MLR 2023 – NOLA Gold – ARN Season Guide

NOLA are playing for keeps this season. That’s the message delivered firmly by their off-season recruitment. With Austin dropping out and Houston reaching the postseason last year, the Gold are now the only remaining founding team who has yet to reach the playoffs. That unflattering distinction could well be shaken off in 2023.

To do so the Gold must improve their home-field performance this season. They were a dismal 1-7 at The Gold Mine last year but will have a chance to make a statement right out of the gate in the season opener against the Free Jacks on Friday. Below we assess the comers, goers, and overall season prospects.

A detailed squad list can be seen here.

 

TEAM HISTORY

YEAR	SEASON	RANK	FINALS
2018	3-5	6 of 7	–
2019	9-7	5 of 9	–
2020	3-2	4 of 12	–
2021	10-5-1	5 of 12	–
2022	4-12	11 of 13	–

There was reason for optimism last season with a new coaching staff in place, but inconsistent form and some key injuries left the team in also-ran territory. Having narrowly missed out on the postseason in 2019 and 2021, the team will first the first time use all 10 of their import slots in the hopes of finally taking that elusive next step.

 

COACHING STAFF

Kane Thompson returns for a second campaign at the helm but he will not have Carlos Spencer alongside, the former All Black maestro returning to coach the Blues women’s side in Super Rugby Aupiki. Taylor Howden will take on more responsibility while Todd Fitzgerald helps Thompson with the forwards and acts as a breakdown specialist.

 

FRONT ROW

MLR 2022	POS	MLR 2023
Matt Harmon Sam Klimkowski Kavika Peniata Kevin Sullivan	LH Prop	Jarred Adams Matt Harmon Sam Klimkowski Garrald McDowell Kevin Sullivan
Eric Howard Alex Lopeti Pat O’Toole George Sharpe	Hooker	Eric Howard Alex Lopeti Pat O’Toole Chris Schade
James Irey Brian Nault Dino Waldren	TH Prop	James Irey Sean Paranihi Trent Rogers Dino Waldren

The all-domestic front row stocks have been bolstered with two imports this year. Jarred Adams and Sean Paranihi arrive from New Zealand and should be the starting props, with Eagles duo Matt Harmon and Dino Waldren also in the mix. Pat O’Toole and Eric Howard will continue their rotation at hooker.

A knee injury has ended George Sharpe’s season early while Brian Nault is out indefinitely with post-concussion symptoms. MLR veteran Chris Schade fills the gap at hooker and James ‘Doc’ Irey has put off retirement to lend his experience at tighthead prop. Garrald McDowell joins from the American Raptors while Trent Rogers was picked up in the Collegiate Draft.

PROJECTED STARTERS

1	2	3
Jarred Adams	Pat O’Toole	Sean Paranihi
26 yrs	28 yrs	26 yrs
5’11” / 1.80m	6′ / 1.82m	5’11” / 1.80m
265lbs / 120kg	240lbs / 108kg	260lbs / 118kg
Samoa u20	USA Falcons	New Zealand u20

 

SECOND ROW

MLR 2022	POS	MLR 2023
Ignacio Dotti Taylor Krumrei Billy Stewart William Waguespack	Lock	Cam Dolan Liam Hallam-Eames Chase Jones Billy Stewart William Waguespack

Ignacio Dotti and Taylor Krumrei have returned to Uruguay and Seattle respectively, but the engine room has been beefed up with the signing of Northland’s Liam Hallam-Eames. Cam Dolan makes the full-time switch from No8 to second row, and draft pick Chase Jones covers lock or blindside flanker.

PROJECTED STARTERS

4	5
Cam Dolan	Liam Hallam-Eames
32 yrs	27 yrs
6’6″ / 1.99m	6’6″ / 1.99m
245lbs / 112kg	255lbs / 116kg
USA Eagles (63 caps)

 

BACK ROW

MLR 2022	POS	MLR 2023
Malcolm May Chase Schor-Haskin Devin Short Moni Tonga’uiha Osaiasi Tonga’uiha	Flanker	Andrew Guerra Malcolm May Devin Short Moni Tonga’uiha Osaiasi Tonga’uiha
Cam Dolan Maciu Koroi	No8	Tom Florence Maciu Koroi

Eagles Sevens squad member Chase Schor-Haskin is the only departure though he made only one appearance last season. Andrew Guerra returns after missing the entire campaign with injury, though the Eagles openside will be eased back into action. Tom Florence is an exciting recruit out of Taranaki who was unlucky to miss out on a Super Rugby deal.

