Highlanders 2023
-
@SouthernMann I've seen him play... nowhere near the same size. A handy school boy, but not much more imo.
-
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
-
@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.
-
It is all over. Well deserved for the Dura.
-
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/AHookers:
Makalio - 5
Marshall - 5
Apisai - 6
Taylor - N/ALocks:
Parkinson - 5
Dickson - 5
Tucker - 5
Holland - 6
Hicks - 6Loosies:
Harmon - 9 (POTY)
Withy - 8
Lentjes - N/A
Frizell - 6
Broughton - 7
Mikaele-Tu’u - 6
Renton - 8
Haig - N/AHalfbacks:
Fakatava - 7
Smith - 7.5
Arscott - 6
Hastie - N/AFirst Fives:
Burns - 6.5
Hunt - 4.5
Millar - 6
Banks - N/AMidfielders:
Umaga-Jensen - 6
Paea - 5
Gregory - 4.5
Timu - 6
Whaanga - 6Outside Backs:
Nareki - 7.5
Lowe - 4
Bogado - 6
Gilbert - 7.5
Garden-Bachop - 6
Dawai - 5
Koroi - N/A
Hurley - N/ACoaches:
Dermody - 6.5
Donnelly - 6
Dillon - 7.5
Whiffin - 4 -
@friedrugby surprisingly large agree, except TUJ, would have him at least half if not a point higher than timu and whaaga...because he actually did something on attack
and the locks, only half a point better than hunt?
I actually made the mistake of getting my hopes up pre season, actually though on paper the team looked semi competitive, at very least should have comfortably mae payoffs...but that went out the window pretty quick
-
@Kiwiwomble Why surprisingly haha!
Perhaps I was harsh on TUJ, I guess maybe I could sit him at 6.5 with Timu at 5.5. Feels harsh to punish Timu for being injured, because as an individual prior to injury he was fine, hence a 6 - Just him and TUJ a poor combo. In truth, Whaanga probably should have been N/A.
Thought our locks were pretty poor this year if I'm honest. If anything, I was tempted to go lower on Parkinson. Holland is probably more a 6.5/7 to be fair.
As for Hunt, I think it would be harsh to give anyone lower than a 4. He had his moments, and tbf to him, it isn't his fault that the coaches had to keep picking him, making him look even worse than he is. He can only give his best, which wasn't enough.
Think all good fans get their hopes up during pre-season, but for every year since 2020, my reaction to the squad has been one of ill feeling, and even though I then do get my hopes up, I'm generally proven to be right. Despite what Stuff are saying, I don't think the Landers get worse before they get better, partially because I fail to see how we get any worse! Frizell and MMT have been disappointing this year for varying reasons, and whilst a love Aaron Smith, his time has come, and in both positions we have already secured good replacements. Losing Burns is a bigger issue IMO, because by the end of the year felt like he was key to us looking competent. Hopefully Millar can make the step up, but ideally, we need to get another experienced head, e.g Sopoaga to guide him.
-
-
@Duluth really sums it up, for the first 2/3 of the seasons our attack was so predictable, it really was just through the hands and crash ball, id love to see those stats per game as it felt like we did better in the last few games with some variety...not much but a little
-
-
@friedrugby I read constantly on this thread that you want more players from the Highlanders catchment, and you have 7 players on your (yellow) wish list from outside the region, 5 of them from the Crusaders catchment?
Have all those departures in red been confirmed?
-
Re Sopoaga, i think im burnt with the idea of a senior player to help blood the next generation, i just dont think the season is long enough to do it properly, we'll default to him starting most games because every win is important, i fear all we'll do is frustrate the next generation parking them behind someone that might be past it...baptism of fire time, go all youth for new signings cream will rise to the top and all that stuff
@Stargazer i think its more me thats normally pushing more local talent rather than @friedrugby
-
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2023:
Re Sopoaga, i think im burnt with the idea of a senior player to help blood the next generation, i just dont think the season is long enough to do it properly, we'll default to him starting most games because every win is important, i fear all we'll do is frustrate the next generation parking them behind someone that might be past it...baptism of fire time, go all youth for new signings cream will rise to the top and all that stuff
At least Five is a NZer, better than defaulting to an aging Pom (International) journeyman.
-
The Highlanders are yet to hit rock bottom, but their rise will be immense
The Highlanders have been methodical with their future planning, prioritising key positions when assembling their squad of the future.
sums up a lot of whats been said on here quite well i think
-
Without knowing too much my thoughts are
- I reckon Hunt will be retained. He will be the experienced 10 cover, although unlikely to play in that position except off the bench.
- Gregory to potentially also be retained. It appears as if both of those guys are seen as good team men.
- It will be interesting to see whether Ajay Faleafaga performs well in the NPC. I expect he will be in the squad for next year.
- Also believe Rohan Wingham will be a loosehead replacement
- Wouldn't mind thinking they might try and get Solomon Pole back to Dunedin as well
- Locks will be fascinating. Don't see much floating around. I wouldn't be surprised if Max Hicks gets told he is a lock for next season.
- If Hicks is pushed into a locking role, they might bring Will Stodart in early.
- Midfield and outside backs will be fascinating. It looks like they have a lot of faith in the midget Hurley. Fihaki would be a decent get. Potentially two spots available. Some of the depth players in the Blues would be ideal. They would walk into our starting side. Just need some out and out pace.
