Highlanders 2023
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@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
@Crucial said in Highlanders 2023:
@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
@Crucial said in Highlanders 2023:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
@Yeetyaah said in Highlanders 2023:
Talent identification these days is much better.
Was meaning by other franchises. With them ensuring the dregs didn't include diamonds floating downstream to the Highlanders. Highlanders talent ID certainly fell by the wayside over the last seven years, but the others really picked up. The biggest disappointment was seeing guys in our systems buggering off elsewhere.
Feeder franchise.
I do think that there is still room for good recruitment though. Every year we do a 'who was unlucky to miss out' excercise and there are good players in there. Enough to do a version of what Rennie did at the Chiefs years ago and look for hard workers that can have their base talent enhanced or those that may thrive with opportunity.
Look at the players that have looked the goods (super level) for MP that weren't on any other franchise. One has even gone as far as to catch the AB selectors eye. Stop looking for stars and settling for wannabes.
Players like Jared Page would serve you guys well and ink in a spot so the tinkering can be finessing rather than searching for a team.@Crucial Jared Page is exactly what the Highlanders don't need. I think people underestimate just how good Buckman, Fekitoa and Naholo were. These weren't battlers, these were top-class footballers. You can get away with a workman-like forward pack, but to win Super Rugby you need blokes in your backline capable of brilliance.
Six years on, we are yet to replace either Fekitoa or Naholo, and have cycled through players that are just alright. Need to find the next top class guy.
My point is that the Highlanders are currently well away from winning Super Rugby and the concept of needing to find the top class guy to get there is the wrong way to go about it.
Stop complaining that the top players are all locked up elsewhere and stack the team with good players that will work together. At the same time stop hanging on to players way past their prime.
You won’t win the comp but will at least provide your supporters with some good games and something to cheer for.
The best of those average players will grow and the team will then attract talent looking for an opportunity.Disagree. The Highlanders have plenty of players who fit the category of Okay. Gilbert, CGB, Lowe, Gregory, Timu, Hunt... also known as the majority of our starting backline. The pack is good enough to challenge, but an inability to win those close games where you need some individual brilliance is what costs us, not a lack of work ethic.
It’s players like Hunt and Banks that let you down.
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@HLD2023Champions welcome to the forum!
don't think there are many surprises mentioned here unfortunately
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@HLD2023Champions have’nt heard a great deal to be fair , got the info regarding Leo through a contact at his club .
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@HLD2023Champions Good pick up the NZ Sevens team will be worse off without him as he seemed to be one of the only players with speed.
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Predictions for new Highlanders tomorrow:
Nikora Broughton
Moses Leo
Will Tucker
Luka InchAny other guesses?
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@HLD2023Champions said in Highlanders 2023:
Predictions for new Highlanders tomorrow:
Nikora Broughton
Moses Leo
Will Tucker
Luka InchAny other guesses?
It depends on whether Leo is considered a midfield, outside back or a utility. Either way I reckon there are three more spots in the midfield/outside backs. I can't see any of the players who have been in/out in 2022 being of interest. Didn't show enough. The other point of interest is if they can dig up another 10 to take some pressure off the Banks, Koroi, Hunt (if available) and Gilbert. Do they bring Millar in a year early? The forwards look fairly settled.
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Looking like Moses Leo is the Punivai replacement
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Alaimalo, Punivai, Dawai, Paea and Tomkinson are all gone. Nareki back and Leo in. Still three spots to fill. I wouldn't be surprised if one replacement is Ray Nu'u. So that's a 12 for 12 with Nu'u. A 13/1wing with Leo. After another midfield/wing for Paea and two more wingers, may be one who can cover fullback for Alaimalo.
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@SouthernMann was gonna say are you sure Paea and Dawai are gone because the landers Instagram had posts featuring them a few weeks ago but then again it also had Selby Rickit..
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@FakatavaAllBlack said in Highlanders 2023:
@SouthernMann was gonna say are you sure Paea and Dawai are gone because the landers Instagram had posts featuring them a few weeks ago but then again it also had Selby Rickit..
I really hope so. Neither or them offered anything during their time on the field. Dawai might have signed a two year contract. Paea would have finished his initial contract this year. Neither of them started for their respective provinces and Paea wouldn't even make the strongest Ta$man 23.
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@SouthernMann Nu'u is still with the Rebels I believe
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Coaches must be still ringing around 🤦🏻♂️
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@Kiwiwomble ...is that strangely laid out? the forwards seem a bit randomly listed
not upset about Millar...but he seems very much like a replacement for Banks, a kicking 10...so not sure we need Banks
I dont mind Paea, thought he looks very good in his first preseason before injury, hopefully we see that again
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You know things are dog tucker when you have to retain players like Paea and Dawai. Might as well lock us in as whipping boys now. What a joke of a squad. Knew most of it was coming, just hoped some of the rubbish would be moved on.
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@Yeetyaah said in Highlanders 2023:
Look like kiwi wooden spooners to me. Sorry Landers fans.
Most other teams depth squad embers would walk straight into our 23. A lot of our 23 wouldn't make other squads. A really said looking squad.
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