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Three players recommit to chiefs
- Thread starter Amobokoboko
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all pretty minor to the big question, will SBW be around next year?
if not then it would seem that Willison would become the #1 2nd five, will also be interesting to see where Burleigh will be next year. You would think his performance for the highlanders would earn him a more elevated Role in either side
if not then it would seem that Willison would become the #1 2nd five, will also be interesting to see where Burleigh will be next year. You would think his performance for the highlanders would earn him a more elevated Role in either side
Keithmurdoch
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I would have thought that the fact Wayne Smith is hanging around (and Arron Cruden) would have 2nd 5s queing up to sign on with the Cheifs - if I was Phil Burleigh, Charlie Ngatai, Sean Treeby or even Ryan Crotty and SBW left I'd be in there like a shot
Keithmurdoch
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Charlie Ngatai signed on!! He's going to be quality, good signing. Now just need a centre for all the times Kahui gets injured
Ngatai is a good signing - he probably hasn't delivered on his potential yet, but he is a big powerful player who could be very handy running off Aaron Cruden.
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i would be very happy of Burliegh signed on with us for next year, would be interesting to see how he would go when viewed as more than an injury replacment as he was at the start of the season
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Burleigh is a quality centre. I feel he offers more to the Highlanders backline than Treeby.
I've been pleasantly surprised with Burleigh this year too. He has always had a very impressive passing game, and a good kicking game, but his running game seems to have improved quite a bit recently. I'm still not convinced about his defense, but it has been better than I had expected. There is no doubt he is better suited than Treeby to the Highlanders game-plan of 'get the ball out wide at all costs....', as unlike Treeby he actually passes the ball!
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that might be a bit harsh, considering last year it rarely got past the half back and even then normally for a hit up i'm finding it refreshing to have options out wide.
I do agree though It is where A Smith can really improve and thats slowing the game down, we've fired it back out into the backline a few too many times. Fast, fast slow, fast, fast, slow...rather than fast, fast, fast ,fast...drop
Burliegh plays as a second second five which i have found very good when playing for territory, getting the ball that one pass further out before kicking for the opposite touch seems to work, you do need the fast ball from smith to give them time though. I would be happy with smith - Noakes - Burliegh as 9 - 10 - 12
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Charlie Ngatai signing is good but it also confirms that SBW will leave the chiefs.
Real shame, SBW has grown a lot as a player over the last two years and that combination with Cruden and Kahui had the potential to be pretty awesome, the potential to dominate super rugby.
he also solved the problem that the chiefs have had for a long time now. They lacked a true quality 12. having one this year has been a massive factor in their turnaround in results.
Will now be interesting to see what happens to Burleigh, I think he's proved this year that he is a genuine asset in super rugby and I think he's been better than both Lynn and Treby
Real shame, SBW has grown a lot as a player over the last two years and that combination with Cruden and Kahui had the potential to be pretty awesome, the potential to dominate super rugby.
he also solved the problem that the chiefs have had for a long time now. They lacked a true quality 12. having one this year has been a massive factor in their turnaround in results.
Will now be interesting to see what happens to Burleigh, I think he's proved this year that he is a genuine asset in super rugby and I think he's been better than both Lynn and Treby
Perhaps slightly harsh, but I think the Highlanders have tried to go wide far too often this season. I'm certainly not against going wide (indeed with the likes of Gear, Ellison, Poki, Smith etc it is a must!), but my issue is that it seems to be their only option at times. Even when they get slow ball they try to fling it wide - this often results in us getting hit behind the advantage line and we risk losing the ball. I've always been a firm believer that you need to earn the right to go wide - we need the forwards to create some front-foot ball for us (i.e. getting the opposition backline retreating) before we use out weapons out wide. As you suggest, varying the pace of the game will help too, and hopefully Aaron Smith will continue to probe in close to the breakdown (as he did for the AB's) which will prevent defenders spreading out in defense too quickly.
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agree completely, it was where we beat the chiefs last time, i remember we had the run of breaks from right infront of our own line and got just over their ten metre and the back line had become so splintered we just stopped and did a few hit ups, loved it! was more excited about that than scoring a try because for the first time in god knows how long they were trying to completely control the game...and we havent done it as much as i would have liked since
