Highlanders 2026
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They are looking overseas For a 10. I’m not saying that Jacomb rumour isn’t true, but it does sort of feel like one of those ones which people are talking about “and hearing from several people” because several people are talking about it. @Landers92 have you heard anything on this one?
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@SouthernMann I get the frustrations, but I think it is an odd hill to die in.
The reason I say that, is because Taylor took really good strides forward at the end of the season. Is there anyone better than him right now legitimately available, who wants to come?
George Bell is a pipe dream. Codie Taylor will play limited Super Rugby over the next couple of years, they have plenty of game time to go around. If Ioane Moananu is signed up, then who else is there?
Can you do better than Bell as a third pick? Possibly, but there is a local guy who you know will train hard, will do what is asked of him, and can be replaced if say Kempton comes on well - but he is at least one year away.
You bring in an ordinary bloke from elsewhere (Vikena) and you sit there wondering whether it was even worth it. You’d rather Bell, than a Leni Apisai like we’ve had in the past.
They have a long-term plan, and I’d be inclined to believe they will be lining up a hooker for 2027.
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Better hookers than Bell.
Both the Crusaders U20s boys, O'Reilly, Basson, most provinces have better hookers than Henry Bell. Bell wasn't even the no1 for Otago last season. I know you are loyal to him. But jeez. He did his job for a year in 2024. Time to move on.
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@SouthernMann You’re missing the point. As we have seen with Taylor, it takes the young guys time. Can’t keep contracting children.
If you can get the best in class young guy, make the exception, but otherwise just wait. O’Reilly isn’t the answer as the third choice. Guys like that are no good for squad stability.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
@SouthernMann You’re missing the point. As we have seen with Taylor, it takes the young guys time. Can’t keep contracting children.
If you can get the best in class young guy, make the exception, but otherwise just wait. O’Reilly isn’t the answer as the third choice. Guys like that are no good for squad stability.
I'm not missing the point. We are perfectly capable of throwing out other guys who aren’t up to standard. Yet when it is Henry Bell. We stand steadfastly behind him, apparently.
You asked me to list hookers who are better than him. Which I did. Also noting that Vikena is off contract in 2026. If he needs a rocket and doesn't get renewed. We may need to replace two. Surely we would be better off starting with moving Bell on. With Coltman coming back, who knows how much time he gets watching NPC rather than playing.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
@SouthernMann You’re missing the point. As we have seen with Taylor, it takes the young guys time. Can’t keep contracting children.
If you can get the best in class young guy, make the exception, but otherwise just wait. O’Reilly isn’t the answer as the third choice. Guys like that are no good for squad stability.
I'm not missing the point. We are perfectly capable of throwing out other guys who aren’t up to standard. Yet when it is Henry Bell. We stand steadfastly behind him, apparently.
You asked me to list hookers who are better than him. Which I did. Also noting that Vikena is off contract in 2026. If he needs a rocket and doesn't get renewed. We may need to replace two. Surely we would be better off starting with moving Bell on. With Coltman coming back, who knows how much time he gets watching NPC rather than playing.
I think the hooker market may be more favourable for us next year. As of now, the only thing you could probably do, is contract the second or third best U20 hooker, and I’m just not sure there is a need to do that.
We’ve been burned the last two years by having a front row that is too young, JJ will look to rectify that. Don’t be surprised if we look to sign older props.
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@frugby haven’t heard anything else around 10 sorry. The Lima stuff was about a month ago but was told not to share it around then. Bit of a coincidence the news around that went quiet when Jacombs name came out. FWIW, I’ve only heard Jacombs name mentioned on here.
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I've read the Jacomb name in one speculatory ODT article as well. But, who knows seems from a few stories that reporters lurk around on here and fern rumours pop up in news articles
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2026:
..... FWIW, I’ve only heard Jacombs name mentioned on here.
thats could be pretty damning
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@frugby Agree with your comment. It takes time to "grow" front rowers, particularly props. They generally don't reach their peak til mid to late 20s. Its crazy to expect the young guns to be the finished product at this point.
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@Tackle-and-Drive said in Highlanders 2026:
@frugby Agree with your comment. It takes time to "grow" front rowers, particularly props. They generally don't reach their peak til mid to late 20s. Its crazy to expect the young guns to be the finished product at this point.
Props, locks and first fives are the most in-demand players in world rugby. Everyone is after them.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
@Tackle-and-Drive said in Highlanders 2026:
@frugby Agree with your comment. It takes time to "grow" front rowers, particularly props. They generally don't reach their peak til mid to late 20s. Its crazy to expect the young guns to be the finished product at this point.
Props, locks and first fives are the most in-demand players in world rugby. Everyone is after them.
And yet props are paid the least, by quite a margin I think.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@Bones really? since being involved with a club i've heard several versions of a saying, "first name on a squad list is tight head prop...second name on the squad list is reserve tight head prop"
Like the saying the most important people in hospitals are nurses. Yet, a long way from the highest paid in the health system.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:
@Bones really? since being involved with a club i've heard several versions of a saying, "first name on a squad list is tight head prop...second name on the squad list is reserve tight head prop"
Like the saying the most important people in hospitals are nurses. Yet, a long way from the highest paid in the health system.
probably a fair comparison
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@Bones I think you'll find the opposite is true. Particularly in the northern hemisphere.
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@Tackle-and-Drive said in Highlanders 2026:
@Bones I think you'll find the opposite is true. Particularly in the northern hemisphere.
And just where will I find that?
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@handa457 Have heard nothing on the front row - other than that Bell is supposedly re-signed (I guess he in theory could have his contract chopped like a few others, but seems unlikely)
I wasn't aware of any rumours regarding Fiti Sa, and would be surprised if there was anything in them. Nothing on the loose forwards either.
