If Callan Elliot gets picked up by Motherwell, who might Auckland target for the RB position?
Niko Kirwan will be off contract but is likely settled in Italy.
Other options include Emlyn Wellsmore, Bill Tuiloma (organise a mutual termination), Everton O’Leary, Ronan Wynne, Jackson Jarvie or even Jack-Henry Sinclair.
about 2 years ago· edited about 2 years ago· History
Friar Tuck
If Callan Elliot gets picked up by Motherwell, who might Auckland target for the RB position?
Niko Kirwan will be off contract but is likely settled in Italy.
Other options include Emlyn Wellsmore, Bill Tuiloma (organise a mutual termination), Everton O’Leary, Ronan Wynne, Jackson Jarvie or even Jack-Henry Sinclair.
J-H S deserves a shot at the ALM. Always seems top of everyone's 'Should be in the A League' list.
Ingham or Roux (unsure of contract status of either) being ex AWs maybe tempted by a move to Auckland, if it gives them a better shot at somehow making the 2026 WC. Tuiloma if he came to the ALM I see as a CB leader & club captain.
about 2 years ago· edited about 2 years ago· History
Friar Tuck
If Callan Elliot gets picked up by Motherwell, who might Auckland target for the RB position?
Niko Kirwan will be off contract but is likely settled in Italy.
Other options include Emlyn Wellsmore, Bill Tuiloma (organise a mutual termination), Everton O’Leary, Ronan Wynne, Jackson Jarvie or even Jack-Henry Sinclair.
Realistically, they're probably getting no one off that list unless Everton O'Leary or Jackson Jarvie get offered scholarship type deals. At least that is what it sounded like Corica wanted to do for a few of the younger Kiwi lads - This was mentioned in an interview not too long ago, will see if I can find it.
Sinclair isn't a RB and it would be a disservice to shoehorn him into such a role - RWB at a stretch, but far more inclined to play the attacking role, so I think we can count that out. Wouldn't mind a play for him as a winger though, although I suspect he'll probably get looked over for that position too...
As for the others, well I just have a gut feeling that Tuiloma won't want to come 'home' just yet. Perhaps a point to prove this season after seemingly falling out of favour towards the backend of the last MLS season.
Emlyn Wellsmore is an interesting one though. A guy who has been on the scene quite a while, very experienced at NPL level (96 games) and looks like he'll be at Oakleigh Cannons again this season. My only concern really is that he's on the back doorstep of 3 Victorian clubs whose youth setups/reserve teams are all playing below NPL VIC level. So I guess my question is - Is he really banging down the door to get an A-League gig?
As for Ronan Wynne, there was a Platform Sports Management podcast that they put out not too long ago when he was back home over the Christmas/New Year period, and one of the questions that was put to him was where did he see himself after college - His answer was 'In the USA.' So I don't know if there's anything lined up in that regard, but he did have some pretty big accolades behind him before enduring a pretty injury plagued 2023.
So in summary, my thinking is that Auckland Black Knights will be signing someone like Rhyan farken Grant...😂
If Callan Elliot gets picked up by Motherwell, who might Auckland target for the RB position?
Niko Kirwan will be off contract but is likely settled in Italy.
Other options include Emlyn Wellsmore, Bill Tuiloma (organise a mutual termination), Everton O’Leary, Ronan Wynne, Jackson Jarvie or even Jack-Henry Sinclair.
J-H S deserves a shot at the ALM. Always seems top of everyone's 'Should be in the A League' list.
Ingham or Roux (unsure of contract status of either) being ex AWs maybe tempted by a move to Auckland, if it gives them a better shot at somehow making the 2026 WC. Tuiloma if he came to the ALM I see as a CB leader & club captain.
This must be a particularly brutal time of year to be in Buenos Aires, though I suppose I'd endure just about any weather conditions for another asado especial at La Brigada in San Telmo.
Weather just like Auckland. Same temp, humidity, everything.
