@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.
3 months later
@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.
1 month later
Northland have changed something in the way they contract players, and as such pulling in quite a few local youngsters.
All 3 of these lads, along with Holwell currently play for Mid Northern
Jade spent some time in the Crusaders youth system after he left either MAGS or St Kent's, can't recall which he and Reuben went to.
Jade is a 10, Reuben a midfield/FB and Heremaia is a prop, I don't know anything of his background, but is a big lad.
We should get a look at new Taniwha recruit Lachie Hooper off the bench for the Brumbies Wednesday night.
And another youngster from Mid Northern (was at Waipu last year and has been part of the HP program since last year) plays centre/wing.
Was also in the U20 baabaa squad that played the super teams.
This time from Moerewa-United Kawakawa, Hoani Reid, was in the HP side last year as well.
Powerful and deceptively quick midfielder, who could get a decent run atbthe next level as I haven't seen anything of Quentin Nichols this season and we are very light in the midfield.
@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 .
I thought Murphy had already been signed...plays 9 for Kamo.
Hopefully can pressure Nock to lift his game or take his spot
Matt letoga, made Northland while playing for battling Hikurangi in 2023, playing only 1 game off the bench for the Taniwha vs NH that year, moved to Mid Northern this season and looks to have shed a few kgs in the process, plays mainly 8.
Zac Shanks is a robust and athletic 7 playing for Mid Northern, has been on the fringe of selection for a couple of seasons.
Was very good in yesterday's club final.
@taniwharugby well deserved hopefully he can remain injury free
@taniwharugby said in Northland 2025:
Matt letoga, made Northland while playing for battling Hikurangi in 2023, playing only 1 game off the bench for the Taniwha vs NH that year, moved to Mid Northern this season and looks to have shed a few kgs in the process, plays mainly 8.
Absolute workhorse
@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
Northland side to face Counties in the pre-season match tomorrow.
Good to see Nichols named, hadn't seem him named in club footy this year.
Good chance for a new newbies to lay a marker.
@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…
I think the NRU has done well to put some half decent looking squads together in the last few seasons
But i'm thinking they've underachieved
That's got to be disappointing to the NRU
What do other Taniwha supporters think?
I'm not close to the squad; but i'm thinking the team culture might be "to good"
If you know what i mean . . .
Not saying that this squad could win the comp; but if I was in it, I wouldn't be happy if we didn't go at least 50/50
@hikastags said in Northland 2025:
Excited to see how the two Aussies Hooper & Pasitoa go.
on pre-season matches, one has gone very well, the other, less so....
IMO, we have largely underachieved, sadly there seems to be an acceptance of mediocrity over the years when it seems some are just content with not coming last (I'm talking at Management/Board level)
We are attracting quality players back, with the likes of Parker, Evans, Renata, Heenan et al, and by all accounts almost got Beehre back too, getting players in Super squads, but need to build on this and get some actual success on the park.
A Shield win on Saturday would be a monumental start to the season, but against a quality looking 'naki squad, that is a tall order...
In saying that, we have beaten them in Taranaki 2 of their last 3 meetign in Taranaki, but those 3 games go from 2022 to 2010, and the win/loss pattern says they will win this one, comfortably.
@taniwharugby which one has gone well? I haven’t been following pre-season. I saw we got pantsed by Auckland.
I’m not very optimistic about our shield chances. Taranaki have had better prep than any team coming into this season. I think the Naki have played 3/4 preseason games compared to everyone else’s 1 or 2.