@antipodean said in Blues 2026:
@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2026:
Spoke to one of one of Arldies relatives last night at club training who coaches our development team , this was a bit of a revelation there’s a bit of history between Ardie and DPK which involved a good old fashioned punch up
This is definitely not an accurate representation of the two players; the taller one doesn't have hair.
@Canes4life ok that's going back few seasons. Steve just bought back couple memories when he mentioned it in his post
All cleared up then.
@george33 said in Blues 2026:
@Canes4life ok that's going back few seasons. Steve just bought back couple memories when he mentioned it in his post
All cleared up then.
Around 12mins into the below podcast they talk about it together. I'm a little off on some of the detail but close enough.
@Canes4life hey thanks for the clarity I was unaware that had taken place so I was a little taken a back when Ardies relative mentioned it to me
@nzzp Rico Simpson didn’t play last weekend but played against our Waitemata team around 3 weeks ago chatted to Rico post game it was his first game in several weeks he had been out injured didn’t realise how bloody tall he his
Shared an interesting story about one of the games , Stern Vern apparently lost his shit with a massive halftime spray and the players didn’t want him in the jersey room post match .Wow channelling Sir John Kirwin
@brodean said in Blues 2026:
That's a good signing. I was wrong about him.
Yeah I think he looked useful in his limited time this year. I am looking forward to watching him develop.
@Crazy-Horse He's a genuine athlete with decent size and potential to fill out a bit.
I was worried about his defense more than anything else but he defended well this season.
He must be one of the quickest players in the country. There a few moments this year where he looked considerably faster than anyone else on the field
@Steven-Harris said in Auckland Rugby 2026:
@nzzp Rico Simpson didn’t play last weekend but played against our Waitemata team around 3 weeks ago chatted to Rico post game it was his first game in several weeks he had been out injured didn’t realise how bloody tall he his
Shared an interesting story about one of the games , Stern Vern apparently lost his shit with a massive halftime spray and the players didn’t want him in the jersey room post match .Wow channelling Sir John Kirwin
Yeah, sadly, it became clear and obvious that Cotter had lost the dressing room towards the end. He did a decent job overall and got us a title, but I think it's best for all that he moved on. Hope he can go well at the Reds.
@Duluth said in Blues 2026:
He must be one of the quickest players in the country. There a few moments this year where he looked considerably faster than anyone else on the field
He was probably the only player that really troubled the Hurricanes in their playoff run. Good signing and he'll only get better. His old man will be stoked.
@brodean said in Blues 2026:
That's a good signing. I was wrong about him.
Same here. He should be starting for Blues next year either as wing or fullback
@Tim said in Blues 2026:
If he beefs up he could be a pretty good player. Derfinitely has some talent and pace.
He's already 191cm and 95kg so he's already bigger than the likes of Carter, McKenzie, Jordan, Harkin, BB, Hutchinson and Kneepkins.
Think his size is adequate for fullback/wing considering his pace.
From a Gregor Paul article:
The thinking seems to be that Barrett’s Super Rugby form was a product of the game plan and environment at the Blues, rather than evidence of a serious decline in Barrett’s athleticism and abilities.
The grapevine suggested there was tension between Barrett and Blues coach Vern Cotter – a tension that extended to other senior players – over the restrictive game plan.
@brodean said in Blues 2026:
@Tim said in Blues 2026:
If he beefs up he could be a pretty good player. Derfinitely has some talent and pace.
He's already 191cm and 95kg so he's already bigger than the likes of Carter, McKenzie, Jordan, Harkin, BB, Hutchinson and Kneepkins.
Think his size is adequate for fullback/wing considering his pace.
He's definitely beefed up since he debuted in NPC
@brodean said in Blues 2026:
That doesn't explain BB's inconsistency for the last 6 years
I actually think he's been pretty consistent.
@Tim said in Blues 2026:
The grapevine suggested there was tension between Barrett and Blues coach Vern Cotter – a tension that extended to other senior players – over the restrictive game plan.
