Highlanders 2025
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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
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:
also, havent read the match thread or anything, whats the deal with Nareki?
He has re aggravated his ankle that he injured in the pre season and has just returned from. Hopefully isn’t anything too serious and the chat is he’s up in the air for this weekend. Fingers crossed. Super frustrating for him, feel for the guy.
My guess is Nareki is out, Hurley starts at 15 if fit with Gilbert/Manson to the wing. Manson a straight swap with Nareki if Hurley isn’t available.
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forgot about manson....i love nareki.....but currently hes only ahead of Gilbert for me...he's just too injury prone, he goes off and it disrupts things
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Injury update:
Oliver Haig (Foot / 3 weeks )
Jonah Lowe (ACL / 1-2 weeks )
Cameron Millar (Concussion / 1-2 weeks)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Neck / 3-4 weeks)
Folau Fakatava (Hamstring / 1-2 weeks)
Hugh Renton (Groin / 1-2 weeks) -
Looking forward to Jonah Lowe coming back. Will be a real boost
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@Mr-Fish said in Highlanders 2025:
Am I misremembering things or has Hurley only had one and a half good games? Not exactly storming form (doesn't mean he shouldn't start, just means we're one bad performance away from everyone writing him off again).
Even if that's the case, those 1.5 games showed astonishing form. I wouldn't be in a rush to replace him with a guy coming back from long term injury that is a very similar player anyway.
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@Mr-Fish said in Highlanders 2025:
Am I misremembering things or has Hurley only had one and a half good games? Not exactly storming form (doesn't mean he shouldn't start, just means we're one bad performance away from everyone writing him off again).
He's played five games. Half of them he has been really good. Can't say he's had a bad game yet for the Landers.
I reckon JRK, Tangitau on the wings and Hurley at fullback has a nice ring to it.
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@Mr-Fish said in Highlanders 2025:
Am I misremembering things or has Hurley only had one and a half good games? Not exactly storming form (doesn't mean he shouldn't start, just means we're one bad performance away from everyone writing him off again).
he's only started 2 games this season so thats a pretty good strike rate, we need to start rewarding form....not second guessing when it will fall away
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@Mr-Fish said in Highlanders 2025:
Am I misremembering things or has Hurley only had one and a half good games? Not exactly storming form (doesn't mean he shouldn't start, just means we're one bad performance away from everyone writing him off again).
He's played five games. Half of them he has been really good. Can't say he's had a bad game yet for the Landers.
I reckon JRK, Tangitau on the wings and Hurley at fullback has a nice ring to it.
thats actually what i was wondering when i asked, i wasnt sure how people saw JRK on the wing
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@frugby and thats where i feel he might be best on the bench then, im not a huge fan of him on the wing, i feel hes offset his size issue at 15 by using space much more....the wing has to deal with the touchline more and hes less likely to shrug off a tackle and hold his ground right on the line
