Highlanders 2024

Daffy Jaffy

Former Crusader winger Manasa Mataele is leaving the Force. Still only 26, could be an outside back option?

SBW1

@Daffy-Jaffy He used to be a Crusader and last year played for Canterbury in the NPC.

cgrant

@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.

Bones

@cgrant we are going to need every inch we can get.

Yeetyaah

Hey cool my source was correct

SouthernMann

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.

taniwharugby

@Yeetyaah thats a good signing for the Highlanders, big loss for MP though, more so after losing Aumua as well...

Chris

With just a hooker and a MF left to fill the Highlanders squad,I don’t see where this Crusader being signed is coming from.

Daffy Jaffy

I would be interested to read opinion on Patchell and what he will bring to the team from @MiketheSnow.

MN5

This post is deleted!

NateHill74

@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

frugby

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?

Kiwiwomble

@frugby you think PUJ would be the biggest? largely sidelined by the canes and we already have one UJ

frugby

@Kiwiwomble Capped All Black. I am more excited about JRK, but PUJ would be a great get... at his best, he would start for the Canes IMO. Big call sure, but reckon he is equal to Procter.

frugby

Honestly, reckon a fun little competition would be guess the Highlanders third hooker.

Hika Elliot is the first one I'm going to throw out there, just because it would be quite funny. Heck, Shota Horie. He went solid for the Japanese XV in the weekend.

Kiwiwomble

@frugby Horie already has a small connection to Dunedin....

SouthernMann

A third hooker; needs to be fairly experienced. A total of about 20 minutes of Super Rugby between the other two squad members. Needs to be better than Apisai, Makalio and Marshall - otherwise no point letting them go. Probably aiming to keep them around for a year or two, max. Not an out and out 'third hooker', but someone who can be a level headed player and start.

NZ Names

Coltman
Elliot
Dixon

Otherwise we will probably be looking at someone from the Northern Hemisphere again.

Bovidae

I'm not sure why the Highlanders let Marshall go. He didn't play poorly and would only be 31 at the start of SR next year.

Kiwiwomble

i would kill to get Dixon back, a true leader and really well rounded hooker, perfect to help raise up the young guys

Coltman is a true club man but if he couldnt sort out his own line out throwing he's not exactly going to be awesome at helping the young guys come through

frugby

@Bovidae It is my understanding Rhys Marshall wanted to stay, but we chose to get rid, so I would expect this player to have a level of pedigree (+ Age, particularly if a NZ) and be better than Rhys, who I always thought was quite handy.

The Silver Fern

Highlanders 2024