Hurricanes 2025
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@Billy-Tell said in Hurricanes 2025:
Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought there is the named squads then a WTG for fringe or up and coming players. Who often end up slotting in when injuries occur.
Laidlaw explains in the video in that article that Tuifua is only a temporary injury replacement for Iose. That's different to the permanent WTG players, but he will still play in the preseason games.
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@Bovidae said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Billy-Tell said in Hurricanes 2025:
Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought there is the named squads then a WTG for fringe or up and coming players. Who often end up slotting in when injuries occur.
Laidlaw explains in the video in that article that Tuifua is only a temporary injury replacement for Iose. That's different to the permanent WTG players, but he will still play in the preseason games.
He's definitely a player the Canes have their sights on for the future. Laidlaw is right though, why rush him? He's only 20, he's barely played NPC because of injury, throwing him into Super Rugby now could only hurt his chances long term. I think it's the right approach. I'm sure they'll keep him close to the environment and prepare him for what will likely be full contract in 2026.
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The full story on Preston looks like we were too slow again
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360484844/why-wellington-roofer-kyle-preston-turned-down-hurricanes-crusaders -
@mikey07 said in Hurricanes 2025:
The full story on Preston looks like we were too slow again
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360484844/why-wellington-roofer-kyle-preston-turned-down-hurricanes-crusadersGood on him, he would be behind Roigard anyway and most likely Vijoen who's already looked good at Super. At the Crusaders he's more likely to get a bench spot so more opportunity for him down there.
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@foobaNZ said in Hurricanes 2025:
Yea I wish Preston all the best. We can't keep em all. A bit like the Howden situation.
It's a shame the likes of Perofeta and Trask didn't look for other opportunities when they are stuck behind others at their respective franchises.
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@Canes4life I wonder if Perofeta did but Blues wouldn't release him from final year of contract? Could be on his way in 26-27 season perhaps?
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@foobaNZ said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Canes4life I wonder if Perofeta did but Blues wouldn't release him from final year of contract? Could be on his way in 26-27 season perhaps?
Hope you're right. We still have Brett Cameron next year so that will probably shut out Harkin if it happens. Not sure how long Cashmore and Hohepa have been signed for but I'm assuming a year. Hopefully in Hohepa's case anyway.
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@Canes4life given injuries are going to happen, hopefully Harkin gets a run at some stage this year and makes it not even a question about giving him a contract proper.
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@Canes4life Yeah a real beaudie/dmac archetype 10. Its a shame he didnt spend much time at 10 for magpies, but will be good to see him build his game management skills in the coming seasons if he does get committed to the 10 jersey. I think he has a bit more of a playmaker sense to him than ruben love.
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@DurryMexted I really think the development of our young 10s is hampered by playing at 15. If you want to learn how to play 10, by far the fastest way to do that is to play 10.
Pick an experienced playmaking fullback or 9 or 12 and an extra good kicking option to help them out by all means, but they need to play 10. -
@reprobate said in Hurricanes 2025:
@DurryMexted I really think the development of our young 10s is hampered by playing at 15. If you want to learn how to play 10, by far the fastest way to do that is to play 10.
Pick an experienced playmaking fullback or 9 or 12 and an extra good kicking option to help them out by all means, but they need to play 10.That's exactly why I'm happy for the Canes to throw Godfrey the 10 jersey next year and back him to the hill. We'll quickly find out if he's up to it or not. Roigard was that guy a couple years ago and now look at him.
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Some updated information from Clubrugby.co.nz
Callum Harkin (OBU) has a training contract with the Hurricanes, while we have sought clarification on the status of others, in particular both James ‘O’Reilly (HOBM) and Hugo Plummer (Tawa). O’Reilly’s recent NPC season was hampered by a neck injury so he could be injured.
Plummer’s Tawa and Wellington Lions locking teammate Akira Ieremia is off to Japan for three years. It is understood that he was offered a training contract with the Chiefs but has opted for Japan, the land of his birth, for his immediate playing future.
For clarification, does training contract mean WTG?
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@Canes4life that's great news re: Harkin.
I am a bit miffed that the Canes brain's trust have decided he's good enough for a training contract, but not a proper contract, when you consider who was selected ahead of him.
My concern would be another team loses a 10, snaps him up, and they're in his ears for a contract next year.
The general consensus seems to be he's the unluckiest player not to make any squad.
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@foobaNZ said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Canes4life that's great news re: Harkin.
I am a bit miffed that the Canes brain's trust have decided he's good enough for a training contract, but not a proper contract, when you consider who was selected ahead of him.
My concern would be another team loses a 10, snaps him up, and they're in his ears for a contract next year.
The general consensus seems to be he's the unluckiest player not to make any squad.
I would have preferred Lennox and Harkin over Enari and Hohepa. Who cares if the latter two have experience, they aren't good enough which makes it super frustrating.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:
@foobaNZ said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Canes4life that's great news re: Harkin.
I am a bit miffed that the Canes brain's trust have decided he's good enough for a training contract, but not a proper contract, when you consider who was selected ahead of him.
My concern would be another team loses a 10, snaps him up, and they're in his ears for a contract next year.
The general consensus seems to be he's the unluckiest player not to make any squad.
I would have preferred Lennox and Harkin over Enari and Hohepa. Who cares if the latter two have experience, they aren't good enough which makes it super frustrating.
Neither are the future, that's for sure.
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@gt12 said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:
@foobaNZ said in Hurricanes 2025:
@Canes4life that's great news re: Harkin.
I am a bit miffed that the Canes brain's trust have decided he's good enough for a training contract, but not a proper contract, when you consider who was selected ahead of him.
My concern would be another team loses a 10, snaps him up, and they're in his ears for a contract next year.
The general consensus seems to be he's the unluckiest player not to make any squad.
I would have preferred Lennox and Harkin over Enari and Hohepa. Who cares if the latter two have experience, they aren't good enough which makes it super frustrating.
Neither are the future, that's for sure.
I will be super annoyed if both of them have gained two year contracts.
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@Canes4life yup. I said earlier that signing guys like Hohepa is nonsensical. Unfortunately it's played out.
- 29 years old.
- A few years under his belt with Canes & Saders. First stint with Canes he wasn't retained, for obvious reasons, and then he was very disappointing for the Saders.
- Not a specialist 10.
- Been playing twelve for Counties.
Earns a contract? I can't understand it.
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@reprobate Yep agreed, though if im a young guy trying to make it and i get told its 15 or the bench, id be picking up the 15 jersey to be fair.
I think thats the reason its been so hard to get young 10s breaking through, NPC coaches seem to rely on their journeymen 10s to organise their backlines and the opportunities dont get given to the young 10s as much as they are to say flankers, wingers etc. So they end up playing out of position to get game time. -
