Highlanders 2025
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@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders 2025:
Word on the street, and a fairly reliable word at that, is that the environment in the Highlanders squad is getting increasingly toxic. A large part of the squad are getting fed up with not getting coached properly and being asked to execute a game plan that they know doesn't work. It's resulted in a complete loss of belief in the camp.
There is also apparently a big issue with some players about something that went down between De Groot and Renton that ended up in Renton getting the captaincy. Not many players respect him because of it and the leadership group is fractured. The assistant coaches are apparently just a bunch of yes men and don't add anything of significance and the only real coaching they've received is when Tony Brown has dropped in for a few sessions.
Now you can go 'oh this is him being negative again etc etc' but this is pretty bloody reliable and things seem to be falling apart.
That could get ugly then if players want out at the end of the year.
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@KiwiInLondon if you wanted to portray a more negative persona, you could change to KiwiNotInDunedin.
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@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders 2025:
Word on the street, and a fairly reliable word at that, is that the environment in the Highlanders squad is getting increasingly toxic. A large part of the squad are getting fed up with not getting coached properly and being asked to execute a game plan that they know doesn't work. It's resulted in a complete loss of belief in the camp.
There is also apparently a big issue with some players about something that went down between De Groot and Renton that ended up in Renton getting the captaincy. Not many players respect him because of it and the leadership group is fractured. The assistant coaches are apparently just a bunch of yes men and don't add anything of significance and the only real coaching they've received is when Tony Brown has dropped in for a few sessions.
Now you can go 'oh this is him being negative again etc etc' but this is pretty bloody reliable and things seem to be falling apart.
There was a scrap between Renton and De Groot, but they kissed and made up. I have heard some players have been a little confused around selection communication, but outside of that it is still a united camp.
As for the assistant coaches being yes men, that's hearsay if I have ever heard it. I think Corey Brown just sucks at his job, but that is hardly new news.
The likes of Fakatava, and JRK (Supposedly) wouldn't re-sign if what you are saying is true.
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2025:
@KiwiInLondon if you wanted to portray a more negative persona, you could change to KiwiNotInDunedin.
Word on the street (from a reliable source).
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@Bones said in Highlanders 2025:
@KiwiInLondon if you wanted to portray a more negative persona, you could change to KiwiNotInDunedin.
Word on the street (from a reliable source).
Baldwin.
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im not going to completely buy in to the "word on the street"....but i dont think we're playing like a united team....part of that do ring true with what im seeing out on the pitch....and if they are united happy family...then why the poor results
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@Kiwiwomble could part of this be the same playing out as in 2013? JJ goes in one direction and the team fractures and splits under him as some buy into the plan early on - and others feel resentment over split loyalties and frustration at his style?
It's gotta be difficult seeing five or six young guys who were last season seen as key to the future of the team being shifted to the side (Falefaga, Wingham, Michaels) and then guys you're loyal too (Bell, Gilbert, Millar, Hastie, Te Hiwi) benched or not getting game as much time (regardless if merited or not).
Key thing in 2013 though was the exceptional leadership of Nasi Manu who went to JJ and challenged him that things needed to change - and he listened. Ben Smith & Nasi are both key parts of the highlanders camp now and players won't be unaware of the story.
Key thing will be if they care enough to go to him and find middle ground.
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Losing like we have been always blows things out of proportion. Yes there are obviously issues across the board, and with losing everything becomes magnified. I don’t think it is as bad as it seems in here.
I’m going to do some asking around on my end to see if I can find anything out, but as far as I’m aware and have been told a month or so ago the camp is all pretty happy and on good terms.
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@Landers92 i think im just a bit miserable about it, when i read
"a month or so ago the camp is all pretty happy and on good terms"
i couldn't help immediately switching to "They're too bloody complacent!"
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@Kiwiwomble bad wording on my end. I meant when I last asked(which was about 4 weeks ago, just before the Drua game post Aus tour) everything was fine. I’ll follow up again and see if anything has changed in that area
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I think the bye has came at a good time. Will be good to get 3 or 4 more influential players back from injury.
I’ll put a side I’d like to see us run out for the last 3 games of the season below. Time to open it up and let these young guys just have a crack. No expectation, Canes, Crusaders and Chiefs will all be firing and pushing for a better finals spot so throw a cat amongst the pigeons and let some young lads go for it. Dumb down the game-plan if necessary.
Something along these lines.
