Highlanders 2025
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I don't mind Manson. The speed he has is a big plus. This narrative around him being promised a bench spot is just plain weird. I'm sure Tangitau has also been promised opportunities as well. Same with the other players signed on for the first time next year. I just doubt Joseph would be stupid enough to promise a player who has never played at this level/even trained at this level a permenant spot in the 23. Only a handful of players will be able to lock themselves in each week. Manson should not be in that group. considering a couple of the @frugby points. On Faleafaga, if that is the view of him. It is disappointing. I am always skeptical when sayings like uncoachable are thrown around. It is like someone in a worksense is hard to manage. Often they aren't, it is just management isn't working out how the worker needs to be looked after. I hope it isn't the case of management not wanting to pivot around with finding an approach that works with Faleafaga. On the locks. I still reckon it could be Plummer. Just on his form in the NPC. In terms of him v Tucker. Have to remember Tucker has barely played and he is a few years older than Plummer too
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Looking forward to squad namings so we can stop talking about guys like ‘Michael Manson’… bloody painful
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Looking forward to squad namings so we can stop talking about guys like ‘Michael Manson’… bloody painful
Haven't seen much of him but expect big things next season haha.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Looking forward to squad namings so we can stop talking about guys like ‘Michael Manson’… bloody painful
Just know, he will be a member of Landers bomb squad. Rolling on at 50 minutes to wreck havoc. Guaranteed bench spot and all
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@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby Can confirm Manson has been promised atleast a bench spot.
so, i assume you have some inside source?....but also going to go out on a limb and say you dont know any actual details, if he financially compensated if they DONT pick on on the bench?
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Hey, maybe bench refers to a specific bench on the team bus. You just don't know with these things!
But seriously am hearing he is coming, which along with us signing Howden, Chiefs & Canes (allegedly) signing McAllister & Perofeta, suggests contract lengths are becoming less and less relevant.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
On Faleafaga, if that is the view of him. It is disappointing. I am always skeptical when sayings like uncoachable are thrown around. It is like someone in a worksense is hard to manage. Often they aren't, it is just management isn't working out how the worker needs to be looked after. I hope it isn't the case of management not wanting to pivot around with finding an approach that works with Faleafaga.
Takes two to tango. They have supposedly struggled to get the gameplan across to him, and that is a huge issue with a guy playing first five. I'd trust that Joseph wouldn't write guys off willy nilly, because he has managed to get the best out of plenty of players written off in the past, so clearly just doesn't see a way forward.
I would be surprised if he is not in the squad though, so not impossible he turns it around.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
On Faleafaga, if that is the view of him. It is disappointing. I am always skeptical when sayings like uncoachable are thrown around. It is like someone in a worksense is hard to manage. Often they aren't, it is just management isn't working out how the worker needs to be looked after. I hope it isn't the case of management not wanting to pivot around with finding an approach that works with Faleafaga.
Takes two to tango. They have supposedly struggled to get the gameplan across to him, and that is a huge issue with a guy playing first five. I'd trust that Joseph wouldn't write guys off willy nilly, because he has managed to get the best out of plenty of players written off in the past, so clearly just doesn't see a way forward.
I would be surprised if he is not in the squad though, so not impossible he turns it around.
I hope he and the club have the right conversations to help him be a trusted and contributing member of the squad. Really interested to see who will be the head scratching selections in the next week or so.
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Article in the ODT says team will be released next Tuesday. Should be the same for all NZ squads.
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@SouthernMann can't wait to see Manson's name.
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann can't wait to see Manson's name.
Bench specialist in brackets
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Sounds like there’s a few jealous people in here 🙈
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@upthelanders I don't think people are jealous. The suggestion, that a player has been promised a bench spot explicitly is laughable.
Players get offered starting spots (conditionally on form), players get told they will get opportunities, but players don't get told you have a guaranteed spot on the bench... particularly as when he presumably signed, he would be at best our fourth choice winger.
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@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2025:
Sounds like there’s a few jealous people in here 🙈
jealous of what?
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Due to a lack of out and out talent, very few players will be guaranteed match day spots before the season even starts. Probably only de Groot, Ma'u, Holland, Dunshea, Haig, Fakatava, Millar and probably the two Fijian wingers can be assured of their spots. Everyone else, it is a bit of a battle. Including Manson, even though he is guaranteed a spot on the bench.
