| Adrian
Smith |
| Club: |
Massey
|
| Preview: |
Not
really sure who he is, must be the next big hope. |
| Review: |
I
think he came on, was monstered and was never seen again, not
too worry there is always next year, coach should have known
better |
| Rating: |
1/10 |
| |
|
| Michael
Mayhew |
| Club: |
Northcote
|
| Preview: |
Solid
but not particularly awe inspiring. The Mayhew's seem to be
more interesting when out on the grog at average local night-spots.
Hope he can hold it better than his predecessor from Devonport. |
| Review: |
I
thought young Michael played well this season and definitely
looks to be the pick of the substantial Mayhew iwi. While he
benefited from Parsons having an injury crisis, he can be well
pleased with his form |
| Rating: |
7/10
|
| |
|
| Michael
Reid |
| Club: |
Marist
|
| Preview: |
They
seem to like him and the reports are good but having looked
at almost a full year of club rugby I can't say he is much better
than the other guys he comes up against every season. |
| Review: |
Largely
anonymous in club rugby but I thought this guy is good, not
dynamic but very solid |
| Rating: |
7.5/10
|
| |
|
| William
Whetton |
| Club: |
Northcote |
| Preview: |
There
are a few players in this side with handy surnames when it comes
to rugby and the politics that inevitably go with it. William
comes from a very handy union pedigree but again is so young
he may not make it to R18 flicks at Hoyts. Lets see how he goes.
|
| Review: |
Played
once, still a bit young and too early to say whether he will
be any good. |
| Rating: |
n/a |
| |
|
| Chris
Smith |
| Club: |
Takapuna |
| Preview: |
Injured
for the early half of the season but has come back to play some
reasonable footie and lock the Takapuna scrum. Had his critics
last year so will have to step it up to continue in the game.
|
| Review: |
The
critics continue but I though he did well considering he was
handed the captaincy at about the time when the iceberg hit
the ship and then was benched and released of this role. Is
he a lock, is he a loose-forward?, this is the real issue. |
| Rating: |
5/10
|
| |
|
| Robbie
Colhoun |
| Club: |
Silverdale
|
| Preview: |
Just
not sure why we go back to this fruitless tree. Its just not
going to happen. |
| Review: |
Not
sure if he was injured but didn't feature much and I for one
am glad as he offers nothing. |
| Rating: |
n/a |
| |
|
| Richard
Mayhew |
| Club: |
Northcote
|
| Preview: |
Going
to the gym 3 times a day may make you big but does it make you
good. He has been around long enough no that he has to front
with something more than his chest. Hopefully he realises something
better than an ok No. 8. |
| Review: |
Benched
again after a couple of starts and appearances, obviously not
in favour, I would have to say Ma'afu offers a lot more and
he will need to reassess where his career is going or get a
degree or both. |
| Rating: |
4/10
|
| |
|
| Matt
France |
| Club: |
Takapuna
|
| Preview: |
A
quiet start to the club season from our second choice halfback.
Has started to assert more authority which saw him run close
to a Blues call-up. We expect considerable improvement. |
| Review: |
A
handy player but will be remembered for an average game at Hamilton,
the service that night was also pretty crap and when you always
come off the bench it is hard to make your mark. Still good,
hope he hangs around |
| Rating: |
5/10 |
| |
|
| Ben
Botica |
| Club: |
North
Shore |
| Preview: |
Speaking
of surnames, Botica has had a pretty cruisey run. The manager
seems to like him as his "impartial" rugby diatribe in the North
Shore Times is littered with glowing tributes. Ben is again
very young like many of his team-mates picked thus far, but
with the media accolades brings pressure to show the talent
he has got. He will be watched closely. |
| Review: |
Had
a great starting debut, but is just young and needs time. It
is still too soon if he will emulate his old man, I think this
mantle is hurdle. |
| Rating: |
5/10
|
| |
|
| Hayden
Abercrombie |
| Club: |
North
Shore |
| Preview: |
North
Shore have not had one of their better seasons, from Premier
Finalists to Plate Semi losers is not ideal preparation for
one of their better players. I just think this guy is honest,
capable but essentially not that thrilling. |
| Review: |
Still
not that thrilling and will go no further, sadly he was cast
into the abyss by Wilson selecting him in the midfield at Waikato,
he failed that test but has probably never played there. |
| Rating: |
4/10
|
| |
|
| Nafi
Tuitavake |
| Club: |
Massey
|
| Preview: |
He
looks ok this guy, looked good internationally and hopefully
he can follow his brother and be exceptional. Looking forward
to this. |
| Review: |
See
above, looks ok but never featured strongly apart from finishing
a good try vs. Wellington, has enormous thighs. |
| Rating: |
5/10
|
| |
|
| Anthony
Tuitavake |
| Club: |
Massey
|
| Preview: |
Class
act. |
| Review: |
Captaincy
doesn't suit him and he struggled with a team losing 6 on the
trot, injury has plagued his season and we needed a bit more
from what he actually delivered. |
| Rating: |
4.5/10 |
| |
|
|
Jack
McPhee
|
| Club: |
Glenfield |
| Preview: |
Old
Left Peg is back for another year. Again just doesn't get me
