Northland 2025

Some early season oil

New Blues hooker James Mullan has signed a 2 year deal with the Taniwha
Whangarei born Jake Heenan who has played for both Bristol and Connacht is returning home has penned a 1 year deal

Also hearing from a 3rd party that Marcel Renata has signed
Welcome home Marcel
There’s is another Auckland forward that is in negotiations with Northland at the minute

Also in negations with a NZ under 20 prop who is a current NPC player

Possible return to the Taniwha for Solomon Alaimalo and
Tevita Latu who has been bought into the Moana Pacifica squad

Jared Adams has been released from his contract
Remsy Lemisio has not been re signed
Shame about Remsy because he can scrum , just his fitness was not where it should have been

@Steven-Harris was very disappointed with the condition Adams turned up in last year, is a quality prop to have coming off the bench especially around the park, same on Remsy, had a torrid time in his introduction to NPC in 2023 but his scrumming had improved out of sight last year. Such a shame, when I first saw him play club in 2023 he was in mint shape and looked a real prospect.

Thats good news re Mullan given the uncertainty of Moulds, the reluctance to promote Hutchings and the failure of that Aussie hooker.

Thats good for Marcel to return, that was has been in the pipelines for years I believe.

Interesting on Heenan, left with big wraps and didnt he go to Ireland as one of thier project players? Think he has had some injury issues, but still be good to have a genuine 7 option (assume he has been playing 7) given we havent really had a genuine one lock down a spot for a while.

edit - maybe not re the Irish project thing

@taniwharugby Jake who played NZ under 20 back in 2012 wasn’t worried about the money just wanted to give something back to the union where he started his rugby journey
His professionalism will be a great acquisition around the younger players , has lot of big knock out rugby experience
Apparently is in superb shape

Heard some great things about the off season work of Liam Hallam Eames and Sam Caird , both have put on 5kgs
Backline coach Ryan Martin is also returning as well Rivez Reihana rated him as the best backline attack coaches he has ever played under
I heard that through other coaches as well , totally wasted in the MLR imo

Latu tried too much for my liking but no doubt has ability. Hope they keep developing the young backs they have in squad. Is Murray back? Good news on forwards.

@kev there is an outside chance Murray could be back
In the hands of the Reds

@kev said in Northland 2025:

Latu tried too much for my liking but no doubt has ability. Hope they keep developing the young backs they have in squad. Is Murray back? Good news on forwards.

Very talented none the less, missed by Southland.

Is there an up to date squad and management list for 2025.

@TaneT I dont think there is anything online showing the current signed players.

Is there someone in particular you were wondering about or just in general?

@Steven-Harris usually has good intel on this though.

@TaneT Ryan Martin has signed for just 2025 as at this stage as he still has another 2 x years to run on his New England Freejacks contract in the MLR

In terms of signings that i am aware of and whats been realesed on the Northland web site

Hookers
Matt Moulds
James Mullan
Jordon Hutchings

Props
Marcel Renata
Jordon Lay
Ofa Tuangafasi
Chris Apoua
Eslie Fono
One prop to be added (possibly local)

Locks
Sam Caird
Allan Craig
One lock to be added (Liam Hallam Eames) Possibly
Possibly a lock/6 as well

Loose forwards
Simon Parker
Terrell Peita
Jake Heenan
Rob Rush
Local loose forward to be added

Halfback
Sam Nock
Jay Renton
Local halfback to be added

First Five
Rivez Reihana
In discussions with a current Super Rugby 10
Local 10 to be added

Midfield
Corey Evans
Quinten Nicholas
Midfielder/Wing in discussions

Wings
Kiwi Duncan ( signed but out for the season after a shoulder operation)
Nathan Salmon
Brady Rush
Solomon Alaimalo/Fullback
Possibly another outside back

Fullback
Jordon Trainor

Lisati Milo Harris has been released from his contract (heading to france)
Heremaia Murray unfortunately has not been released by the Queensland Reds for the 2025 season

Locals that are realistic
Ricky Heremaia Mid Northern tighthead prop ( has made some great gains fitness wise )
Very big human being
Matt La Toga Mid Northern No 8 ( transfered to Mid Northern ,in superb shape and is playing well)
Jade Stewart Mid Northern 10
Ruben Stewart Mid Northern 15 but being looked at as a possible 12 ( Good size added in the last year)
Zak Shanks Mid Northern 7
Ryan Nankivell UK/Moerewa being looked at as a fullback as opposed to 10

They have got some experienced heads floating around in
Matt Matich
Dan Hawkins
Blake Hohaia
Corey Te Whata Colley
On saying that not to sure what the current selection group are thinking
There is a game against the Auckland contenders to played on Wednesday 28th May at the University Rugby Club this will defy where many of the players that were named in the HP squad are

@taniwharugby might have a few names to add given he’s already watched a couple of club games

@Steven-Harris
Props - I think they are looking at both MN props, but you are correct, Heremaia is a very large man, has some nice soft skills too. If CTC is fit, I'd have him back, love the way he plays.