- EDG
- Jack Taylor
- Ma’u
- Holland
- Dunshea/Haig
- TK or Haig. TK is in good form so his for now
- Withy/Lasaqa
- Stodart/Withy
- Fakatava/Hastie
- Millar
- Nareki/Lowe/Manson
- Tavatavanawai
- TUJ(Tele’a if healthy)
- Tangitau
- JRK
Bench
16. Vikena
17. Bartlett
18. Kautai/Wingham
19. Haig/Stodart
20. Lasaqa/Stodart
21. Hastie
22. Robinson
23. Tele’a if fit/Josh WhaangaA very green bench, some usuals in the starting 15 that I’m happy to leave in but guys like Renton can be put on the back burner for the rest of the year, injury sounds pretty bad so just let him rest up. Let the likes of Jack Taylor, Will Stodart, Cam Miller just go out there and play with young guys in Bartlett and Whaanga bringing fresh legs from the bench. Bugger it.
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As a neutral observer who generally supports the Highlanders unless they're playing the Hurricanes, I believe this team is close to being a consistent top 6 contender. They showed great form early in the season, and getting their top players consistently on the field seems to be the main hurdle. The squad boasts several high-calibre players, like De Groot, Holland, Howden, Tangitau, Nareki, Tavatavanawai, Fakatava, and JRK, many of whom I see being All Blacks in the future (obviously EDG is already one).
The crucial missing piece for me is an attacking first five-eighth who can create opportunities and bring momentum, similar to what we've seen with the Hurricanes in recent weeks. While Millar and Robinson are solid, they lack the X-factor needed to truly elevate this team IMO, something Sopoaga was able to do in 2015 alongside the GOAT A Smith. I also think if they are going to persist with Tavatavanawai at 12, they need to find a 13 that provides the brains and skillset, almost being the rock of the backline so to speak.
If the Landers can keep the core of this team together over the next three or four years, I think we will see something special brew in the deep south, and no I ain't talking about Speights here. All this talk about the culture being rotten under Joseph, I ain't buying it.
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@Canes4life couldn’t have said it better myself. That’s the key is keeping these young guys around while continuing to bring younger guys like Pledger and Tengbald through.
It was never about this season for Highlanders fans, we knew the reality with the current squad, I just don’t think we thought it would go quite as it has and not be a threat week in week out. The inconsistencies are the real killer because the flashes are there and you can see the promise which in turn makes it even more frustrating.
The last 3 games of this season could be rough but it’s hopefully a very good learning point for this squad.
I’m already excited thinking about 2026.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life couldn’t have said it better myself. That’s the key is keeping these young guys around while continuing to bring younger guys like Pledger and Tengbald through.
It was never about this season for Highlanders fans, we knew the reality with the current squad,
Explain how they finished 6th last season with the same squad (bar Harmon) & no Kautai, Vikena, Tangitau, Howden (and Holland injured a lot) under a different head coach?
Maybe Joseph (the new head coach) is the problem here?
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@darylmitchell 4 out 5 Australian teams that were pretty average and a Crusaders team that was ravaged by injuries was helpful to the 2024 Highlanders .
Much tougher teams across the board including MP
Gives a bit balance to how tough the 2025 comp is -
@darylmitchell said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
@Canes4life couldn’t have said it better myself. That’s the key is keeping these young guys around while continuing to bring younger guys like Pledger and Tengbald through.
It was never about this season for Highlanders fans, we knew the reality with the current squad,
Explain how they finished 6th last season with the same squad (bar Harmon) & no Kautai, Vikena, Tangitau, Howden (and Holland injured a lot) under a different head coach?
Maybe Joseph (the new head coach) is the problem here?
Shit let me see. Howden, Haig, Kautai who have missed half of this season, add Nareki, Tangitau, Broughton and Renton to that list.
Having a solid 10 in Patchell who managed the team well, a good scrummaging tighthead prop in Ainsley. Let’s not forget captain and Mr consistent Billy Harmon. That’s a lot of starters, leadership, and experience missing and the guys you more or less relied on to fill important spots have been out injured so young guys are playing a lot more than anticipated. But yes sure thing, Joseph is the problem.
The competition has also gone up a level, you can’t discount that.
End of the day, we knew the reality with thing young squad. That’s my opinion on it anyway. If you want to disagree and blame Joseph then go ahead, you’ve already got your mind made up.
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Sounds like you're jumping through a few hoops trying to defend their current 2nd to bottom standing compared to their 6th place finish under Clarke Dermody in 2024, lol.
And you realize they've got Canes, Chiefs, Blues next - so are likely to finish last in 2025?
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@darylmitchell it's a grim reality we all know this, as a landers tragic it pains me knowing if 2 closing moments of games were managed by the players better we would be in the top 6... Robinson being charged down and Gilbert's dropgoal missing against the Canes, tough the lads didn't nail key moments but is that really on Joseph?