PROJECTED STARTERS

6	7	8
Moni Tonga’uiha	Devin Short	Tom Florence
28 yrs	24 yrs	24 yrs
6’2″ / 1.88m	6’4″ / 1.93m	6’2″ / 1.89m
230lbs / 105kg	220lbs / 100kg	235lbs / 107kg
USA Eagles (5 caps)	USA Falcons	New Zealand u20

 

HALFBACKS

MLR 2022	POS	MLR 2023
Christian Alvarez Devereaux Ferris Damian Stevens	Scrumhalf	Luke Campbell Damian Stevens Sebastiano Villani
Robbie Coleman JP Eloff	Flyhalf	Reece Botha Rodney Iona

The most significant upgrades come in the halfbacks. Supporting scrumhalves Devereaux Ferris and Christian Alvarez have been replaced by Super Rugby veteran Luke Campbell and 2nd-overall draft pick Sebastiano Villani. Meanwhile there are two genuine flyhalves this year in Rodney Iona, direct from the Brumbies, and Reece Botha. Makeshift No10 Robbie Coleman has returned to Australia while the versatile JP Eloff signed for Chicago.

PROJECTED STARTERS

9	10
Luke Campbell	Rodney Iona
28 yrs	31 yrs
5’10” / 1.77m	5’10” / 1.77m
185lbs / 84kg	195lbs/ 89kg
	Samoa (7 caps)

 

MIDFIELD

MLR 2022	POS	MLR 2023
Juan Cappiello Ross Depperschmidt JP du Plessis Aaron Matthews	Center	Ross Depperschmidt JP du Plessis Cael Hodgson Jordan Jackson-Hope Aaron Matthews

Juan Cappiello opted to retire and his replacement is Australian playmaker Jordan Jackson-Hope, formerly of the Brumbies. USA Falcons select Cael Hodgson was acquired from Dallas and is a strong-running option at center or on the wing.

PROJECTED STARTERS

12	13
Jordan Jackson-Hope	JP du Plessis
26 yrs	31 yrs
5’10” / 1.78m	6′ / 1.84m
185lbs / 85kg	220lbs / 100kg
Australia u20	South Africa u18

 

OUTSIDE BACKS

MLR 2022	POS	MLR 2023
Nick Feakes Kenneth Jinkins Joeli Tikoisuva Jack Webster Harley Wheeler	Wing	Dougie Fife Kenneth Jinkins Anelisa Mteto Jack Webster Harley Wheeler
Carl Meyer Kyle Rogers	Fullback	Christian Olney Jordan Trainor

There are significant departures out wide with the creative Nick Feakes moving to New York and super-boot Carl Meyer giving professional football a shot for the time being. Joeli Tikoisuva and Kyle Rogers are also gone, but there are some impressive recruits to make up the different.

Dougie Fife makes the move from New England and is set to play on the wing after Jordan Trainor was snapped up from LA in the Dispersal Draft. Former Collegiate All-American Ani Mteto has been awarded his first pro deal, and joins draft pick Christian Olney in adding depth out wide.

PROJECTED STARTERS

11	14	15
Dougie Fife	Harley Wheeler	Jordan Trainor
32 yrs	25 yrs	27 yrs
6’2″ / 1.87m	5’11” / 1.80m	6’1″ / 1.86m
210lbs / 96kg	200lbs / 91kg	195lbs / 88kg
Scotland (8 caps)	USA Eagles 7s	New Zealand u20

 

2023 OUTLOOK

There’s no question that the Gold are a deeper squad than they were in 2022. Simply put, this is the most complete roster NOLA have ever put together. They have talent across the board and most importantly have an experienced flyhalf to spearhead the attack.

With a proper preseason behind them, an array of domestic talent to compliment the imports, and a full off-season for Thompson & Co. there are no excuses this time. NOLA will be the most improved side in 2023 and the Gold faithful should expect to be watching playoff rugby come late June.