Highlanders 2026
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@CtownCowboy Definitely the Blues? Just reading between the lines, MP have 30 players locked in for next year, of which only 24 (I think?) are actually publicly known. TUJ to link up with his uncle?
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They just got Laumape so I’m guessing no
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The faster we get confirmation from the club around departures, the wasier it will be to throw around potential new guys. Even as it stands it is looking likely several under contract guys will be leaving. Having that surety will make the picture clearer
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@SouthernMann several under contract? so we buy out their contracts or their new clubs do?
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Probably more 'a few' than several. Faleafaga already gone, Hastie strongly rumoured to be, can't see Muchaels being kept around...
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
Probably more 'a few' than several. Faleafaga already gone, Hastie strongly rumoured to be, can't see Muchaels being kept around...
Faleafaga has signed for a team in Japan, so I would assume that is a release with no payoff. No idea where Hastie going, but every time I ask, am told he is gone. I'd suggest that means he has signed overseas, but no idea on that.
Michaels and Wingham are curious ones. The former the definitely signed, the latter probably signed, but clearly are not rated by the coaches. Will be interesting to see what occurs.
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if TUJ comes to the Blues does that mean Lam stays, leaves, goes to 13 or wing or just rotates with TUJ?
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@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2026:
if TUJ comes to the Blues does that mean Lam stays, leaves, goes to 13 or wing or just rotates with TUJ?
Ok C4L, time to read the thread title
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2026:
@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2026:
if TUJ comes to the Blues does that mean Lam stays, leaves, goes to 13 or wing or just rotates with TUJ?
Ok C4L, time to read the thread title
Hey, leave me out of this.
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@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2026:
if TUJ comes to the Blues does that mean Lam stays, leaves, goes to 13 or wing or just rotates with TUJ?
No Rieko next year so presumably Lam to 13?
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@Mr-Fish said in Highlanders 2026:
@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2026:
if TUJ comes to the Blues does that mean Lam stays, leaves, goes to 13 or wing or just rotates with TUJ?
No Rieko next year so presumably Lam to 13?
Yeah, um my fault but this really goes in the Blues thread.
Don't want to upset those fine Highlanders fans and the ex-Canes bandwagon fans... -
Lasaqa and Howden re-signing until 2027. Which is a further year on their current deals.
A subscribers ODT article from the ODT featuring an interview with Joseph. Says several players are leaving. Out of the guys leaving they only wanted to keep Gilbert.
Joseph looking at the positives
That was probably not how Jamie Joseph imagined his first season back as Highlanders head coach would pan out.
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@SouthernMann Thrilled TK and Lasaqa are extending through 2027. Either could have easily thought to go elsewhere after 2026.
Interesting that it sounds like Gilbert was the only one who chose to head offshore. Makes these other players leaving even more interesting
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Means we now have at least eight guys locked in to our top side for 2027.
Plus you'd expect guys like Ma'u, Taylor, Bartlett, Withy, Haig, and Hurley will be there then too.
That core group will have around 50 games each by 2027.
Then we'd expect Pledger, Tengblad, Harvey and Muliaina to be there by then too.
Plenty of gaps and some questions over lads like Whaanga, Millar, Te Hiwi, Wingham etc. Which we will get answers around when departures are announced, the NPC or after next year.
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Yes, confirmed in Paul Cully's article.
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Odd TK is just taking one year deals.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
Reading the tea leaves. Shannon Frizell to the Highlanders 2027
god i hope not, even putting aside his history off field....he'll be what 33 in 2027 and a several years out of super rugby...hes not going to be the same player he was...and to replace someone only coming into their playing prime....
