@KiwiMurph its one of the great mysteries to any Northland supporter how Blake Hohaia commands a place in this Taniwha team ..
He would struggle to get a starting place in a top Auckland Club team ,unfortunately father time has caught up with Ranger ..
The best midfielder in Northland club footy was Kalani Going and hes not been given a start or a decent opportunity ..
Cant understand why Tua and Murray are not your midfield ..absolute no brainer

@taniwharugby it’s like we thought we were kings of the castle after the Auckland game and pretty much turned the lights out and went to the beach. Typical laid back Northland attitude. Such a frustrating team to follow.

Is actually a bit sad watching Rene this season, true Taniwha legend, but he has dropped off so far from last year, then you combine him with a guy who barely looks the goods at club footy year after year, Hohaia, up against one of the form mid-fields in the comp...I reckon between them they missed at least 8 tackles by my count, thats without taking into account them rushing out and getting no where near the carrier to be counted as a miss (that move is definitely from last years play book)

Off the top of my head, there is at least 6-8 players Northland need to move on from, 6 played today!

This season went from so good to just awful so quickly...the euphoria of the Auckland win, to shipping 150 points in the next 3 games

Unsure how they will approach BOP now, as it is a must win for us to have any shot, hopefully Waikato take the shield so BOP take an eye off us...

I think Going needs a start, maybe some of the young guys, Anderson, Vaipulu, Nankivell, Hape, KIng etc need a run in the next 8 days

@Tim Tua has signed with the Brumbies for 2023 ..was offered a Blues contract but declined it as he he did not want to be stuck behind RTS and Corey Evans

Tackle low FFS..!

Crap pass poor

Northland side to face Ta$man:

• Adams, Moulds (C) Te Whata-Colley
  Goodhue, Caird
  Robinson, Rush, Mau'u
  Nock, Reihana
  Hohaia, Tua
  Murray, Moorby, Leilua

Bench:

• Kauika-Peterson, Puafisi, O'Donnell, Hallam-Eames, Matich, Milo-Harris, Hawkins, Ranger

A few interesting things from that line-up.
Moulds named as Captain, not Tom, so is Tom in doubt or not expected to go 80, given we know BKP will get time too, so, yeah...
Good to see Caird back
Nock starting, sheesh!
Macilai dropped for Pisi. Maciali having probably his best ever season defensively, swapped out for possibly the worst defending player we have!
Cooper dropped for returning Hawkins, although if I am honest, Cooper doesnt look right, and I'm talking his body language and the way he is moving before he runs out on the park
Fantastic to see Moorby back, do think his organisation of our defence is a big part of things, made noticable in his absence, although he has a battle keeping Pisi on his wing...
Mau'u looked good when he came on last week, but knowing what you get form Matich, that musta just about been a coin toss.
Rush to 8, will get a chance to show his versatility, but his form has been to hard to ignore not starting him, and think given Toms lack of rugby...Rush is pushing him at 6 anyway

Wonder what the plan is for the BOP game during the week, as I expect thier side right now, will be massively dependent on if they get a challenge if Waikato roll Wellington.

Same culprits doing the same shit. Ranger and Hohaia is our best centre pairing? Really…

Amongst all the gloom, have to put a plug in for Heremaia Murray, he sticks to his task amongst some brainless crap from his insides.

@Tim Tua had got a heavy cold ,should’nt even be on the bench

@Chris-B said in Ta$man v Northland:

Crikey, Big Levi is in a rich vein of form - he's causing all sorts of problems. Backs starting to find some rhythm late in the half.

Can't help thinking our forward pack should be better than what they are. We're not lacking in size.

I like the look of this young Fletcher Anderson though.

Fletcher Anderson on loan from Canterbury atm
But could stay at Ta$man because not much room in Canterbury LF,s.

Can someone tell me where this team went from the first 5 rounds? Absolutely shocking. What an embarrassment

Would not complain if that was Ranger and Hohaias last game in blue. Hate saying that about Rene, but Blake can sod right off.

How about a Tua/Murray midfield and give this young Tama Anderson a shot on the wing for the next games. Time to start prepping for next year and beyond as we have completely sacked this season.

So pull Tua for Ranger? Wtaf

@kev needs to be told not to fucking kick