Highlanders 2025
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I have a sneaking suspicion that the captain pick might be really left field.
I think 2014 is a decent thing to base it off, Nasi Manu was relatively leftfield at the time, and he was paired with Ben Smith.
Realistically the captain has to be someone who is a nailed starter, which leaves EDG, Ma’u, Holland, Dunshea, Withy (?), Fakatava, Millar, Tele’a, Tavatavanawai
My bet is on Dunshea.
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@frugby Nasi had been with the team for a few years and was known as someone who led by his actions while Ben Smith was an established All Black and senior Highlander, not really left field imo.
I’d say it will stay in the forwards, my money is it will stay with EDG and/or Withy.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
I have a sneaking suspicion that the captain pick might be really left field.
I think 2014 is a decent thing to base it off, Nasi Manu was relatively leftfield at the time, and he was paired with Ben Smith.
Realistically the captain has to be someone who is a nailed starter, which leaves EDG, Ma’u, Holland, Dunshea, Withy (?), Fakatava, Millar, Tele’a, Tavatavanawai
My bet is on Dunshea.
I'd be surprised if it is Dunshea. While he is a quality player. He doesn't stand out as a strong communicator. It would also be a fairly short term solution to the captaincy. Just like Harmon I can't imagine he will be around for more than a couple of years. EDG will want it. He might be best served focusing on his game through. There aren't many stand outs for the gig.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life They have, seems to be a combo deal. Sammy G Design is listed as head of content on the website, and she designed the graphic for the squad naming.
There is another company who I believe is helping with broader marketing and has done the videography stuff.
Sam Gilchrist, if it is the same person I think it is... is a bloke. Not a woman. Doesn't take away from the fact the Highlanders are not in the same financial position as other franchises and make cuts on roles that others prioritise. I also believe they utilise students as well in these roles.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life They have, seems to be a combo deal. Sammy G Design is listed as head of content on the website, and she designed the graphic for the squad naming.
There is another company who I believe is helping with broader marketing and has done the videography stuff.
Sam Gilchrist, if it is the same person I think it is... is a bloke. Not a woman. Doesn't take away from the fact the Highlanders are not in the same financial position as other franchises and make cuts on roles that others prioritise. I also believe they utilise students as well in these roles.
Samara Gallaher. Used to play for the Spirit I think.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life They have, seems to be a combo deal. Sammy G Design is listed as head of content on the website, and she designed the graphic for the squad naming.
There is another company who I believe is helping with broader marketing and has done the videography stuff.
Sam Gilchrist, if it is the same person I think it is... is a bloke. Not a woman. Doesn't take away from the fact the Highlanders are not in the same financial position as other franchises and make cuts on roles that others prioritise. I also believe they utilise students as well in these roles.
Samara Gallaher. Used to play for the Spirit I think.
Well that's a fulltime person. She needs to up her game a bit. Where is our bloody bronco stats
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@Landers92 True on Manu... I guess it was more so the fact he had been out injured nearly all of 2013, and Brad Thorn and Josh Bekhuis were still there.
With his off-field indiscretion with the ABs, and then not being there for pre-season until late in the pace, I get the feeling EDG will not be in the running. Withy is the other obvious one, but I am not sure Joseph will view him as a nailed on starter.
@SouthernMann on Dunshea, I am not sure Manu was necessarily a huge communicator either, but he was someone who was as tough as nails, and was a model professional, in other words an embodiment of Jamie. Not sure short-term nature is a huge issue... EDG will be able to step up after that.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 True on Manu... I guess it was more so the fact he had been out injured nearly all of 2013, and Brad Thorn and Josh Bekhuis were still there.
With his off-field indiscretion with the ABs, and then not being there for pre-season until late in the pace, I get the feeling EDG will not be in the running. Withy is the other obvious one, but I am not sure Joseph will view him as a nailed on starter.
@SouthernMann on Dunshea, I am not sure Manu was necessarily a huge communicator either, but he was someone who was as tough as nails, and was a model professional, in other words an embodiment of Jamie. Not sure short-term nature is a huge issue... EDG will be able to step up after that.
De Groot will be 27 this season. He is one of the longest serving players in the team. He knows the southern culture. Seems stupid to have a two-year captain in place, because they think he isn't ready. Especially an injury prone one, who has never lead a team before. If de Groot is the goal, let him do it now.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 True on Manu... I guess it was more so the fact he had been out injured nearly all of 2013, and Brad Thorn and Josh Bekhuis were still there.
With his off-field indiscretion with the ABs, and then not being there for pre-season until late in the pace, I get the feeling EDG will not be in the running. Withy is the other obvious one, but I am not sure Joseph will view him as a nailed on starter.
@SouthernMann on Dunshea, I am not sure Manu was necessarily a huge communicator either, but he was someone who was as tough as nails, and was a model professional, in other words an embodiment of Jamie. Not sure short-term nature is a huge issue... EDG will be able to step up after that.
De Groot will be 27 this season. He is one of the longest serving players in the team. He knows the southern culture. Seems stupid to have a two-year captain in place, because they think he isn't ready. Especially an injury prone one, who has never lead a team before. If de Groot is the goal, let him do it now.
I expect a bit of rotation in the locks anyway, don't see Dunshea playing 80 minutes, or necessarily starting every week. Anticipate EDG or Withy, noting his captaincy for Southland.