Well well well… 
@Steven-Harris said in Auckland Rugby 2026:
@nzzp Rico Simpson didn’t play last weekend but played against our Waitemata team around 3 weeks ago chatted to Rico post game it was his first game in several weeks he had been out injured didn’t realise how bloody tall he his
Shared an interesting story about one of the games , Stern Vern apparently lost his shit with a massive halftime spray and the players didn’t want him in the jersey room post match .Wow channelling Sir John Kirwin
Well well well… I tried to say it was bad behind closed doors and got shredded for it. The truth always comes out eventually. ‘Toxic’ is the word that was used to describe it to me.
@Landers92 Compare 2024 to 2026 and you are well down on experienced and physically capable players. Flogging a dead horse?
Should probably move this discussion to the Blues thread.
@KiwiMurph Looks quick. I would like to see him at 15 next year with Clarke and Lancaster on the wings. Zarn to bench or trialled at 12.
@Tim said in Blues 2026:
@Landers92 Compare 2024 to 2026 and you are well down on experienced and physically capable players. Flogging a dead horse?
Should probably move this discussion to the Blues thread.
What's interesting is that the Blues looked a bit disinterested at times this year - I guess what I'm trying to say here is that I can imagine a coach losing their shit with them.
My question is did he lose them before choosing the Reds or after? Honestly speaking, I'd be well pissed if my coach signed somewhere else in the same competition with a team who are qualitatively worse than us. That says something.
@Tim said in Blues 2026:
@gt12 This is where sports fans get into Kremlinology. Can't blame us though ...
That's the perfect word to describe it, but some of these guys might have enough sauce to push it one way or another.
My position is that if he were let go and chose the Reds, great, but leaving for the Reds is not cool. So, given that he was announced basically before the season started, I put this on him.
People with sources, please refute as necessary, I'm just here to start shit discussion.
@gt12 said in Blues 2026:
My position is that if he were let go and chose the Reds, great, but leaving for the Reds is not cool. So, given that he was announced basically before the season started, I put this on him.
his contract was up though, wasn't it. So it's a natural break point - if the Blues org really wanted him they would have pushed for an extension. I presume therefore it was a mutual parting of ways
He had signed for two years and said that was enough time (maybe aware his methods have a time limit?)
Blues asked him to do one more season (there was an article saying they weren't happy with the coaching options on the market at the time). Both parties knew VC was looking for a job and the Blues were looking for a replacement going into the season
@Landers92 said in Blues 2026:
@Steven-Harris said in Auckland Rugby 2026:
@nzzp Rico Simpson didn’t play last weekend but played against our Waitemata team around 3 weeks ago chatted to Rico post game it was his first game in several weeks he had been out injured didn’t realise how bloody tall he his
Shared an interesting story about one of the games , Stern Vern apparently lost his shit with a massive halftime spray and the players didn’t want him in the jersey room post match .Wow channelling Sir John KirwinWell well well… I tried to say it was bad behind closed doors and got shredded for it. The truth always comes out eventually. ‘Toxic’ is the word that was used to describe it to me.
Whether or not Cotter has some issues with some senior players, you pitched the idea that the Blues weren't playing as well due to Cotter being toxic. This is a simplistic idea that doesn't consider the wider facts.
A bunch of key players have moved on/signed to make money overseas. These are all players who were fringe All Blacks and key Blues players. They were in their late 20's and had fallen out of favour with the then All Blacks set up. Its a natural progression to head overseas at that stage to make as much money as you can while you still have a few years left. This is happening across all Super teams for players of that age. So you can't put player loss down to Cotter.
The players who have so far replaced the Blues players have not been as good ( yet ). Some of the players are very young and still developing. So that is one reason for the teams performance challenges.
The other is losing our best player Dalton Papali'i. We were winning a high percentage of games while he was playing this year but lost every game since his injury. The Blues defence fell apart without him there.
Beauden Barrett has been inconsistent for his entire career at the Blues during the 20's. While I respect his service to NZ Rugby in general I personally don't think his involvement with the Blues has been helpful.
Overall the Blues did much better than I expected this year.
