Pivac out of the running - off to Benetton -
@george33 said in Blues 2026:
With Carlos Spencer returning home just wonder if he's got any interest in applying for either Auckland or Blues in a coaching roll or maybe he already has.
I hope not. He is royalty to Blues fans. I don't want him to suck and the fan base turning on him.
Fair enough if he wants the job as he's gotta make a living, but I don't want to slag off a club legend for not being able to do something basic like selecting the right players.
@Dice said in Blues 2026:
@george33 said in Blues 2026:
With Carlos Spencer returning home just wonder if he's got any interest in applying for either Auckland or Blues in a coaching roll or maybe he already has.
I hope not. He is royalty to Blues fans. I don't want him to suck and the fan base turning on him.
Fair enough if he wants the job as he's gotta make a living, but I don't want to slag off a club legend for not being able to do something basic like selecting the right players.
Yeah, agree. We saw what happened with Kirwan. Obviously Carlos won't be head coach, but like you, I don't want to start criticising a club legend if he isn't doing well in his role.
@Darren said in Blues 2026:
I have my doubts about Carlos, I remember the Canes cut him. You would imagine he would make a pretty good skills coach.
Hmmm. Being awesome at something doesn't always translate to being able to coach others to get better. Carlos just 'did it' - how do you coach that?
@nzzp said in Blues 2026:
@Darren said in Blues 2026:
I have my doubts about Carlos, I remember the Canes cut him. You would imagine he would make a pretty good skills coach.
Hmmm. Being awesome at something doesn't always translate to being able to coach others to get better. Carlos just 'did it' - how do you coach that?
Indeed. Banana kicks, no look passes and passes between the legs probably don't come naturally to most players.
@MN5 said in Blues 2026:
@nzzp said in Blues 2026:
@Darren said in Blues 2026:
I have my doubts about Carlos, I remember the Canes cut him. You would imagine he would make a pretty good skills coach.
Hmmm. Being awesome at something doesn't always translate to being able to coach others to get better. Carlos just 'did it' - how do you coach that?
Indeed. Banana kicks, no look passes and passes between the legs probably don't come naturally to most players.
the knee kick! Genius - genuinely something new in the game that then got outlawed.
@Steven-Harris Elbow injury haven't heard he's out for season tho.
That would be disappointing.
@Dice said in Blues 2026:
@george33 said in Blues 2026:
With Carlos Spencer returning home just wonder if he's got any interest in applying for either Auckland or Blues in a coaching roll or maybe he already has.
I hope not. He is royalty to Blues fans. I don't want him to suck and the fan base turning on him.
Fair enough if he wants the job as he's gotta make a living, but I don't want to slag off a club legend for not being able to do something basic like selecting the right players.
Neither do I but that doesn't stop us loving JK in any capacity outside of coaching.
@nzzp said in Blues 2026:
@Darren said in Blues 2026:
I have my doubts about Carlos, I remember the Canes cut him. You would imagine he would make a pretty good skills coach.
Hmmm. Being awesome at something doesn't always translate to being able to coach others to get better. Carlos just 'did it' - how do you coach that?
A point I've made previously - if your coaching amounts to "see opportunities, do something awesome and exploit", you're only going to get increasingly frustrated at mere mortals.
@antipodean especially in aging stars who probably still have the mind for the game but the body can no longer produce
Not coincidentally the 105kg wing has started the year fabulously in this key facet for the modern wing. He wasn’t bad on the ground either against the Brumbies, snaffling an intercept try, finishing another out wide, as well as running for a game-high 108 metres before departing on the three-quarter mark with a popped rib cartilage he’s hoping won’t keep him out this week.
“I’m putting my hand up. I’ve played with this before (he also did it in the ‘24 final) and know how to handle it. I’ve got the guard on I used two years ago. There’s discomfort, but I’ll get a local anesthetic in there and see how we go.”
Next year we should the following props: Tu'ungufasi, Renata, Fusitua, and Ake.
Hopefully Ake gets some game time this year, so we can see if he has a future (he is signed through 2027). Lay seems to be constantly unavailable and will be off contract, so probably leaves. Yates is also an unknown at this stage. Tupaea is improving and seems to be a project player. Matenga has looked solid.
Anyone else from youth grades, NPC, off-contract Super Rugby player ranks etc who might be considered? It would be good to get one of the Hurricanes props (Mafileo).
Tu'ungufasi (LH & TH)
Fusitua (LH)
Ake (LH)
Renata (TH)
Yates (TH)?
That leaves a gap at tight-head, and maybe the WTG used for recruitment of a prop?