Hurricanes 2026
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@nostrildamus said in Hurricanes 2026:
So weird for the Canes to have big fast locks.
Might be the key ingredient we are missing. 🤞
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@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life How good. Shame to lose gallagher but Dearns is a great boost. Locking looked okay-ish this year, line out probably a big work on for next year though. Pretty sure Delaney was exclusively at lock throughout the year, which probably wouldnt change next year. IWL is such a penalty magnet but can have good impact.
I think Delany’s size lets him down a bit tbh. He’s a good solid player and all but he was shown up against the Brumbies. We just didn’t have the grunt when him and Devery came into the pack.
Even though IWL is a rocks and diamonds player, he’ll likely partner Dearns next year as I think the Canes will look to play a similar game that resulted in a pretty successful 2024 season where they looked to power up in that tight five which ultimately provided a very good platform for our backs to go to work.
With the return of Jordie and the potential return of Moorby, the team will be stronger next year than the one that topped the table in 2024.
Next year will be the strongest squad we’ve had since the 2015 team IMO. Hope they can get it done. The key will be making sure we are near the top of the table so we don’t have to go to Canberra again in a playoff.
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@canefan said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
The big man has arrived. Warner Dearns signs for the Canes.
It says sabbatical. So he's not coming home to gain eligibility for the All Blacks?
How would that work? Needs to be playing in NZ to be eligible.
Shame it's just a sabbatical, bloody poaching Japs.
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@Bones said in Hurricanes 2026:
@canefan said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
The big man has arrived. Warner Dearns signs for the Canes.
It says sabbatical. So he's not coming home to gain eligibility for the All Blacks?
How would that work? Needs to be playing in NZ to be eligible.
Shame it's just a sabbatical, bloody poaching Japs.
He wouldn’t give up a spot in the Japanese side in what will be a year out from the WC once he returns to Japan. If he ever wanted to shift his allegiance to NZ it would be post the 2027 WC. He’s still very young.
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@Bones said in Hurricanes 2026:
@canefan said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
The big man has arrived. Warner Dearns signs for the Canes.
It says sabbatical. So he's not coming home to gain eligibility for the All Blacks?
How would that work? Needs to be playing in NZ to be eligible.
Shame it's just a sabbatical, bloody poaching Japs.
That's what I mean. It's a sabbatical therefore he's not coming back long-term to make a claim for the ABs
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@canefan said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Bones said in Hurricanes 2026:
@canefan said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
The big man has arrived. Warner Dearns signs for the Canes.
It says sabbatical. So he's not coming home to gain eligibility for the All Blacks?
How would that work? Needs to be playing in NZ to be eligible.
Shame it's just a sabbatical, bloody poaching Japs.
That's what I mean. It's a sabbatical therefore he's not coming back long-term to make a claim for the ABs
Hopefully playing in NZ makes him re-think his future. He’s certainly a player that would enhance the AB tight five if he decided to go down that path in future.
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@Nepia said in Hurricanes 2026:
"If" Gallagher left because of this is this really a good decision for NZ rugby?
Don’t think the Dearns signing had anything to do with his decision to leave. If Gallagher was hell bent on remaining in NZ he would have stayed and would have probably been the front runner to partner Dearns next year.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
@canefan said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Bones said in Hurricanes 2026:
@canefan said in Hurricanes 2026:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:
The big man has arrived. Warner Dearns signs for the Canes.
It says sabbatical. So he's not coming home to gain eligibility for the All Blacks?
How would that work? Needs to be playing in NZ to be eligible.
Shame it's just a sabbatical, bloody poaching Japs.
That's what I mean. It's a sabbatical therefore he's not coming back long-term to make a claim for the ABs
Hopefully playing in NZ makes him re-think his future. He’s certainly a player that would enhance the AB tight five if he decided to go down that path in future.
His mother was a terror on the netball court for the Silver Ferns, one half of the Wall of Death. If he has anything approaching her motor he will be an asset
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@SBW1 said in Hurricanes 2026:
What are the chances of Matt Proctor signing to play alongside his brother?
Apparently Rova has signed so will be the likely replacement for Umaga-Jensen. Don’t think they will go after M Proctor as we will be flush with centres.
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@Dan54 said in Hurricanes 2026:
I wonder if Dearns coming was part of reason for letting PUJ go early, to release a little more cash, as I don't think he will be cheap?
PUJ requested the release. They would have preferred he stayed but agreed with it out of goodwill.
I think you’ll also find it’s more to do with the fact there’s Jordie Barrett, Riley Higgins and Billy Proctor all ahead of him and PUJ cashing in while he’s still at a younger age.
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@Dan54 i sort of think regardless of any other signings, it was the right time for PUJ to go. Next year he would be behind both JB and Higgins, and aside from one or 2 seasons hasnt been a regular starter. If you put it in perspective, he & JB joined the canes in 2017, PUJ has played 53 games, JB - 111 games. Hes probably achieved all he could and time for a change
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@Landers92 said in Hurricanes 2026:
Josh Moorby back to the Hurricanes - 2 year deal to my understanding. Announcement pending, should be announced over the next week or 2.
Fantastic news.
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So after a raft of signings lately and with Moorby and Naholo all but confirmed, the Canes 23 is shaping up to be something like the below. Note, this is my preference only, but I can also see Jordie starting the season at 12.
I'd also give Du Plessis Kirifi the captains armband, he fully deserves it after this year's leadership.
Canes strongest 15 for 2026
- X Numia
- A Aumua
- T Lomax
- I Walker-Leawere
- W Dearns
- D Flanders
- D Kirifi (C)
- P Lakai
- C Roigard
- R Love
- K Naholo
- R Higgins
- B Proctor
- J Moorby
- J Barrett
Pretty decent 2nd 15 taking shape for depth
- T Mafileo
- J Devery
- P Tosi
- C Delany
- H Plummer
- B Shields
- ?? S Halalilo/C Flanders
- B Iose
- J Vijoen
- H Godfrey/B Cameron
- F Fineanganofo
- ?? J Rova
- B Sullivan
- N Punivai
- C Harkin
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@SBW1 said in Hurricanes 2026:
What are the chances of Matt Proctor signing to play alongside his brother?
Isn't he locked in for next year with the Force?