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my money is on Withy....just feel its been coming for a while and i think JJ will like a local grown guy, coming through, i just feel a loosie is one of the better places to lead from
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life They have, seems to be a combo deal. Sammy G Design is listed as head of content on the website, and she designed the graphic for the squad naming.
There is another company who I believe is helping with broader marketing and has done the videography stuff.
.... I also believe they utilise students as well in these roles.
I remember talking about this last year or maybe the year before, looking back and realising my club teams were generating more content than the highlanders, and what the Highlanders were doing was just either stills from training...team naming...or reposting other peoples stuff. If volunteers can actually create at least a couple of things a week then surely a partially paid role can do more...disappointing
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
Withy is the other obvious one, but I am not sure Joseph will view him as a nailed on starter.
Not a sure starter? I’d disagree with that too. He kept Harmon out of the 7 jersey. Even if he wasn’t 7, they would make sure he was on the field at 6. If anyone in this forward pack is 80 minutes week in week out, it’s Withy. You want that consistency out of your captain.
I’ll stick to my guns and say it’s Withy and/or EDG. Time will tell I guess.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
Withy is the other obvious one, but I am not sure Joseph will view him as a nailed on starter.
Not a sure starter? I’d disagree with that too. He kept Harmon out of the 7 jersey. Even if he wasn’t 7, they would make sure he was on the field at 6. If anyone in this forward pack is 80 minutes week in week out, it’s Withy. You want that consistency out of your captain.
I’ll stick to my guns and say it’s Withy and/or EDG. Time will tell I guess.
I'd say Withy is the only loosie who is guaranteed a starting spot. Even Haig will have a battle with Howden. No8 is completely wide open. Lasaqa should be fun to watch coming off the bench.
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Looking forward to Lasaqa that is for sure. On EDG again, he is about the same age Smith was when he had his toilet incident, and nobody thought he'd ever be a leader... wasn't till he was about 30 he became captain.
I guess what I am really saying, is I don't think it will be EDG. Withy certainly the frontrunner...
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
Looking forward to Lasaqa that is for sure. On EDG again, he is about the same age Smith was when he had his toilet incident, and nobody thought he'd ever be a leader... wasn't till he was about 30 he became captain.
I guess what I am really saying, is I don't think it will be EDG. Withy certainly the frontrunner...
Lasaga looks to have something about him that's for sure. He caught my eye in the pre season game for the Canes against Moana Pasifika last year. Has plenty of x-factor about him, similar mould to ASav and Lakai but slightly smaller.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
Looking forward to Lasaqa that is for sure. On EDG again, he is about the same age Smith was when he had his toilet incident, and nobody thought he'd ever be a leader... wasn't till he was about 30 he became captain.
I guess what I am really saying, is I don't think it will be EDG. Withy certainly the frontrunner...
I don't understand the conclusion you are drawing between EDG with Smith and the toilet incident. At the time, Smith was near on the best players in the world. Nothing could go wrong for him on the field. Anyone one with a contact or two in the rugby world knew he was constantly playing away games off the pitch. His personal life caught up with his professional life with a bang. Sadly it did derail his captaincy aspirations. If you are saying what happened in the northern hemisphere on the AB tour, which still hasn't been stated publicly is going to have the same impact. That is a baffling conclusion to reach.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
Looking forward to Lasaqa that is for sure. On EDG again, he is about the same age Smith was when he had his toilet incident, and nobody thought he'd ever be a leader... wasn't till he was about 30 he became captain.
I guess what I am really saying, is I don't think it will be EDG. Withy certainly the frontrunner...
I don't understand the conclusion you are drawing between EDG with Smith and the toilet incident. At the time, Smith was near on the best players in the world. Nothing could go wrong for him on the field. Anyone one with a contact or two in the rugby world knew he was constantly playing away games off the pitch. His personal life caught up with his professional life with a bang. Sadly it did derail his captaincy aspirations. If you are saying what happened in the northern hemisphere on the AB tour, which still hasn't been stated publicly is going to have the same impact. That is a baffling conclusion to reach.
Having heard what he did, it hardly screams leader…
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
Looking forward to Lasaqa that is for sure. On EDG again, he is about the same age Smith was when he had his toilet incident, and nobody thought he'd ever be a leader... wasn't till he was about 30 he became captain.
I guess what I am really saying, is I don't think it will be EDG. Withy certainly the frontrunner...
I don't understand the conclusion you are drawing between EDG with Smith and the toilet incident. At the time, Smith was near on the best players in the world. Nothing could go wrong for him on the field. Anyone one with a contact or two in the rugby world knew he was constantly playing away games off the pitch. His personal life caught up with his professional life with a bang. Sadly it did derail his captaincy aspirations. If you are saying what happened in the northern hemisphere on the AB tour, which still hasn't been stated publicly is going to have the same impact. That is a baffling conclusion to reach.
Having heard what he did, it hardly screams leader…
Well then tell us instead of speaking in riddles. Also, plenty of leaders have made some pretty shitty mistakes and bounced back. Churchill killed thousands of allies in World War I
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@SouthernMann Yes, hence why I say in a couple of years time I can see him settling into a really strong leader
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It is still different comparing Aaron Smith as a serial rooter, to the grooter without knowing... what he did.
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Southern-born businessman Charles Gibbon becomes shareholder in the Highlanders | Highlanders Rugby Club Limited Partnership
Charles Gibbon, an influential businessman and investor, has officially joined the Highlanders Rugby Club as a shareholder. This move marks a significant chapter not only in his diversified investment portfolio but also in his deep personal connection to the South and his hometown.
