Highlanders 2021
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@African-Monkey the Jack Whetton one blows me away , I thought he did very well with the Landers , and was playing very well for Auckland pre his injury
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@KiwiMurph said in Highlanders 2021:
This is the trade off when you sign NMS. He's taking up a spot of a talented
youngsterplayer.FIFY
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@Steven-Harris Whetton want more game time. Brown want experience. I would like, Caird, Choat, Parsons or Lamborn ( he deserved the Himeno’s spot)
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@Steven-Harris said in Highlanders 2021:
@African-Monkey the Jack Whetton one blows me away , I thought he did very well with the Landers , and was playing very well for Auckland pre his injury
I thought whetton played well, really stepped up after Dicksons injury
hard to know if he was lured away to the tahs or if he found the gig after we said we didn't want him
I think we have to keep in mind, Evans might have been happy to play a secondary role where some of these younger guys might not and rather than healthy competition you just get some resentment
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I've been a bit slow catching up with up with all that has been written in the media around the squad announcements.
Maybe someone already mentioned this, but this cought my eye:The return of Thomas Umaga-Jensen – who Brown said had turned himself into a 113kg midfield “beast" – will give the Highlanders midfield more punch.
Brown told Stuff that Umaga-Jensen would start the preseason trials as the preferred No 12 with Paea his midfield partner.
Alaimalo will provide some size in the wider channels, and Brown said Alaimalo would be given every opportunity to nail down his preferred No 15 jersey.
So he prefers a TU-J and Paea midfield over Tomkinson (and Collins). Sounds good.
Also, he seems to prefer Alaimalo at 15, which would presumably send Mitch Hunt to the bench (ifJosh Ioane starts at 10). It could also mean that Collins will end up on the bench or out of the 23 entirely.Obviously, I really liked reading this; it might be bad news for Hammington:
Brown signalled that Hawke's Bay halfback Folau Fakatava will play a much greater role in the Highlanders’ campaign in 2021 after a brilliant Mitre 10 Cup season.
“In 2021 he's going to have a real impact on this team," Brown said.
“I know we've got Aaron Smith as our All Black and our starting No 9, but I think with the way that Folau is playing he's going to start putting a lot more pressure on Aaron Smith, and get a lot more game time.”And this about the role of Bryn Evans:
Evans has returned to New Zealand after a long spell overseas and Brown said he wanted the former All Black to "mentor" the likes of Pari Pari Parkinson and Manaaki Selby-Rickit.
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Oh if Squire could jump and push in the scrum, at 1.96m he has a Brad Thornesque height and could model himself on Kevin Skinner in the lineouts..
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@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2021:
So he prefers a TU-J and Paea midfield over Tomkinson (and Collins). Sounds good.
Not sold on Paea, he didn't look all that flash for MP, but a good squad player. Would much prefer Collins to start based on form this year. Great to hear about TUJ though, with Tomkinson seemingly unwilling to change his red card ways. He'd be decent on the bench covering midfield and wing though if he sorted out his discipline.
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2021:
@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2021:
So he prefers a TU-J and Paea midfield over Tomkinson (and Collins). Sounds good.
Not sold on Paea, he didn't look all that flash for MP, but a good squad player. Would much prefer Collins to start based on form this year. Great to hear about TUJ though, with Tomkinson seemingly unwilling to change his red card ways. He'd be decent on the bench covering midfield and wing though if he sorted out his discipline.
If TUJ has turned himself into a beast, then a relatively smart player next to him like Collins might be a good pairing.
I think Collins is a bit shit at 15, but looks very serviceable in the midfield.
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@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2021:
@Bones I don't think MP is a good measure of how good a player is, but generally speaking he is still reasonably inexperienced.
It's not just the MP game that has me unconvinced, but that was a level up and most of his moments were pretty ordinary.
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@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2021:
Obviously, I really liked reading this; it might be bad news for Hammington:
Brown signalled that Hawke's Bay halfback Folau Fakatava will play a much greater role in the Highlanders’ campaign in 2021 after a brilliant Mitre 10 Cup season.
“In 2021 he's going to have a real impact on this team," Brown said.