Supporter of the world's best football teams: Waikato..., Kingz FC, NZ Knights, The Nix, The Argyle & of course the All Whites
about 2 years ago· edited about 2 years ago· History
Marto
cheesecake
This must be a particularly brutal time of year to be in Buenos Aires, though I suppose I'd endure just about any weather conditions for another asado especial at La Brigada in San Telmo.
Weather just like Auckland. Same temp, humidity, everything.
I was there for a few weeks in March, 2018. Still hot & humid. Auckland a bit cooler in March I feel. Stats tell me BA gets about 2,500 sunshine hrs per year verus Auckland 2,000. But yeah otherwise they are likely pretty similar climates, if thankfully very different economies. Latitude wise BA sits a bit north of the 09, closer level to Sydney. Their asados are a work of art.
Definition of irony. An Argentinian guy in my building who owns a very successful vegetarian meat substitute business (soy mince etc). Just signed up a contract with Subway Australia (over 1,000 stores nationwide). Stuff tastes like plastic to my palate. A disgrace to his homeland!
Lol I was being sarky and said Rhiyan Grant for inaugural captain. It’d be hilarious if their next announced signing is someone like that.
With all due respect to the City group kiwi lad who is the CEO, they’re yet to sign anyone who’s particularly well known or even moderately well known in NZ football.
In hindsight, the name of Foley's club should be blindingly obvious.
Auckland 24 FC.
Like Sydney Ustaše 58 FC.
Auckland Tāmaki 24 FC?
You may not have seen the discussion on the Facebook group - a lot of Don Brash/ACT-voter types who blew a gasket at having any te reo in the name
it really surprises me the number of people across the country that balk at the idea of a Maori word being anywhere official.
Sad thing is that if Maori/Pasifika felt accepted in NZ football/actually liked the sport and played it we would have a significantly more competitive national team. I'm not saying adding Maori into the name would solve anything but it certainly helps, plus it is genuinely something that shows how we're different from the rest of the majority white countries that also play football. I see no real downside apart from people having a whinge.
Not sure if you guys are aware but Auckland also have a baseball/basketball team called the 'The Tuatara' great name in my opinion
about 2 years ago· edited about 2 years ago· History
UK Nick
They've gone.
The baseball team are defunct, but the Auckland Tuatara Basketball team is up & going (established 2022). Be great if Auckland can have a Maori moniker, as long as it's not kitsch. I like Tuatara.
And re NZ football and Maori/Pacific players. Is actually quite a few recently in the AWs - Boxalls, Mata, Stamenic, Lewis, Crocombe, Rufer, Tuiloma, Rogerson. Further back Reid, Rory, TAHW, Dyer, Bertos & Christie. Tamati Williams. Harry Ngata. Wynton & Shane. No doubt I'm missing someone. Champness? I know his mum is Filipino.
Tuiloma would be a great first Auckland captain. Strong Auckland Pasika connections. A statement pick.
about 2 years ago· edited about 2 years ago· History
I remember the lead up to when the Warriors first joined the NRL (or whatever it was back then - Winfield Cup maybe?). They were being set up by the master marketer and drip fed information regularly to the public. The hype was massive at the time and appealed to many more people than those that went to Carlaw Park every week to smoke dope and watch Otahuhu play Glenora or whoever.. The crowds from then on comprised of much more than league players and club supporters and that is what AK need to do too. They need more than just Auckland club players and supporters in the stands and behind them. Although league itself has a very narrow participation base, the game at the highest level (NRL) is well supported across the board by fans.
I was a little surprised ( and pleased) at the number of Nix shirts I saw at the game v Victory last week, you see the same at the Breakers games. AK with its huge population v Wellington has much more opportunity to be a crowd success than what the Nix achieved. At the back of my mind I can’t help thinking that they will splash out big bucks to attract a decent name to the club. That will be to attract the younger kids and get them hooked on the team. How many forum members first got into the Nix as a kid?
