MLR 2022 Preview – Seattle Seawolves

The title of defending champions has now officially been passed to another team and it’s time for the Seattle Seawolves to stop resting on laurels. A relatively new and expanded coaching staff and numerous signings are a reason for optimism for the 2022 Major League Rugby campaign. So too a more balanced schedule that sees them running out at Starfire Stadium on opening day.

Unlike Houston, the Seawolves have retained some of their past with five players remaining on the squad from the inaugural 2018 season. Three others were there in 2019 for the second title-winning effort. There are a lot of new names and potentially a couple more to come with some positions still incomplete pending new announcements.

A detailed squad list can be seen here.

 

TEAM HISTORY

YEAR	SEASON	RANK	FINALS
2018	6-2	2 of 7	2-0*
2019	11-4-1	2 of 9	2-0*
2020	1-4	10 of 12	–
2021	4-12	11 of 12	–

*won Championship

Looking back it’s quite extraordinary that the Seawolves pulled off title-winning campaigns in both 2018 and 2019. Intended coaches Tony Healy and Anton Moolman were denied visas in each year leaving Phil Mack to act as player-coach for the first season and Richie Walker to be parachuted in for the second. It should also be noted that in both seasons they were actually second-best during the regular season, behind Glendale and San Diego respectively.

The wheels came off in 2020 and the woes continued in 2021 but a change in team leadership showed signs of hope towards the end of the campaign. Allen Clarke is now locked in for the long-term and that stability has helped the recruitment process.

 

COACHING STAFF

Clarke, a former Ireland hooker, is Director of Rugby and Head Coach with extensive professional experience. During the off-season he grabbed his would-be assistant from Dallas to run the rule over the backs. Kees Lensing remains on staff with Performance Analyst his official title. Former Eagles back Pate Tuilevuka stood in as Head Coach for a short time last season and is now General Manager.

 

FRONT ROW

MLR 2021	POS	MLR 2022
Kellen Gordon Huluholo Mo’ungaloa Djustice Sears-Duru	LH Prop	Dewald Donald Kellen Gordon Mzamo Majola Taniela Tupou
James Malcolm Obert Nortjé Mike Shepherd	Hooker	Mike Brown James Malcolm
Henry Hall Jake Ilnicki Tim Metcher Gavin Prentice	TH Prop	Henry Hall Sam Matenga Tim Metcher

Canadian duo Djustice Sears-Duru and Jake Ilnicki have moved to LA and DC respectively, and to date Huluholo Mo’ungaloa is unsigned. Gavin Prentice is only 21 years old and is likely still available if needed. Freddy Tafuna was named in one lineup last season and is currently with the local Seattle Rugby Club.

Kellen Gordon is making a return after missing all but one game in 2021, with three new loosehead prop options. A pair of South Africans arrive in Mzamo Majola, earmarked for the starting role, and youngster Dewald Donald. Taniela Tupou played loosehead for the American Raptors but played tighthead in this past weekend’s preseason game.

Sam Matenga is the new arrival from New Zealand and possible starter at No3 when he arrives. Tim Metcher has been the go-to man at tighthead since Day One for the Seawolves and was due to leave but circumstances led to him re-signing for another year. Henry Hall is a former USA u20 rep who adds depth on the right side of the scrum.

A third hooker will be required with only Mike Brown, who arrives from Houston, revealed as backup to starter James Malcolm. Saint Mary’s utility forward Alex Glover has been mentioned as a possible addition. Mike Shepherd covered both loosehead prop and hooker last season and is currently with Seattle RC, while Namibia international Obert Nortjé has left the team.

 

SECOND ROW

MLR 2021	POS	MLR 2022
Victor Comptat Rhyno Herbst Ben Landry Samu Manoa Conor McGill FP Pelser Les Soloai	Lock	Victor Comptat Rhyno Herbst Ben Landry Samu Manoa

It was a revolving door in the second row last season and there are no new names here. FP Pelser has returned to South Africa. Taylor Krumrei, a prominent member of the 2018 and 2019 teams, missed the entire season with injury and has now moved to New Orleans.

Victor Comptat is on his way back from France with Rhyno Herbst and Ben Landry the likely first choice duo, though Landry and Brad Tucker are interchangeable at lock or blindside flanker. Samu Manoa has committed to another year and the big man also an option at either lock or loose forward.

 

BACK ROW

MLR 2021	POS	MLR 2022
Tommy Clark Naulia Dawai Eric Duechle Andrew Durutalo Jacob Flores Nakai Penny Brad Tucker	Flanker	Tommy Clark Nakai Penny Brad Tucker
Riekert Hattingh Travis Larsen	No8	Riekert Hattingh Travis Larsen

The three D’s – Naulia Dawai, Andrew Durutalo, and Eric Duechle – have departed. Dawai has returned to Fiji, Durutalo is studying at Oxford, and Duechle is on sabbatical. As with the locks there are no new names here though numbers are thin. At least one more body will be needed as the season progresses.

