Chiefs announce two new signings

[Amobokoboko]

[h=3]The 2012 Investec Super Rugby Champions Chiefs have announced two new signings for the 2013 season.[/h]Former Hurricanes and Wellington midfield back Charlie Ngatai and former Highlander and Manawatu captain, Nick Crosswell have both signed with the Chiefs until 2014.
Ngatai, is a former NZ Secondary Schools representative who played forPovertyBaywhile still atGisborneBoysHigh School. He made his ITM Cup debut at the age of 18 and was part of the NZ U20 IRB World Junior Champion team in 2010.
Chiefs’ coach Dave Rennie said “Charlie is fast and solid with a strong skill set. I had the pleasure of working with Charlie with the NZ U20s inArgentinaand am exciting about him joining our squad.â€
The twenty-two year old is equally eager about his move North. “I am really excited and looking forward to the prospect the next Investec Super Rugby season with the Chiefs brings,†said Ngatai.
Nick Croswell is a twenty-six year old loose forward who has had close to 100 first class games under his belt and over 30 super rugby appearances.
He has represented NZ Secondary Schools, NZ U19 and is entering his seventh Provincial Union season. Croswell has played for both the Hurricanes and Highlanders Investec Super Rugby teams.
“Nick brings with him a wealth of experience and strong leadership skills. He is a hard working, abrasive player and the type of character that will fit perfectly into the Chiefs family,†said Rennie.
Croswell acknowledges that Rennie has been a huge part of the development of his career and is rapt to be reunited with his former coach. “I’m just really stoked to have the chance to play in a team that has had so much success this year. I’m also looking forward to being coached by Dave, Wayne, Tom and Andrew.â€
The two newest additions to the Chiefs will go head to head this Friday night in their opening ITM Cup clash, when Manawatu host Wellington.

 

[Darwin]

Both very good signings in my opinion. I'm a bit disappointed at losing Crosswell from a Highlanders perspective, but I think he will fit in very well at the Chiefs. His versatility will be a big asset (especially if he is used off the bench), though he may be an option to start at number 8 if Kane Thomson departs, as he brings very similar attributes to Thomson. Ngatai hasn't quite delivered on his promise yet (injuries haven't helped), but he is a very talented midfield back, and his direct running may be needed by the Chiefs in the absence of SBW (especially when Kahui gets injured....).

 

[Draggs]

Disappointing to see Crosswell leave. I liked the bloke. Put in a good shift and offered a different style of backrow compared to Thomson.
That being said, Highlanders have some good loose forwards to call upon. Is Hugh Blake a blindside or openside?

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Rumours are Thomson may leave the Highlanders too, though take that with a grain of salt.

 

[Draggs]

Rumours are Thomson may leave the Highlanders too, though take that with a grain of salt.

Where is the Atom off to?

 

[Darwin]

Rumours are Thomson may leave the Highlanders too, though take that with a grain of salt.

Thomson has been rumoured to be leaving the Highlanders almost every season, but like you I will believe it when I see it! He was apparently considering overseas options if he has not been included in the RC Squad, but given he is inlcuded he will probably be staying in NZ (and at the Highlanders).

Disappointing to see Crosswell leave. I liked the bloke. Put in a good shift and offered a different style of backrow compared to Thomson.
That being said, Highlanders have some good loose forwards to call upon. Is Hugh Blake a blindside or openside?

Blake is an openside. He is very much like a young McCaw - great that he breakdown, but has a bit of size to him (he's listed at 1.87m and 104kg), so is handy in the tight too, or running with ball in hand. He may still be a season away from making the Highlanders main squad, but I would imagine he will have a good chance of making the wider training squad for next season at the very least. I think the Highlanders have plenty of good loose forward options as you say (Otago's Ioane and Evans are others to keep an eye on), but with Crosswell gone we are a bit short of locks, and I have no idea where we are going to find any! Hopefully we look at targetting a youngster like Joe Latta or Dom Bird and try to develop him into a top quality lock...

 

[Draggs]

Thomson has been rumoured to be leaving the Highlanders almost every season, but like you I will believe it when I see it! He was apparently considering overseas options if he has not been included in the RC Squad, but given he is inlcuded he will probably be staying in NZ (and at the Highlanders).



Blake is an openside. He is very much like a young McCaw - great that he breakdown, but has a bit of size to him (he's listed at 1.87m and 104kg), so is handy in the tight too, or running with ball in hand. He may still be a season away from making the Highlanders main squad, but I would imagine he will have a good chance of making the wider training squad for next season at the very least. I think the Highlanders have plenty of good loose forward options as you say (Otago's Ioane and Evans are others to keep an eye on), but with Crosswell gone we are a bit short of locks, and I have no idea where we are going to find any! Hopefully we look at targetting a youngster like Joe Latta or Dom Bird and try to develop him into a top quality lock...

