crash ball from 4 yards out and won two kick chase races.
No sleight of hand. No swerve, no nous. He didnt construct any of them himself.
Im not dunking on him, but I feel people are using these tries as a veil to mask sub optimal centre play.
@Jet said in Blues vs Waratahs 2025:
No sleight of hand. No swerve, no nous. He didnt construct any of them himself.
Did you actually watch the full tries or simply the final outcome?
The first try came from a huge break which was the result of a perfectly timed pass by Rieko in midfield to put Beauden in space.
@KiwiMurph yeah was wondering if it was Rieko but assumed it was Lam after nobody commented.
@KiwiMurph said in Blues vs Waratahs 2025:
@Jet said in Blues vs Waratahs 2025:
No sleight of hand. No swerve, no nous. He didnt construct any of them himself.
Did you actually watch the full tries or simply the final outcome?
The first try came from a huge break which was the result of a perfectly timed pass by Rieko in midfield to put Beauden in space.
Which is what you want a centre to do. So good on him. Hopefully he keeps it up.
@KiwiMurph said in Blues vs Waratahs 2025:
@Jet said in Blues vs Waratahs 2025:
No sleight of hand. No swerve, no nous. He didnt construct any of them himself.
Did you actually watch the full tries or simply the final outcome?
The first try came from a huge break which was the result of a perfectly timed pass by Rieko in midfield to put Beauden in space.
Yeah haha he started and finished off the play.