excited, the utility tag just means you can't find a spot to
call your own. |
| Review: |
Mairangi
Murray thinks he rocks, I think he got a bit better as the season
progressed but would like to see a more traditional full-back. |
| Rating: |
5/10
|
| |
|
| James
Afoa |
| Club: |
Northcote
|
| Preview: |
Big
and reasonably handy, I like him. |
| Review: |
Still
like him, he is big and imposing, they seem to favour Afeaki
and Reid so he may choose another route. |
| Rating: |
5/10
|
| |
|
| Ben
Afeaki |
| Club: |
Marist
|
| Preview: |
Seems
to get injured a lot, seems good but hopefully can take the
field at some stage. |
| Review: |
Off
to the Chiefs which will benefit this guy, he is another one
who struggles with injury and I am not sure whether he actually
has the goods. His legs look too skinny for his frame. |
| Rating: |
5/10 |
| |
|
| James
Parsons |
| Club: |
Takapuna |
| Preview: |
Solid,
as long as we can get it straight into the line-out I'm happy. |
| Review: |
Broke
arm, broke it again, season over, didn't really play enough
to give a rating. |
| Rating: |
n/a |
| |
|
| James
King |
| Club: |
North
Shore |
| Preview: |
Young
but that's all I really know about him. |
| Review: |
Without
a doubt the find of the season, brilliant prospect, mobile,
tall, excellent stuff. |
| Rating: |
9/10 |
| |
|
| Filo
Paulo |
| Club: |
Mahurangi |
| Preview: |
Sorry
nothing on this fella. |
| Review: |
Sorry
think he is highly overrated, when he isn't doing cheap shots
he falls over in the contact, don't like him. |
| Rating: |
4/10 |
| |
|
| Vili
Ma'afu |
| Club: |
Massey |
| Preview: |
Let's not go back to the well that was dry. <Editor's
note: have we forgotten his form of 2008?> |
| Review: |
Maybe
I did, will have to retract my earlier prejudices, he has been
very sound and one of the better forwards around. |
| Rating: |
8/10 |
| |
|
| Malakai
Ravulo |
| Club: |
Helensville |
| Preview: |
Good
when he is good, not so when he isn't |
| Review: |
Average. |
| Rating: |
4/10 |
| |
|
| Tom
Chamberlain |
| Club: |
Marist |
| Preview: |
The
luckiest person ever to play for the Blues. |
| Review: |
Didn't
like this guy either, hell I don't even like myself. Got it
wrong, has played exceptionally well, good on you. |
| Rating: |
8/10 |
| |
|
| Nalu
Tuigamala |
| Club: |
East
Coast Bays |
| Preview: |
Not
sure |
| Review: |
Nippy
little terrier, sparks it up a bit but doesn't have a kicking
game, like the way he goes about it needs to work on things
but looks promising. |
| Rating: |
6/10
|
| |
|
| Chris
Smylie |
| Club: |
Massey |
| Preview: |
Very
good, solid and him and France should have this spot for themselves.
|
| Review: |
Regressed
this year due to injury and maybe the fact that he was once
good and now is not so, a far cry from NPC player of the year
a few years back. |
| Rating: |
5/10 |
| |
|
| Michael
Harris |
| Club: |
Northcote |
| Preview: |
Kicks
ok but is a bit slow, not sure where he will play. |
| Review: |
Has
been ok, its a bit like my dog taking an interest in the family
cat, I'm just not sure where I sit on this. He can kick, but
can he direct a game, is he still too young, do I expect more
from less and is my ACC levy going to increase? Needs work but
hopefully will go on. |
| Rating: |
6/10
|
| |
|
| Andrew
Mailei |
| Club: |
Northcote |
| Preview: |
Good. |
| Review: |
Sound,
like a reliable old friend but has difficulty in passing. Defensively
good but offers no real influence |
| Rating: |
4/10 |
| |
|
| George
and Ken Pisi |
| Club: |
Massey |
| Preview: |
Both
the Pisi boys have the goods, now its time to show us how good
they are. |
| Review: |
I'm
going out on a limb and may never travel to Massey again without
a police escort but have these guys not gone on as well as people
might have expected. I believe they are a bit short of their
heralded promise. George is better than Ken but I feel a sense
"when is going to happen?". |
| Rating: |
5/10 |
| |
|
| Luke
McAlister |
| Club: |
Silverdale |
| Preview: |
I'll
put my hand up and say I don't like him despite being regarded
as a Harbour Great. Struggles to perform internationally and
I get the feeling his undoubted ability may never be realised. |
| Review: |
Played
well vs BOP and offered some sense of stability when present
which wasn't much. Ok I suppose, not sure how we can afford
him. |
| Rating: |
5/10
|
| |
|
| James
Hanson |
| Club: |
|
| Preview: |
n/a |
| Review: |
Hanson
was crap, a needless replacement for Mayhew after 60 mins, time
and time again. |
| Rating: |
n/a |
| |
|
| Scott
Uren |
| Club: |
Marist |
| Preview: |
n/a |
| Review: |
Quite
good, keep him. |
| Rating: |
n/a |
| |
|
| Management: |
|
The official
spin will be that they are new coaches, have got a young team,
injuries played a part, need another season, blah...blah..
What happened
was another chapter in the "Harbour 25th Anniversary Special"
which will say promised something, essentially delivered nothing.
It is what it is.
The last
three years have been very disappointing and I think we need
to refresh the organisation with great haste.
The Board
and staff need to display a clear plan of where they are heading
and why for the third consecutive year we can't finish above
9th.
|
From
the desk of the Harbour Hamster, your grassroots rep