Highlanders 2022
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@Steven-Harris my memory of early Smith was he wasn't really anything special, looked like a great touch player though. Maybe something like Milo-Harris.
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@Bones what’s really annoying from Blues piece Andy Dalton was signing some pretty average players from out of the Blues region and also signing them for Auckland..
The Toby Morland one still gets my back up ..
Aaron Smith going to the Highlanders turned out to be the correct decision if you think about it ,Jamie Joseph could see his talent something Pat lam obviously couldn’t see ..Interesting to hear Nuggy talk about Ben Smith as well and how much he rated him
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@Steven-Harris nug loved Benders Dummy😆
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@Steven-Harris said in Highlanders 2022:
This all happened on Andy Daltons watch who was the CEO of both Auckland and the Blues
Shows how toxic the organisation was.
We lost Naholo as well - but to be fair he wasn't training properly, didn't care. Smith kinda showed up half heartedly as well; sometimes you need a kick in the arse to go to another level, rather than coast. Both found that at the Landers with the gritty underdog culture
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@nzzp said in Highlanders 2022:
@Steven-Harris said in Highlanders 2022:
This all happened on Andy Daltons watch who was the CEO of both Auckland and the Blues
Shows how toxic the organisation was.
We lost Naholo as well - but to be fair he wasn't training properly, didn't care. Smith kinda showed up half heartedly as well; sometimes you need a kick in the arse to go to another level, rather than coast. Both found that at the Landers with the gritty underdog culture
Also, worth noting the Blues had a policy of picking almost exclusively from within the region and only using a tiny number of imports. Smith was told he might get signed after the NPC.. Lam had to be cautious about how he used the import spots
That policy plus the lack of quality in the NPC regions really hurt the Blues. Harbour and Northland where at historic lows and Aucklands selection was bizarre at the time.. very little player development and strange journeymen signings. Anscombe deserves plenty of blame as well as Dalton for the selections
Lam was the target of a pretty nasty campaign in Auckland rugby politics. Plenty of it came from Anscombe and some of those stories still get repeated.
It's interesting to look back on the decade since that shit now. Lam did great work with Connacht and has created a strong Bristol team from scratch. He's been extended to 2028 and is a multi millionaire from his rugby knowledge (the highest paid non Test coach?)
Anscombe went overseas and destroyed Canadian rugbyApologies for the Auckland/Blues talk in this thread.. back to talking about the Highlanders
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Here is Roger Clark saying the Highlanders are expecting to announce a new coach within the next 10 days.
When asked about who it will be, in my mind he hinted it will be Dermody.
"The Highlanders intended to appoint a head coach who "understands our region, our people and our club, and can get the best out of the people they are working with".
Also interesting to see he stated 80% of the squad is signed for next year. The confirmed departures are Kayne Hammington, Bryn Evans, Sio Tomkinson and Liam Coltman. I'd be thinking Ngani Punivai, Solomon Alaimalo, Fetuli Paea, Marty Banks (hopefully a potential off field role), Jeff Thwaites and a loose forward might not be making it back either.
Highlanders coach announcement imminent
Chief executive Roger Clark says the Highlanders will announce their new coach within the next 10 days. Tony Brown’s two-year, second stint as...
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@SouthernMann Noah Hotham about to secure himself a super rugby contract!
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i like dermody in general...but i am a little concerned what we need a is sea change...guess we'll see
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@FakatavaFuture said in Highlanders 2022:
@SouthernMann Noah Hotham about to secure himself a super rugby contract!
He is 100% getting himself a Super Rugby contact. I just hope it is with us.
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@SouthernMann What was the deal with Thwaites this season? Was he injured or just not rated anymore. Even with injuries Ma'u was selected ahead of him. Speaking of props, it is time to move on from Hohneck.
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@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2022:
@SouthernMann What was the deal with Thwaites this season? Was he injured or just not rated anymore. Even with injuries Ma'u was selected ahead of him. Speaking of props, it is time to move on from Hohneck.
Yeah I was thinking this will likely be Hohneck's last season. He has given plenty, but now we have enough to more forward with.
Even with Otago he will now be the third string tighthead Ainsley, Ma'u and then him. So may be Thaiwtes gets a reprieve.
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@SouthernMann Dale Mcloud as a smokey?
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@98blueandgold said in Highlanders 2022:
Long time since I posted in here, think I’ve lost my will to live after watching the Highlanders the last 2 seasons.
Will be interesting to see who the coaching set up is. The success of the 2015 season was built on culture and having a staff who was strong and represented that - followed by players who brought in.
This year the honest fact is we just don’t have the x - factor we had in pass one a Naholo, Fekitoa… we hit the jackpot with these guys who where fringe players in other franchise but seemed to be lured down by Joseph.Caught that doco on Sky last night. Enjoyable watch.
Take some of the detail away and you see one of sport's standard stories for non-dynastic teams. Every now and then the planets align and your hard work pays off. It takes luck sometimes (a random game decision can take away momentum and two in a row can make all the doubts rise to the surface etc)
We've seen it with all the other teams bar Saders and Blues. Saders because they are a dynasty team and Blues because they were and will never live that down until they get back there. -
Highlanders wrap up 2022 season with annual awards
2022 HIGHLANDER’S AWARD RECIPIENTS:
Dunedin City Motors Fan Player – Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Forward of the Year – Jermaine Ainsley
NZME Back of the Year – Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Defender of the Year – James Lentjes
Speight’s Players’ Player – Thomas Umaga-Jensen
University of Otago U20 Player of the Year – Fabian Holland
Rookie of the Year – Saula Ma’u
Pulse Energy Player of the Year – Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
Highlander Man – James Lentjes
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@FakatavaFuture Tony Brown made a play for him before the 2021 season and thought he was gonna get him too but Lam said no. Think Brown was quite gutted not to land him too.
