Highlanders 2024
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An all Fijian back three will be pretty cool under the roof.
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All Fijian, who would the full back be, Jona 11, Timoci 14, ?? 15
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@NateHill74 said in Highlanders 2024:
All Fijian, who would the full back be, Jona 11, Timoci 14, ?? 15
Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is half Fijian
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@FakatavaABXV Right okay
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Former Crusader winger Manasa Mataele is leaving the Force. Still only 26, could be an outside back option?
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@Daffy-Jaffy He used to be a Crusader and last year played for Canterbury in the NPC.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
Even if we sign four shitters (which I don't think we will), this is already a handy top 23:
- de Groot
- H Bell
- Ainsley
- Holland
- Dunshea
- Withy
- Harmon
- Renton/Broughton/Sanders
- Fakatava
- Millar
- Nareki
- Gilbert
- T Umaga-Jensen
- Bogado
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
- Taylor
- Lienert-Brown
- Ma'u
- Parkinson
- Broughton/Sanders
- Hastie
- Faleafaga
- Te Hiwi
Without having any oil on exact names, from what I have heard I'd guess you'll see PUJ and Patchell take up the spots in 10/22 and 13/23. The hooker situation will depend on who they can get, but suspect Taylor will be eased in as he is so young... Hika Elliot might be available, probably worked with Dave Dillon at the Steamers. Would be a good laugh. Then the winger, I expect to be announced tomorrow and I'm hopeful of Fihaki or Tavatavanawai, who would both start at 14. Otherwise, it will be a backup guy, but I think Martin could well light it up next year.
I could see Inch leapfrog Lienert Brown on the bench.
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All these signings makes me think back to a Roger Clark quote earlier in the year where he basically said the backline was rubbish and wouldn't start for any other side. We look at who will be running around next year. The only survivors in the top side will be Gilbert/Umaga-Jensen at 12. It is a full clean out.
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I would be interested to read opinion on Patchell and what he will bring to the team from @MiketheSnow.
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@Chris If we look at it, Midfield is most likely PUJ but could be Chay Fihaki as he used to play there but ofc can play wing and full back. Hooker, last year there was in the crusaders Ioane Moananu, Quentin MacDonald, Brodie McAlister are all options i think
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McAlister is contracted + we have not yet signed the hooker in a literal sense.
Won't be Fihaki. The claim was PUJ was a done deal, and am wondering partially if they are doing a 3,2,1 countdown, with PUJ to be announced next week. I mean if we got him, he would probably be the biggest signing of the bunch?
