Highlanders 2024
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damn, obviously saw he wasnt playing but hadn't seen the news, thats a huge loss, i know other disagree but i dont think Gilbert is up there with his line breaking ability at 12
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I think Gilbert was always earmarked to start at 12 next year for the Highlanders. TUJ was probably being looked at as an impact player. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is likely to provide more punch from the back than Gilbert. That then allows Timoci Tavatavanawai and Nareki to play on the wings. I doubt those two players would have signed if they weren't going to be starters.
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@SouthernMann yeah i know you do, i just dont see it, think he better at both 10 and 15 and personally i can see him at 13 more than 12.....but looks like one way or the other thats what we'll see
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Our current midfielders are Gilbert, Timu, Te Hiwi and TUJ (out for most of the season). Gilbert is the only fit one who can play 12. He is it. We still have one more to recruit, and I'd be thinking it will be more of a centre than a 12. However, this might mean we are looking for a guy who can play both roles.
I don't think we can expect Gilbert to make breaks himself, he isn't that sort of player. His job is to create space for the players around him.
While the outside backs we have Bogado, Tavatavanawai, Lowe, Garden-Bachop, JRK, Nareki
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
I don't think we can expect Gilbert to make breaks himself, he isn't that sort of player. His job is to create space for the players around him.
thats exactly what i dont see in him, i see him being much more effective running off a 12 thats made some space, so 15 or 13, i see him using space like runs from deep....not creating it
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@SouthernMann the Highlanders should look at Matt Whaanga (currently playing for Southland). I've seen him play twice now, for the Hurricanes in pre-season this year, and against Wellington in the Shield game. Not sure if he played for the Landers this year or not but he looks to be a smart operator, has a good range of skills and is defensively sound. Also a good size for a midfielder at 104kg.
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He played the final two games of the season as an injury replacement. He is originally from Dunedin. His brother Josh, who is 19 is likely to be the long-term Highlanders centre. Not next year though, he is only first year out of high school
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@SouthernMann you beat me too it, having seen them both play for Otago I think josh is much more exciting personally
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TUJ did his ACL? Didn't see that... will be it for him and the Highlanders sadly. I think as a short-term thing, M Whaanga the likely pickup, unless they look at Grindlay from Taranaki if he doesn't have a contract. Still think they were looking at him as more of a 13.
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@Chris Haha yes, I was being satire. Would be quite the midfield for the Highlanders though...
Umaga-Jensen and Timu both perennially injured, one of whom will miss nearly the whole year, and the other who will be coming in off about 7 months out. Add in Te Hiwi, who has spent a lot of time on the sidelines in his brief career to this point, and Ennor, who has done his ACL at least three times, and you might as well rent out an entire hospital!
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby Ennor isn’t going to the Highlanders.
I’ve got a family member that sees Razor almost daily down at Sumner beach and he confirmed that Ennor going to the Landers was definitely news to him.
We all know... It is fun to joke though. We are just a bit short of midfielders at the moment. Even five months out from the season.
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@SouthernMann slim pickings around the traps really. I wonder if PUJ would be enticed down there, not sure if he’s signed up yet. The other Hurricanes player going to Moana Pasifika could be him though.
Young Kyle Brown from Manawatu could be an option. He’s playing well this season in an up and down Manawatu side.
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We might just have to bite the bullet and sign Josh Whaanga earlier than expected.
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Grindley from Taranaki looks pretty decent as another option.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
We might just have to bite the bullet and sign Josh Whaanga earlier than expected.
Whaanga will be in and around it when injuries strike, but as I already touched upon, with the injury record of our current midfielders, I don't want to end up putting a ton of pressure on a 19/20 year old, who himself had a few injuries whilst at school. Matt will be injury cover if he isn't going to MLR, it is whether we sign a Grindley, or a Walden, or a Brown, or a whoever as a TUJ replacement.
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sign him up....literally just want someone that can stay fit
