Hurricanes 2025
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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. -
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:
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?
Gutted losing Ieremia for 3 years.
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@cgrant I once read an article on him - I think it was by Logan Savory, the journo who covers the Southland Stags. He grew up in Australia, moved to Samoa where he took up rugby and then came to New Zealand for a rugby opportunity.
Played for the Highlanders U20s, Southland Stags and turned out for the Taranaki Bulls this year. He's a 6/8, good athlete and solid ball carrier. He's had a few injuries which I think hampered his development somewhat, but if he could further round out his game, I think he could be a handy player.
Edit, found the article:
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@Wurzel said in Hurricanes 2025:
3 years? He ain’t coming back. You think Eddie Jones ain’t chucking a 6’4” Japan-qualified player into his second row alongside Werner Dearns?
Yeah, clearly has his sights on playing for Japan.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:
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.
Man thats a shame, he has great ball skills, I was impressed by him
Will see him playing for Japan very soon I guess.