Highlanders 2023

[Crucial]

@Kiwiwomble he was being talked up pre-season as having the game for higher honours.

[frugby]

@Crucial This is a great question, and one I'd love to know the answer to. Hard to think this contract was signed before the season, because coming into this year, he was a genuine shot at the ABs, having been probably next cab off the rank on the Northern Tour last year.

[Kiwiwomble]

@Crucial i was probably the one saying it, i would say i got shot down several time when i did, its a bit like Harmon though, just because he's good enough doesn't mean its happening if there are too many people ahead

[Stargazer]

MMT was definitely in line for higher honours, based on last season's form and his ABs XV call-up. He was one of the stand-outs in the ABs XV game he played. But then the injury at the beginning of the season happened. He missed quite a few games, and after his first game back he was interviewed and said that he wasn't back to match fitness yet and that his ribs were still bothering him a bit. But they did select him anyway.

I think he's had one start; the 2nd game after returning from injury IIRC.

I'd say that that injury and time not playing, and then not getting many minutes have affected his form.
Knowing he was going to leave and not getting the starts probably did not help his return to form after the injury either.

[Nepia]

Maybe he had a chat with Razor/Ryan and was advised he's probably not in their plans next year so thought it was a good time to head off make some coin and maybe play for Samoa?

[nostrildamus]

Or maybe his injury made him reassess his career and future income prospects?

[Kiwiwomble]

@Nepia said in Highlanders 2023:

Maybe he had a chat with Razor/Ryan and was advised he's probably not in their plans next year so thought it was a good time to head off make some coin and maybe play for Samoa?

yeah, you'd hope players in the fringe are able to reach out to the AB's coaches for get a clear message

[SouthernMann]

He's a good player, who didn't reach his potential. Hope he has a good career up in Japan and hopefully one with Samoa as well. In terms of locks, Paul Dwyer in his ODT video reckon Reuben Palmer at Dunedin has a big future. Interested to see how Fabian Holland's brother goes over the next few years too.

[Bovidae]

Has Palmer got any taller since leaving school? He's a big unit but was never that tall for a lock.

[frugby]

@SouthernMann I'd be fairly confident in saying Fabian Holland's brother won't be anywhere close to a Super Rugby player.

[frugby]

@Bovidae Could be a bit like Oli Haig... a lock through the age-groups, but then shifts to the flank (because the Highlanders definitely need more of those 🙃)

[SouthernMann]

@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:

@SouthernMann I'd be fairly confident in saying Fabian Holland's brother won't be anywhere close to a Super Rugby player.

I would have no idea. Haven't seen the kid play. Just looks a similar size to his brother. Looks like he is playing eight for KHS. It seems all Otago/Southland is producing these days are loosies.

[Bovidae]

@friedrugby I was going to mention Haig as a comparison.

There was an ex-OBHS lock that played for the NZ Barbarians U21s who obviously wasn't considered good enough for the Highlanders U20s. Eric Peita, and he looked to have some height.

[frugby]

@SouthernMann I've seen him play... nowhere near the same size. A handy school boy, but not much more imo.

[SouthernMann]

Still a cool story. Coming out here and giving it a nudge. From a now future perspective. We have the opportunity to see Faleafaga and Taylor play this afternoon. Wellington on a good day weather up here. Will. Be good to see how those two go. Same with Hurley coming off the bench

[Old Samurai Jack]

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:

@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:

@SouthernMann I'd be fairly confident in saying Fabian Holland's brother won't be anywhere close to a Super Rugby player.

I would have no idea. Haven't seen the kid play. Just looks a similar size to his brother. Looks like he is playing eight for KHS. It seems all Otago/Southland is producing these days are loosies.

It is the genes. Short, dumpy, freckled women with thick calves can produce good loosies but not locks. There is a need for an injection of fresh DNA south of the Rangitata River.

[SouthernMann]

It is all over. Well deserved for the Dura.

[cgrant]

What about Melani Nanai ? He's rather old but talented, with lots of experience. Fitness could be a problem though.

[frugby]

So that's it for 2023. A season which truth be told, we probably didn't expect to get much out of, yet still was disappointing. I feel we certainly showed signs of improvement, it can be seen by the difference between the 60-20 in R1, and the 16-9 defeat on Friday, but we do need to continue to improve - and I feel we will. Before we go too much into 2024 (probably need to start the Landers 2024 thread!) I thought I would give each of the players and coaches a rating for the season out of 10:

Props:
EDG - 8.5
DLB - 6.5
Johnstone - 5
Ainsley - 8
Thwaites - N/A
Ma’u - 7
Inch - N/A
Sheck - N/A

Hookers:
Makalio - 5
Marshall - 5
Apisai - 6
Taylor - N/A

Locks:
Parkinson - 5
Dickson - 5
Tucker - 5
Holland - 6
Hicks - 6

Loosies:
Harmon - 9 (POTY)
Withy - 8
Lentjes - N/A
Frizell - 6
Broughton - 7
Mikaele-Tu’u - 6
Renton - 8
Haig - N/A

Halfbacks:
Fakatava - 7
Smith - 7.5
Arscott - 6
Hastie - N/A

First Fives:
Burns - 6.5
Hunt - 4.5
Millar - 6
Banks - N/A

Midfielders:
Umaga-Jensen - 6
Paea - 5
Gregory - 4.5
Timu - 6
Whaanga - 6

Outside Backs:
Nareki - 7.5
Lowe - 4
Bogado - 6
Gilbert - 7.5
Garden-Bachop - 6
Dawai - 5
Koroi - N/A
Hurley - N/A

Coaches:
Dermody - 6.5
Donnelly - 6
Dillon - 7.5
Whiffin - 4

[Bones]

@friedrugby I feel like those ratings are a bit mixed in how they went for the team (e.g. props) and how they went for them (e.g. halfbacks).