Blindside flanker Brad Tucker and openside Nakai Penny each missed considerable portions of last season and fully fit will provide a big boost to the side. Riekert Hattingh is their talisman and captain at No8, with Tommy Clark and Travis Larsen able to cover across the back row.

 

HALFBACKS

MLR 2021	POS	MLR 2022
Devereaux Ferris JP Smith	Scrumhalf	JP Smith Reid Watkins
AJ Alatimu Ben Cima	Flyhalf	AJ Alatimu Juan Mostert

JP Smith and AJ Alatimu proved an effective partnership in the second half of last season and will be the ones pulling the strings from the start this year. Devereaux Ferris has gone to NOLA and it’s unknown what Ben Cima’s situation is after missing much of last year with injury.

Replacing Ferris as second string scrumhalf is Reid Watkins, a Canadian who spent time with Rugby ATL’s academy and briefly with the Toronto Arrows last season. He has yet to make his MLR debut. Juan Mostert is a highly-rated South African prospect who could slot in at flyhalf or fullback.

Another scrumhalf at the very least would be ideal, with Kieran Joyce able to step in at No10 if required. Ethan Scott was selected in the Collegiate Draft but is now playing with Houston’s academy side.

 

MIDFIELD

MLR 2021	POS	MLR 2022
Juan Pablo Aguirre George Barton Kieran Joyce Moses Lalasava Ross Neal Shalom Suniula Seta Tuilevuka	Center	Lopeti Aisea Kieran Joyce Dan Kriel Tavite Lopeti Ross Neal

Here’s where things start to get a little big scary… for the opposition. Shalom Suniula has retired along with Seta Tuilevuka (presumably), while Moses Lalasava and JP Aguirre are no longer with the team. George Barton has signed for an Eastern Conference contender with an announcement imminent.

Joyce and Ross Neal are back, though the latter looks likely to find himself on the wing this season. That’s because Dan Kriel has arrived from Super Rugby and Tavite Lopeti has gone from Collegiate Draft pick to potential Eagles starter in a matter of months. Lopeti Aisea is a new name with a powerful physique who can also play on the wing.

Then there is Martin Iosefo, the World Sevens Series star who is now switching his focus to the 15-a-side game. Center seems to be his favored – and best – position but who sits out? We’ve included him as a wing option as well, where he has won all of his Eagles caps to date.

 

OUTSIDE BACKS

MLR 2021	POS	MLR 2022
Lauina Futi Karsten Leitner Aaron Matthews Sitiveni Tamaivena Suliasi Tamaivena Akihito Yamada	Wing	David Busby Lauina Futi Martin Iosefo Darell Williams Cole Zarcone
Nick Taylor Mat Turner	Fullback	Duncan Matthews Mat Turner

There’s a decent chance that the starting wingers are Neal and Iosefo, but again there is strength in depth here. Ireland u20 and 7s international David Busby missed all of last season with injury so will feel like a new signing. Hot-stepping Lauina Futi turned heads after joining halfway through last season, while Cole Zarcone has signed on from San Diego. Darrell Williams is a Life University product selected in the Collegiate Draft. Jeremiah Sio has also featured in the preseason.

Mat Turner, one of the originals, returns at fullback but it’s Duncan Matthews who looks to be the starter here. Another South African age-grade international, Matthews has impressed in the preseason and with Mostert also an option the outside backs are looking stacked for the Seawolves.

Canadian winger Karsten Leitner and Fijian twins Siti and Suli Tamaivena look to be the odd men out. Versatile and promising USA u20 cap Aaron Matthews was sent to NOLA along with Ferris, while Akihito Yamada’s stay was brief and he has now returned to Japan.

 

2022 OUTLOOK

The Seawolves looked to be in disarray until the coaching staff was sorted midway through last season. Coach Clarke has run the rule over a large number of players and looks to have settled on his preferred roster. With only a handful of spots left to fill, on paper this is a more dangerous squad in 2022.

There will be some questions asked of the tight five but Herbst has grown in stature and the likes of Landry and Manoa are still frightening in the contact area. Penny is a marauding flanker who would have more test caps if not for injury – and perhaps a different Canadian coach. Whatever the configuration there is more than enough firepower in the backline to cause opposition fits.

Expect Seattle to be a competitive team from Week One this season. The first priority will be to improve their at-home performance which saw them winning only three of eight last year. Given the strength of the Western Conference a playoff spot looks a stretch but not entirely out of the question.