Highlanders 2025
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Ainsley was probably a bigger loss than we anticipated and Billy Harmon's move to no8 last year papered over the issues we have there.
I think there are a few guys in the squad whose measurables are really good as youth players. Good motor, jumps well, appear to be statistically good defenders at lower levels. It is just they lack the punch and X factor required in Super Rugby right now. It is not to say that won't change. Just not clicking right now.
Paul Cully did an article around who we might target. For the first time I somewhat disagree, as it seems he is focused on who we can get here. I do agree at one point of giving Howden a run at 8.
The only guys from NZ I eould be pushing for are Grindlay out of the Blues, Alec-Wrampling or Basson out of Manawatu. Both stuck behind a long line or quality loosies and really talented.
Harkin isn't the solution at 10. Frizzell is a bit of a bandaid.
We are in a bit of a cycle. When you don't perform well, you can't recruit easily, when you can't recruit well you generally don't perform well.
In terms of all the chat about a grumpy team. I'm sure plenty of us have played on amatuer where you lose a fair bit. It sucks. You get a bit snippy at your team mates. Dial it up by about 1000 when you are playing in front of 10k people, and in a high profile competition. It isn't easy to be overly positive when the general public and the media tells you that you're shit at your job.
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We have bemoaned the ball carriers that we don't have. There were a few that we could have easily had running around.
No8s the Landers have had leave from within the region in the last few years
Semisi Tupou - well known his journey out.
Sean Jansen - Dunedin schooled now playing at Connacht. Never got a chance with Otago.
Arese Poliko - seven games for Southland. Now holding tackle bags at the Canes.
Lio-Willie - we mucked him around and Razor pounced.
Any of those lads could have added value.
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Just done a deep dive and here’s where the squad is at based off the information we have been given. If anyone knows more then feel free to chime in.
Props:
Ethan de Groot (2026)
Daniel Lienert-Brown (2025)
Josh Bartlett(?)
Saula Ma'u (2025? Signed with otago in 2022 on a 3 year deal, assuming Highlanders is the same.)
Sefo Kautai(?)
Rohan Wingham (?)Hookers:
Henry Bell (2025)
Jack Taylor (2026)
Soane Vikena (2026)Locks:
Fabian Holland (2025)
Mitch Dunshea (2025)Loose Forwards:
Oliver Haig (2026)
Hugh Renton (2026)
Hayden Michaels (2026)
Veveni Lasaqa (2026)
Sean Withy (Signed with the Stags for 3 seasons, assuming Landers is similar or close to it. 2026?)
Nikora Broughton (2025?)
Lui Naeata(2025, one and done).
TK Howden(2025?)
Will Stodart(2026)Halfbacks:
Folau Fakatava (2027)
Nathan Hastie (2026)
James Arscott (Gone after this season by what’s been said on here)First Fives:
Cam Millar (2026)
Ajay Faleafaga (2026)
Taine Robinson (2026)Midfielders:
Jake Te Hiwi (2026)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (2025)
Tanielu Tele'a (2025?)
Josh Whaanga (2027)
TUJ(2025?)Outside Backs:
Sam Gilbert (?)
Jona Nareki (2025)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (2025)
Jonah Lowe (2025)
Finn Hurley (2026)
Caleb Tangitau (2026)
Michael Manson(2025?)Quite a few coming off contract with only 1 in season extension so far in Fakatava. Hopefully Holland, Ma’u, JRK and Tavatavanawai are the next extensions we see.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
Just done a deep dive and here’s where the squad is at based off the information we have been given. If anyone knows more then feel free to chime in.
Props:
Ethan de Groot (2026)
Daniel Lienert-Brown (2025)
Josh Bartlett(?)
Saula Ma'u (2025? Signed with otago in 2022 on a 3 year deal, assuming Highlanders is the same.)
Sefo Kautai(?)
Rohan Wingham (?)Hookers:
Henry Bell (2025)
Jack Taylor (2026)
Soane Vikena (2026)Locks:
Fabian Holland (2025)
Mitch Dunshea (2025)Loose Forwards:
Oliver Haig (2026)
Hugh Renton (2026)
Hayden Michaels (2026)
Veveni Lasaqa (2026)
Sean Withy (Signed with the Stags for 3 seasons, assuming Landers is similar or close to it. 2026?)