Lock - While Darcy Holwell has decent size and great skill set, not sure he has the physicality yet, although is still only 19. Most other clubs, have alot of lock/6 sized players.

Loosies - Shanks was excellent on weekend for MN, Letoga looks in better shape than other years as well as playing well

9 - I'd go with Sam Parkes form KK, he is a good 9 and played plenty of Heartland, otherwise the cupboard is bare for anyone experienced, are a few decent looking youngsters coming through, one who also plays for MN, Ben Love was at Boys High last year, good skills, pace and physicality (although was a mid-fielder at school and was in the Blues U18 last year too)

10 - again, cupboard is bare, expect Hawkins likely be given another shot? Think he has alot to offer in a mentor role, but not sure he should keep a spot? Not sold on Jade Stewart, great kicking game, but his running skills.

MId-field - are a few big runners about, hopefully they do go with a lacal here. Ironically, Blake Hohaia looks to be in impressive shape and I see him working hard at the gym, but seems to be more focussed on his player/coach role at Kamo and often plays himself off the bench.

Are a few handy outside backs running about, Judah Andrews from OBM would be one I'd love to get a run, I like Nankivell too, has a good skillset, but needs to learn to deal with pressure better. Kamo have Jacob Lowther as a wing/FB, who is 19, I know he has put on some size after being in the HP program, but could do with a bit more. Petero Ratumaitavuki has soemthing about him, great gas, but not sure his all round skillset is there, the good parts reminds me of Fero and the less ideal, Malupo.

Haven't seen alot of Rueben Stewart since he came back, had some nice touches on the weekend at 15 and def has good size. I saw alot of him in junior rugby, so naturally talented, think he went to MAGS?

Am sure a few other names I missed.

@taniwharugby said in Northland 2025:

@Steven-Harris
Props - I think they are looking at both MN props, but you are correct, Heremaia is a very large man, has some nice soft skills too.

Heremaia is around 6’3 130 Kgs only 22 or 23 can play both sides of the scrum gets great post tackle metres and i have been informed hits ball carriers very hard and then apologies to them after hes smashed them (Needs to stop that)

@Steven-Harris we've always had the talent here, keeping them in rugby and/or Northland is always the struggle, I expect other provinces have similar issues, particularly with keeping kids in the sport post 16-18 or so.

Not to mention prior coaching teams seemed far less invested in developing local talent as well.

We should get a look at new Taniwha recruit Lachie Hooper off the bench for the Brumbies Wednesday night.

@taniwharugby if he’s anything like his Dad Brandon anything is possible, I know the Blues will be keeping a close eye on his progress as he is genuine line breaker .

@kev I'm more thinking injury wise, hasn't played all season that I have seen.

@taniwharugby well deserved hopefully he can remain injury free

@Landers92 unfortunately Matt Le Toga sustained a serious injury in the club final on Saturday
Possibly ruled out for the season is what i am hearing
Got to feel for Matt worked bloody hard to get his S & C up to speed
Looked in very good shape and ready to make an impact

@Steven-Harris yep, was helped from the field and then the cart was used to take him from the side of the field to the medical room.

@taniwharugby I didn't realise Heenan had returned. He'll finally make his NPC debut

@Duluth yeah signed on early this year.

He wanted to return and give something back to Northland, he will add valuable experience.

@taniwharugby very young side for that game. Hard to get a reading from that. Presume another preseason game?

Not a good afternoon, going down 52-7...yikes

Side Auckland named looked pretty good, but still

@taniwharugby said in Northland 2025:

Not a good afternoon, going down 52-7...yikes

Side Auckland named looked pretty good, but still

Shit! Suggests they are focussed on something else….i hope

Our starting pack should be pretty competitive with most, although not sure who our best props will be, but our backs will be pretty green outside the starting guys, which could be a great thing.

Renata, Apoua & CTC all competing for the TH spot, while have to think Lay has the inside running for LH with Fono backing him up.

Matt Moulds surely has the starting hooker role, although heard he was poor defensively the other night, hopefully Mullen can pressure him and even Hutchings gets a decent shake this year.

Lock, I expect Craig to shoulder most of the starts, probably alongside Caird, with LHE backing up, although I think Lachie Hooper can play lock and has impressed in his pre-season matches.

Loose forward will be interesting, with Parker out, I expect Rush at 8, Peita at 6 and Heenan at 7, with both Peita and Hennan standing out in pre-season, Hooper off the bench.

Nock and Reihana to start, not sure who will back up for Nock, Murphy or Renton, while we are thin for 10 with only Jade Stewart in the squad.

Mid-field, Evans and Nichols would be my thinking, with the other 3 all uncapped, and Pasitoa has not impressed in the pre-season, so I'd be inclined to give the bench spot to Reuben Stewart who can play FB as well.

On the wing, with Salmon injured, I expect one of Trainor or Alaimalo to push from FB to the wing and Brady Rush to get another chance on the other wing.

Inc the bench, the match next week will see at least 8 players get thier 1st cap I reckon.

@taniwharugby what’s up with Parker? Ankle? That’s a big loss - are they expecting him to play this season…