Highlanders 2025
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There might be some skull-duggery at play regarding the locking situation. The Highlanders wanted to pick Josh Tengblad in their squad this season but were denied by NZR… don’t be surprised if he sees the field this year.
Both Tengbald and Tayne Harvey are rated as future ABs internally (presumably along with Pledger) so could be a good crop coming through
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@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2025:
NZR will be reluctant to give dispensation for a young tight forward when he has yet to even play NPC.
I’m sure you’re right, but I guess the Highlanders may look to use this pre-season game as proof he can cope with the physicality.
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@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2025:
NZR will be reluctant to give dispensation for a young tight forward when he has yet to even play NPC.
What the Highlanders may have argued was that an injury ruled him out of the 2024 representative season. Meaning he didn't have the ability to show he was physically capable of handling this level. I've certainly been hoping he gets a go. So stoked if he gets a run or two.
The other guy as well as Harvey and Tengblad is Josh Augistine. Tore it up for the Dunedin Sharks last year. Would have debuted for Southland if he didn't break his leg in an U19 game.
The Landers U20 side will be quite strong this year. The second Muliaina brother should run the cutter at 10 outside Pledger. Harvey at 12. Kyan Rangitutia may still be young enough too. Augistine at fullback.
Then there is Kiseki Fifita who we are patiently waiting to finish his two year mormon mission.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann Depends. Broughton himself is actually a good lineout option, and is a good ball player.
Stodart will either play 8 or lock I think. From what I have seen he isn’t really an athletic ball player in the mould of the Haig, Broughton and Howden.
Surely that means 6 or lock?
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Jonah Lowe isn’t playing this game due to injury. Assuming he is still rehabbing last years injury? Pretty easy to forget he’s still in the squad these days.
Our what fifth or sixth choice winger now? And fourth of fifth choice centre? Getting a good paycheque to hold tackle bags
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Jonah Lowe isn’t playing this game due to injury. Assuming he is still rehabbing last years injury? Pretty easy to forget he’s still in the squad these days.
I guess so. Nine months from when he did the original injury would be about now, so he probably isn't far off.
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@SouthernMann I reckon the chance of Fifita making it would have to be pretty minimal. Two years out the game probably kills any chance he has of making it in SR.
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Any livestreams for the game??
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Jonah Lowe isn’t playing this game due to injury. Assuming he is still rehabbing last years injury? Pretty easy to forget he’s still in the squad these days.
have we still got another year with him, feels like he signed a 3 year deal about a decade ago
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@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2025:
Any livestreams for the game??
youll see only slightly earlier in the thread we discussed the fact that no, there is no stream
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann I reckon the chance of Fifita making it would have to be pretty minimal. Two years out the game probably kills any chance he has of making it in SR.
I disagree. He is the most promising outside back to come out of the south in a long long time. @ploughboy seemed to have some good oil and said he is signed to the Highlanders acadamey. That he turned down other teams to do so. Ideally he wouldn't be on a mission. But we will have to be patient with him.
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@SouthernMann We'll see. As far as we know he hasn't been playing rugby, which effectively puts him at a minimum, two years behind his peers in terms of physical development.
In his favour is that wing is probably the position which requires the least amount of skill. Still, it would be quite the story if he makes it from here.
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Any update?
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theyre not even tweeting updates
i did see 8-9 stories showing the warm up, coming off the bus...and then nothing until the end of the first period -
Yeah I just saw the stories. Says down 14-21 after 2nd third