“I know we've got Aaron Smith as our All Black and our starting No 9, but I think with the way that Folau is playing he's going to start putting a lot more pressure on Aaron Smith, and get a lot more game time.”Not that I want to encourage Hawke's Bay fans in any way but...
I think 98% of Highlanders supporters would be happy with Fakatava leapfrogging Hammington in the pecking order. I reckon I've seen Fakatava have as many blinders in the last two months as Hammington has produced in his entire first-class career.
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@Smudge said in Highlanders 2021:
@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2021:
Obviously, I really liked reading this; it might be bad news for Hammington:
Brown signalled that Hawke's Bay halfback Folau Fakatava will play a much greater role in the Highlanders’ campaign in 2021 after a brilliant Mitre 10 Cup season.
“In 2021 he's going to have a real impact on this team," Brown said.
“I know we've got Aaron Smith as our All Black and our starting No 9, but I think with the way that Folau is playing he's going to start putting a lot more pressure on Aaron Smith, and get a lot more game time.”Not that I want to encourage Hawke's Bay fans in any way but...
I think 98% of Highlanders supporters would be happy with Fakatava leapfrogging Hammington in the pecking order. I reckon I've seen Fakatava have as many blinders in the last two months as Hammington has produced in his entire first-class career.
I agree with the first bit but the second but is a little harsh, Hammington has been bloody solid, not going to pull out Smith levels of magic but very rarely has a bad game
Fakatava has great potential though
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2021:
@Smudge said in Highlanders 2021:
@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2021:
Obviously, I really liked reading this; it might be bad news for Hammington:
Brown signalled that Hawke's Bay halfback Folau Fakatava will play a much greater role in the Highlanders’ campaign in 2021 after a brilliant Mitre 10 Cup season.
“In 2021 he's going to have a real impact on this team," Brown said.
“I know we've got Aaron Smith as our All Black and our starting No 9, but I think with the way that Folau is playing he's going to start putting a lot more pressure on Aaron Smith, and get a lot more game time.”Not that I want to encourage Hawke's Bay fans in any way but...
I think 98% of Highlanders supporters would be happy with Fakatava leapfrogging Hammington in the pecking order. I reckon I've seen Fakatava have as many blinders in the last two months as Hammington has produced in his entire first-class career.
I agree with the first bit but the second but is a little harsh, Hammington has been bloody solid, not going to pull out Smith levels of magic but very rarely has a bad game
Fakatava has great potential though
Mate of mine calls Hammington "Heartland Hammington" because he reckons that's his level. I wouldn't go that far but I think he lacks any dynamism, which is fine for M10 level but not the next step up.
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@Smudge have to disagreed, think he does main job at super level well enough, gets to the ruck fast and makes the pass, puts in his tackles, runs support
yes, if we're chasing the game and need someone to put the pass straight out into midfield because they've seen a gap no one else has... we need smith and hopefully Fakatava...but if we just want to make sure a prop isn't having to pass it or to make the call to go to the backs or the boot rather than hit it up, Hammington seems comfortable
I might just be use to having to accept less than that and so am happy to have him around
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2021:
but if we just want to make sure a prop isn't having to pass it or to make the call to go to the backs or the boot rather than hit it up,
Listen up all you young halfbacks out there! It may sound unachievable, but the lofty bar has been set.
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@Stargazer just walked by Folau Fakatava on Lambton Quay. Wonder what he's up to in Wellington? Definitely not for the weather atm. Maybe he's shopping around for a Canes contract for next season.
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@Canes4life still be stuck behind Perenara there though. Dude wants to start he needs to go to the Blues or the Crusaders, Chiefs maybe as Weber will be gone but who knows.
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2021:
@Stargazer just walked by Folau Fakatava on Lambton Quay. Wonder what he's up to in Wellington? Definitely not for the weather atm.
Ehh, you never leave your home town during your holidays? To visit friends etc?
@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2021:
@Stargazer Maybe he's shopping around for a Canes contract for next season.
Only if they sign McClutchie, too.
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@Canes4life also, I saw Vince Aso in Manukau on Sunday, Chiefs contract?