Yeah, you've got Hardie, Tietjens, Boys who are all good flankers. Otago have a few decent options it seems, Evans and Grant are still relatively young.
Dom Bird is huge, add him to Thomson and you should dominate the lineouts. I like Hoeata and Bekhuis, but they aren't the most dynamic and I think one has a few discipline issues. My knowledge of the Highlanders rugby region is increasing but I have a way to go.

 

[Darwin]

Yeah, you've got Hardie, Tietjens, Boys who are all good flankers. Otago have a few decent options it seems, Evans and Grant are still relatively young.

Hardie finally started to show his talent this season, and looks to be a quality 7 at Super Rugby level, but I'm not overly convinced by Tietjens (who I don't think is signed yet for next season) or Boys. Both a good at ITM Cup level, but really struggle to compete with the top opensides at Super Rugby level. Boys will be serviceable next season, but in the long run I would expect Blake to overtake him, as he looks to have the potential to be a top quality Super Rugby player.

Dom Bird is huge, add him to Thomson and you should dominate the lineouts. I like Hoeata and Bekhuis, but they aren't the most dynamic and I think one has a few discipline issues. My knowledge of the Highlanders rugby region is increasing but I have a way to go.

I'm not sure if the Crusaders will let Bird go, but it would be great if they did! Hoeata and Bekhuis are a solid starting combination (but Hoeata does have discipline issues as you mention), the problem is that we have no quality back-ups now. Callum Retallick was with us this season and is is pretty solid, but I would be surprised if he is back, as he wasn't used much this season. There a very few locking options within the franchise region (that is why I suggested nicking a lock from elsewhere), but the best of the options would be Otago's Rob Verbakel or possible young Michael Fatialofa, a massive (2m+, and over 120kg) young lock from Southland who would have been in the under 20's this season if he had not been injured.

 

[Larksea]

was known that Ngatai was going to the chiefs for some time, was really the first indicator that SBW was leaving the Chiefs and NZRU

Really interesting to see Crosswell move to the chiefs... He seemed a good fit for the highlanders and really became quite an important squad member I thought, Little suprised but he obviously has a relationship with Renee and Renee is obviously keen on getting his former turbos and U20 players involved at the chiefs.

Could be the chiefs #8 for next year, at least be in competition with Fritz Lee - who will be very hungry after having very little involvement with the chiefs this year.

I think Adam Thomson has threatened to leave the highlanders for some time now, was pretty keen on a move to the crusaders. He is from Christchurch originally I think, you would think he would be a pretty good fit there at #6 though the crusaders already have Two Whitelocks and Matt Todd on their books with McCaw and Read, they are clearly not lacking in loose forward stocks - Thomson may just be the little bit extra the crusaders need to get back into winning super titles.

But he is 30 now, 2 years older than Messam, 4-5 older than Vito you would think it's going to get harder not easier for him to make an All Black game day 22 unless there are injuries. Even less so when Kaino (who is also younger than Thomson) Returns.

 

[james5000]

It will be interesting to see how Ngatai goes, injuries have plagued him so much. Rennie must rate him a bit.

Ngatai was one of the best age group sprinters in his year when he was in secondary schools. I heard he use to run 11 seconds flat and he use to thrash Julian Savea in the sprints. He's also a big bloke as well.

If he stays injury free there aint a better team to be a part of next year. He's definitely a player i will be keeping an eye on, hopefully he comes up with the goods.

 

[RyotoTheDragon]

It will be interesting to see how Ngatai goes, injuries have plagued him so much. Rennie must rate him a bit.

Ngatai was one of the best age group sprinters in his year when he was in secondary schools. I heard he use to run 11 seconds flat and he use to thrash Julian Savea in the sprints. He's also a big bloke as well.

If he stays injury free there aint a better team to be a part of next year. He's definitely a player i will be keeping an eye on, hopefully he comes up with the goods.

Had the chance to play against him when playing Gisborne and the guy was a beast. Always thought he would have made a name for himself by now as he was one of the stars of our age group given that some of those in our age groups have already made all blacks and have starred in their super rugby sides.

Didnt know that he was plagued with injuries though. Hopefully he fulfills his potential.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

It's also quite likely that the next All Black 12 will come out of next year's Super Rugby season.

I don't think Crotty is the future, he's too small a crash ball player and he doesn't have the deft skills of Mauger etc. Similar to Treeby really.

Ngatai I think is actually the most promising of the midfielders, in my opinion.

Of course if Kahui is fit/Ellison keeps in form we may just see three first fives in the NZ squad, and three midfielders plus a utility player or two (Carter, Ellison, B Smith etc.).