Highlanders 2025
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
Based on my understanding of contracting we will probably loose DLB, Naeeta, Falefaga, Arscott, Lowe and Nareki this season with Talea, Fakatava and Sam Gilbert also off the books.
My assumption is that Fakatava and Gilbert both stay for another season. I think the excitement around JJ means a lot of players extend contacts for an additional season or two.
In terms of replacements Tengblad,, Hervey and Pledger seem shoe ins. Haven’t seen enough of Rangitura and Takaka to decide if they’ll fit in. But assume we’ll be after at the very least a 10 and an outside back from elsewhere. Wouldn’t surprise me if we try and grab an another young midfielder too given TUJ and Te Hiwi are off contract end of next season.
I think Mitch Dunshea will also be off contract. He initially signed a two year deal. I reckon it will be touch and go whether he stays. If he does. Will be surprised if it is for more than a year.
Thing with Fakatava, if he only wants another year. I don't see the value in it. Especially if Hastie becomes the no1. Let him go and secure Pledger and Lennox.
Gilbert. I agree. Keep for one more year. But will.be up to him. He will see his place in the squad slipping down the pecking order. If I was him I'd be chasing game time.
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I think the idea will be to probably keep most of this year’s squad together. There is always the odd tweak but I’d say likely to only be up to 6 max leave. DLB, Arscott, Faleafaga & Lowe are the main four which spring to mind + probably a loose forward or 2?
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I consolidated the publicly available information about contract lengths. As stated in press releases. Quite a few players it was never stated. Then some who have been around a while are difficult to work out. I had a guess around some of the newer guys that they'd be on two year gigs.
Highlanders contracts:
Ending 2025
James Arscott
Folau Fakatava
JRK
Mitch Dunshea
DLB
Holland
Lowe
NarekiEnding 2026
Hastie
Millar
Haig
Michaels
Te Hiwi
De Groot
Vikena
Tangitau
Lasaqa
Hurley
Faleafaga
Taylor
Bell
Stodart
RobinsonEnding 2027
WhaangaUnknown
Naeata
TUJ
Tele'a (two years will run out 25)
Gilbert
Howden (two years will run out 26)
Wingham (two years will run out 25)
Ma'u
Withy
Bartlett (two years will be to 26)
Tavatavanawai (two years will be to 25)
Manson (two years to 26)
Broughton
Kautai (two years to 26) -
@SouthernMann Can confirm Taine Robinson is on a 2 year deal.
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@handa457 said in Highlanders 2025:
Interesting hear the TK Howden interview about how badly he wants to prove to the canes they made a mistake not giving him more game time.
He sounds like he’s got the sort of chip on his shoulder that Jamie Joseph loves to leverage
I suppose you can't get everyone on the park and the Canes loosies were on fire last year. Ironically if he stayed he would probably be starting now considering Flanders is out for most of the season.
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That faleafaga try was outstanding. It really reflects the directive of Jospeh. See it, have a go. Tangitau is not a kicking option. 35m out from his line. He had a go. That is a lot of trust for the players give it a nusge. Faleafaga showed good pace to follow it up as well.
As for next week
Id fit; Renton, Fakatava and Hurley come in.
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The backs are what they are... Hurley and JRK make a huge difference, but not sure many other options exist outside those two - but Gilbert is done at this level I'm afraid. It reminds me of when Michael Collins played fullback for the Blues.
We can improve in the forwards, because we're still trying to find the balance. Thought Taylor was a bit disappointing again, but Vikena was good outside of that missed tackle for the try. Personally, I'd leave him as the impact man next week, and bring in Bell. Probably offers the least with the ball in hand, but he is far better around the ruck and on defence than the other two... and if we give him half a chance, McReight will do exactly what Kirifi did. Renton comes back in for the same reason. He has been far from good, but Broughton is too lightweight. Good skills to bring on off the bench, but he isn't the hulking eight we require. Dunshea might be due a partial rest, so we could lineup like:
- De Groot
- Bell
- Ma'u
- Stodart
- Holland
- Howden
- Withy
- Renton
Vikena
Bartlett
Kautai
Dunshea
Lasaqa
Broughton -
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
The backs are what they are... Hurley and JRK make a huge difference, but not sure many other options exist outside those two - but Gilbert is done at this level I'm afraid. It reminds me of when Michael Collins played fullback for the Blues.
We can improve in the forwards, because we're still trying to find the balance. Thought Taylor was a bit disappointing again, but Vikena was good outside of that missed tackle for the try. Personally, I'd leave him as the impact man next week, and bring in Bell. Probably offers the least with the ball in hand, but he is far better around the ruck and on defence than the other two... and if we give him half a chance, McReight will do exactly what Kirifi did. Renton comes back in for the same reason. He has been far from good, but Broughton is too lightweight. Good skills to bring on off the bench, but he isn't the hulking eight we require. Dunshea might be due a partial rest, so we could lineup like:
- De Groot
- Bell
- Ma'u
- Stodart
- Holland
- Howden
- Withy
- Renton
Vikena
Bartlett
Kautai
Dunshea
Lasaqa
BroughtonWhile you are the president of the Henry Bell fan club. I highly doubt he comes in. Jack Taylor stays at hooker.