Nikora Broughton (2025?)
Lui Naeata(2025, one and done).
TK Howden(2025?)
Will Stodart(2026)Halfbacks:
Folau Fakatava (2027)
Nathan Hastie (2026)
James Arscott (Gone after this season by what’s been said on here)First Fives:
Cam Millar (2026)
Ajay Faleafaga (2026)
Taine Robinson (2026)Midfielders:
Jake Te Hiwi (2026)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (2025)
Tanielu Tele'a (2025?)
Josh Whaanga (2027)
TUJ(2025?)Outside Backs:
Sam Gilbert (?)
Jona Nareki (2025)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (2025)
Jonah Lowe (2025)
Finn Hurley (2026)
Caleb Tangitau (2026)
Michael Manson(2025?)Quite a few coming off contract with only 1 in season extension so far in Fakatava. Hopefully Holland, Ma’u, JRK and Tavatavanawai are the next extensions we see.
Don’t forget tangitau is back to Auckland next year
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Only a guess, but I reckon DLB is the only off-contract prop - but they are looking to get ride of Wingham. The trend for us has been to give those young guys multi-year deals.
Other than that, I heard nobody major was definitely leaving yet, except maybe Nareki who was looking offshore (though that was about 9 months ago and have heard nobody more)
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@Duluth said in Highlanders 2025:
According to the ODT the worst number of wins in a season for the Highlanders is 3 (1997, 2008, 2010 & 2013)
They currently have 3 and have the Hurricanes (away), Crusaders (away) & Chiefs (in Dunedin)
Any optimism for at least one more win?
No more wins on current form. The optimist inside me says we cpuld steal one against the Chiefs if they lock in top of the table and rest a few players though.
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After six years of service and 56 games Highlander #295 Sam Gilbert will be departing our shores to play for Connacht in Ireland at the end of this year’s NPC.
Sam made his debut for the club in 2020 and has been our go to man many times over the last six seasons having played every position in the backline apart from halfback.
We wish him all the very best in the next chapter of his rugby story.
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@cala7x said in Highlanders 2025:
After six years of service and 56 games Highlander #295 Sam Gilbert will be departing our shores to play for Connacht in Ireland at the end of this year’s NPC.
Sam made his debut for the club in 2020 and has been our go to man many times over the last six seasons having played every position in the backline apart from halfback.
We wish him all the very best in the next chapter of his rugby story.
Good luck to the bloke. He gave it a good crack.
Was never the most talented player. Always did what was asked of him..
In most teams he would have been the ultimate depth man. When major injury strikes, is called in. He has played the majority of games over the last six years. Shows how weak we have been. Absolutely nuts he was made vice captain last year.
Hope he goes well up north.
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@cala7x said in Highlanders 2025:
After six years of service and 56 games Highlander #295 Sam Gilbert will be departing our shores to play for Connacht in Ireland at the end of this year’s NPC.
Sam made his debut for the club in 2020 and has been our go to man many times over the last six seasons having played every position in the backline apart from halfback.
We wish him all the very best in the next chapter of his rugby story.
He’s copped a bit of stick over the last couple years but he’s been a solid squad player since he joined and by all accounts a good person as well. Fell into the ‘Mr fix it’ role and I feel it messed with him a bit, especially for Otago.
Good luck to him over there, I feel he will suit that playing style well. All the best to him. Hope he does well.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
@cala7x said in Highlanders 2025:
After six years of service and 56 games Highlander #295 Sam Gilbert will be departing our shores to play for Connacht in Ireland at the end of this year’s NPC.
Sam made his debut for the club in 2020 and has been our go to man many times over the last six seasons having played every position in the backline apart from halfback.
We wish him all the very best in the next chapter of his rugby story.
He’s copped a bit of stick over the last couple years but he’s been a solid squad player since he joined and by all accounts a good person as well. Fell into the ‘Mr fix it’ role and I feel it messed with him a bit, especially for Otago.
Good luck to him over there, I feel he will suit that playing style well. All the best to him. Hope he does well.