@brodean said in Blues 2026:
@Landers92 said in Blues 2026:
@Steven-Harris said in Auckland Rugby 2026:
@nzzp Rico Simpson didn’t play last weekend but played against our Waitemata team around 3 weeks ago chatted to Rico post game it was his first game in several weeks he had been out injured didn’t realise how bloody tall he his
Shared an interesting story about one of the games , Stern Vern apparently lost his shit with a massive halftime spray and the players didn’t want him in the jersey room post match .Wow channelling Sir John KirwinWell well well… I tried to say it was bad behind closed doors and got shredded for it. The truth always comes out eventually. ‘Toxic’ is the word that was used to describe it to me.
Whether or not Cotter has some issues with some senior players, you pitched the idea that the Blues weren't playing as well due to Cotter being toxic. This is a simplistic idea that doesn't consider the wider facts.
A bunch of key players have moved on/signed to make money overseas. These are all players who were fringe All Blacks and key Blues players. They were in their late 20's and had fallen out of favour with the then All Blacks set up. Its a natural progression to head overseas at that stage to make as much money as you can while you still have a few years left. This is happening across all Super teams for players of that age. So you can't put player loss down to Cotter.
The players who have so far replaced the Blues players have not been as good ( yet ). Some of the players are very young and still developing. So that is one reason for the teams performance challenges.
The other is losing our best player Dalton Papali'i. We were winning a high percentage of games while he was playing this year but lost every game since his injury. The Blues defence fell apart without him there.
Beauden Barrett has been inconsistent for his entire career at the Blues during the 20's. While I respect his service to NZ Rugby in general I personally don't think his involvement with the Blues has been helpful.
Overall the Blues did much better than I expected this year.
I had the impression Blues were impacted most when Perofeta was running the cutter instead of BB. Thought Dalton was there when they lost to Chiefs Brumbies and Crusaders.
@ARHS said in Blues 2026:
@brodean said in Blues 2026:
@Landers92 said in Blues 2026:
@Steven-Harris said in Auckland Rugby 2026:
@nzzp Rico Simpson didn’t play last weekend but played against our Waitemata team around 3 weeks ago chatted to Rico post game it was his first game in several weeks he had been out injured didn’t realise how bloody tall he his
Shared an interesting story about one of the games , Stern Vern apparently lost his shit with a massive halftime spray and the players didn’t want him in the jersey room post match .Wow channelling Sir John KirwinWell well well… I tried to say it was bad behind closed doors and got shredded for it. The truth always comes out eventually. ‘Toxic’ is the word that was used to describe it to me.
Whether or not Cotter has some issues with some senior players, you pitched the idea that the Blues weren't playing as well due to Cotter being toxic. This is a simplistic idea that doesn't consider the wider facts.
A bunch of key players have moved on/signed to make money overseas. These are all players who were fringe All Blacks and key Blues players. They were in their late 20's and had fallen out of favour with the then All Blacks set up. Its a natural progression to head overseas at that stage to make as much money as you can while you still have a few years left. This is happening across all Super teams for players of that age. So you can't put player loss down to Cotter.
The players who have so far replaced the Blues players have not been as good ( yet ). Some of the players are very young and still developing. So that is one reason for the teams performance challenges.
The other is losing our best player Dalton Papali'i. We were winning a high percentage of games while he was playing this year but lost every game since his injury. The Blues defence fell apart without him there.
Beauden Barrett has been inconsistent for his entire career at the Blues during the 20's. While I respect his service to NZ Rugby in general I personally don't think his involvement with the Blues has been helpful.
Overall the Blues did much better than I expected this year.
I had the impression Blues were impacted most when Perofeta was running the cutter instead of BB. Thought Dalton was there when they lost to Chiefs Brumbies and Crusaders.
We lost Dalton in the first 5 minutes in the 2nd Crusaders game after beating them previously in the season.
There was a dodgy 'try' awarded by BoK in the first Chiefs game . Brumbies game we lost by a few like the Chiefs game.
We won all the other games Dalton played. The key is those previous losses were a few points. We had the 2nd best defense in the comp. After Dalton was injured we were getting massive scores run up against us.