With the loosies. Withy actually won at least two really important turnovers. It is just we came up against Kirifi. Who was outstanding. Teams are also combating Tavatavanawai at the breakdown as well. Perhaps we just need to provide some extra numbers to the breakdown.
We need Hurley and Fakatava back. As well as making a decision about Gilbert and backing the other guys available.
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@Grooter Tupou Ta'eiloa is not the answer either. Broughton goes fine with ball in hand, but we need someone to hit rucks and do the dirty work. The issue is, those players are few and far between in NZ at the moment... could Stodart be that guy? He has the size.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
The backs are what they are... Hurley and JRK make a huge difference, but not sure many other options exist outside those two - but Gilbert is done at this level I'm afraid. It reminds me of when Michael Collins played fullback for the Blues.
We can improve in the forwards, because we're still trying to find the balance. Thought Taylor was a bit disappointing again, but Vikena was good outside of that missed tackle for the try. Personally, I'd leave him as the impact man next week, and bring in Bell. Probably offers the least with the ball in hand, but he is far better around the ruck and on defence than the other two... and if we give him half a chance, McReight will do exactly what Kirifi did. Renton comes back in for the same reason. He has been far from good, but Broughton is too lightweight. Good skills to bring on off the bench, but he isn't the hulking eight we require. Dunshea might be due a partial rest, so we could lineup like:
- De Groot
- Bell
- Ma'u
- Stodart
- Holland
- Howden
- Withy
- Renton
Vikena
Bartlett
Kautai
Dunshea
Lasaqa
BroughtonWhile you are the president of the Henry Bell fan club. I highly doubt he comes in. Jack Taylor stays at hooker.
With the loosies. Withy actually won at least two really important turnovers. It is just we came up against Kirifi. Who was outstanding. Teams are also combating Tavatavanawai at the breakdown as well. Perhaps we just need to provide some extra numbers to the breakdown.
It's about guys who clean rucks, that is not the role Taylor nor Broughton have ever done - it is not their strength. Bell is the least exciting option, but in the absence of a proper bastard at eight, I personally think we need that dirty work out of possession. At the very least, Taylor is not yet the man to start games.
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That may be the case. But we wont have three different hookers in three weeks. Your boy Bell will stay as the no3 for another week.
He will play for Kaik in a couple of weeks though. Club footy is underway soon.
Despite leaking 48 points. There were some good positive signs in terms of some longterm players in the U20s. I've never seen a hooker with the skills that Shaun Kempton has. That kid is outstanding.
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@SouthernMann yeah Kempton real treat to watch offloads, intercepts, catching high balls. A One will hopefully overcome his injury issues too so the next few yrs will be interesting to track in the hooker department
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@Grooter said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann yeah Kempton real treat to watch offloads, intercepts, catching high balls. A One will hopefully overcome his injury issues too so the next few yrs will be interesting to track in the hooker department
And Southland in particular have plenty of options to choose from. With Taylor, Kempton, Souchon and Payne. Both Payne and Souchon have been with Super sides as injury cover. Kempton probably needs a bit of gym time to play against the big boys regularly. Id be surprised if he tops 95 or 96kgs at the moment. Will be a balance of sizing up, and not losing his explosive playing style.
Hoping A One gets an injury free run into the NPC.
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Few takeaways from the social pictures
Finn Hurley looks to be back
Another week on the sidelines for Fakatava
Looked like both Stodart and Howden were running in the top squad. Dunshea might be out or rested
Broughton there too. So Renton probably still out
Some happy news. JRK running around in the opposed kit. Getting closer to a return
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this is genuine ignorance, not a loaded question
if both fit and in form how do we have hurley and JRK? one at 15 and one at 14 with tangitau 11? if so which way around? im not a huge fan of hurley on the wing due to his size
also, havent read the match thread or anything, whats the deal with Nareki?
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
.....but Gilbert is done at this level I'm afraid. It reminds me of when Michael Collins played fullback for the Blues.
just saw this, yes, great analogy, i think it works on a few levels as i think they both could have been very handy squad players...but we're used to cover anywhere that there was a problem...and then critiqued for not being good enough, its true but also not 100% their fault when they bounce around when other players get to specialise
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@Kiwiwomble with Hurley and JRK. I think it'd be JRK at fullback with a fit Nareki and Tangitau on the wings. Hurley off the bench, as a 30 minute impact player. Nareki comes off, JRK to the wing, and Hurley to fullback.
If Nareki is broken this week, I think we will see Gilbert on the wing.
As well as the Michael Collins analogy. When he plays on the wing, it feels like he is a Daryl Halligan or Hazem El Masri. A specialist kicker, hanging out on the wing. No attacking threat. There simply because he is our best goalkicker