A solid squad player. Is the best way to sum him up.
Sadly, a lack of capability around him meant he had to be a leading hand.
A guy who was essentially the level of a steady NPC starter, or a 2nd/3rd string Super player was required to be one of the star players in the Landers set up. The expectations and then feedback wasn't fair on him.
I agree with you, his style will likely go well up there.
My hope for the NPC is that guys who will be around next year are prioritised over him.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
@cala7x said in Highlanders 2025:
After six years of service and 56 games Highlander #295 Sam Gilbert will be departing our shores to play for Connacht in Ireland at the end of this year’s NPC.
Sam made his debut for the club in 2020 and has been our go to man many times over the last six seasons having played every position in the backline apart from halfback.
We wish him all the very best in the next chapter of his rugby story.
He’s copped a bit of stick over the last couple years but he’s been a solid squad player since he joined and by all accounts a good person as well. Fell into the ‘Mr fix it’ role and I feel it messed with him a bit, especially for Otago.
Good luck to him over there, I feel he will suit that playing style well. All the best to him. Hope he does well.
Yeah they're not bad players, they just get the finger pointed at them more when things aren't going so well. As was said earlier, in sides going well, they're handy squad players.
We had one in the 2010s at the Blues, Michael Collins. Again, not a bad squad player, but as he was playing more and more and the side wasn't going well, he then copped more criticism as he wasn't what we needed at the time, but again, would have been a handy fill in for a better side back then.
That's who Gilbert kind of reminds me of in terms of how good he is.
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@African-Monkey said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
@cala7x said in Highlanders 2025:
After six years of service and 56 games Highlander #295 Sam Gilbert will be departing our shores to play for Connacht in Ireland at the end of this year’s NPC.
Sam made his debut for the club in 2020 and has been our go to man many times over the last six seasons having played every position in the backline apart from halfback.
We wish him all the very best in the next chapter of his rugby story.
He’s copped a bit of stick over the last couple years but he’s been a solid squad player since he joined and by all accounts a good person as well. Fell into the ‘Mr fix it’ role and I feel it messed with him a bit, especially for Otago.
Good luck to him over there, I feel he will suit that playing style well. All the best to him. Hope he does well.
Yeah they're not bad players, they just get the finger pointed at them more when things aren't going so well. As was said earlier, in sides going well, they're handy squad players.
We had one in the 2010s at the Blues, Michael Collins. Again, not a bad squad player, but as he was playing more and more and the side wasn't going well, he then copped more criticism as he wasn't what we needed at the time, but again, would have been a handy fill in for a better side back then.
That's who Gilbert kind of reminds me of in terms of how good he is.
We know Michael Collins very well. He was ours he's before his time in Auckland, before coming back for a stint at the Landers. Looked like he was running in mud
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@African-Monkey said in Highlanders 2025:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2025:
@cala7x said in Highlanders 2025:
After six years of service and 56 games Highlander #295 Sam Gilbert will be departing our shores to play for Connacht in Ireland at the end of this year’s NPC.
Sam made his debut for the club in 2020 and has been our go to man many times over the last six seasons having played every position in the backline apart from halfback.
We wish him all the very best in the next chapter of his rugby story.
He’s copped a bit of stick over the last couple years but he’s been a solid squad player since he joined and by all accounts a good person as well. Fell into the ‘Mr fix it’ role and I feel it messed with him a bit, especially for Otago.
Good luck to him over there, I feel he will suit that playing style well. All the best to him. Hope he does well.
Yeah they're not bad players, they just get the finger pointed at them more when things aren't going so well. As was said earlier, in sides going well, they're handy squad players.
We had one in the 2010s at the Blues, Michael Collins. Again, not a bad squad player, but as he was playing more and more and the side wasn't going well, he then copped more criticism as he wasn't what we needed at the time, but again, would have been a handy fill in for a better side back then.
That's who Gilbert kind of reminds me of in terms of how good he is.
We know Michael Collins very well. He was ours he's before his time in Auckland, before coming back for a stint at the Landers. Looked like he was running in mud
Oh yeah I know haha, I was more just comparing him to a guy like Sam Gilbert from a Blues point of view.
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