Four Smart Signings
01 Karl Tu’inukuafe [Blues]
He’s a local lad – well, he’s living on the North Shore and had been playing for Harbour so the Blues felt they had to get him.
It wasn’t just because they couldn’t afford to have yet another local starring for a different Super Rugby club – the Blues also knew they were gaining a high quality prop with the power to transform their scrummaging power.
02 Ata ata Moeakiola [Chiefs]
This dude could be almost impossible to ignore as he is close to 100kg and electric quick.
In his limited appearances for Japan he has caused defences plenty of problems - and that was being part of a backline that had limited ball.
On the end of the Chiefs backline, he could be quite lethal – the sort of deadly, X-Factor finisher the Chiefs need to make them that little less predictable.
03 Heiden Bedwell - Curt is [Hurricanes]
We fully accept we might not have a lot of support with our view on this – but Heiden Bedwell-Curtis was quite an impressive player when he was with the Crusaders.
He had a good attitude and a high work rate and he seemed quite tough and dedicated. The Hurricanes need someone like that having lost Brad Shields.
04 Leicester Faingaanuku [Crusaders]
This might not be the campaign in which Leicester Faingaanuku is let loose. He might not be seen much at all in 2019 but that doesn’t mean he’s not a smart signing.
He’s a big, big unit at 1.88m and 110kg and he’s still a teenager. He played for New Zealand Schools on the wing in both 2016 and 2017 and is the bustling power player the Crusaders need to replace Seta Tamanivalu.
But it might be the Crusaders take their time with his development – he’s raw and young and maybe they will condition him this year and give him the odd game with a view to letting him loose in 2020.