Highlanders 2024
-
...god i regret posting
-
Happy Tuesday!
-
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
...god i regret posting
Come on, who doesn't love a little bit of off-season pettiness between teams... they say there is no tribalism in Super Rugby...
-
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby The Chiefs won't be signing any more midfielders with 5 now confirmed. Grindlay played for the Chiefs Dev team, so wouldn't be a bad choice. The other player who was around the Chiefs but would now be surplus is Lalomilo. He doesn't really stand out in the NPC for me though.
Think Lalomilo is one of those guys who has eye-catching moments but is far too inconsistent. Grindlay is a good age, and would be a good prospect worth exploring, who probably has way more upside. As has been pointed out by others, there isn't loads of options around, so we will see.
-
@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
Remember, we have Jonah Lowe on a three-year deal based off NPC form which he hasn't replicated in Super Rugby.
Jonah Lowe was signed based on a very good season playing for the Chiefs, where he played much better than for the Highlanders. That probably says more about the Highlanders than about the player.
-
@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
Remember, we have Jonah Lowe on a three-year deal based off NPC form which he hasn't replicated in Super Rugby.
Jonah Lowe was signed based on a very good season playing for the Chiefs, where he played much better than for the Highlanders. That probably says more about the Highlanders than about the player.
I'd hardly say a very good season for the Chiefs... Lowe is just average. The fact he was starting for the Highlanders, says more about the Highlanders than it does Lowe, but I think the performances themselves are representative of someone who is quite limited. Fine squad option, but not someone you want as a starter.
-
If the Landers thought it was a culture problem, not a player capability problem with Lowe they wouldn't have gone out and signed two starting outside backs...
-
i for one remember being quite happy about sign Lowe, thought he would be a big step up on what we'd had on the right wing since Naholo
i think much like the All Blacks at times, we're just not playing to put a winger in space, nareki often gets the ball either in broken play or under pressure and is expected to break the line rather than build up some momentum and go around/through someone, i put a bit of that at the feet of our 10/midfield
-
no idea how legit these young guys are, is there a chance theyre a Hurley that have the skill but not the body?....but its a god sign we're looking at them, the next generation of players seeing guys go from school teams to Southland/Otago/Highlanders is just going to encourage them
-
I think Jimmy Taylor and the Muliana are only 16 or 17? So, a few years to go.
The halfback out of Kings in the NZ Schools side, looks decent. Same with the Southland winger, who is off on a mission next year.
There are a few good young players. It just might be quite a tough few years.
-
Was just thinking, there has been zero noise around our last two signings. With Millar's injury, I do wonder whether the Landers will consider looking at another 10. Faleafaga has been a little disappointing for Otago IMO, though there are mitigating circumstances there. We have bemoaned Mitch Hunt's punting, but not sure Ajay's is any better.
-
Faleafaga is what 19 or just 20? There is a lot to like about some of his tactical kicking. Especially attacking cross kicks. He is far from the polished finished product. But he has plenty of time on his side. At this stage in his career I'd expect Hunt's punting to be a lot better. Going on a mission is what young Mormons do. Often to the islands or Australia. Although could be to another region doing the door knocking.
-
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Faleafaga is what 19 or just 20? There is a lot to like about some of his tactical kicking. Especially attacking cross kicks. He is far from the polished finished product. But he has plenty of time on his side. At this stage in his career I'd expect Hunt's punting to be a lot better. Going on a mission is what young Mormons do. Often to the islands or Australia. Although could be to another region doing the door knocking.
My issue with Faleafaga's kicking is range. I just don't think his punt is long enough... doesn't mean he can't be a top player, but I just don't think he'll ever be a top 10, because he'll always struggle to truly control the game with his boot. Look at Canterbury for instance, and see how when things are going array, Burke drives them downfield with a clearing kick into touch up on the 10. Faleafaga's land short of halfway, which isn't bad, but it is those little things.
I'd like to see him transition to 12, as a secondary playmaker. Kind of a smaller version of David Havili.
-
i think the point might be he's young enough to put on more muscle or work on his technique to try and get a longer punt...hunt had a good kick, its not locked in now and cant be changed
-
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
i think the point might be he's young enough to put on more muscle or work on his technique to try and get a longer punt...hunt had a good kick, its not locked in now and cant be changed
You say that, but look at the length of punt Millar has. Look at the length of punt Sullivan had when he was that age. Look at some of the guys playing 1st XV rugby.
It isn't necessarily a slight on Faleafaga as a rugby player, but even if he improves it slightly, I still think it inhibits him from being a top first five. That's why I say, as opposed to him being a bad player, I reckon he'd be better off working on being a top 12/13.
-
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
i think the point might be he's young enough to put on more muscle or work on his technique to try and get a longer punt...hunt had a good kick, its not locked in now and cant be changed
May be the case, but a lot of it is natural I reckon. Much like speed, the ability to bowl fast, throw long etc. You can improve technique and strength but that will only get you so far. If you ain't got it, you ain't got it.
-
@Crazy-Horse you're not "wrong" in my mind...but i do think there is more too it, obviously natural talent is part of it...but i also do think a lot can change now its his job to work on it...and the extent of how much needs to be worked on might have really only come out during this season NPC is a step up from school boy stuff....lets give him and any other young guy enough time to reach their full potential
-
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
@Crazy-Horse you're not "wrong" in my mind...but i do think there is more too it, obviously natural talent is part of it...but i also do think a lot can change now its his job to work on it...and the extent of how much needs to be worked on might have really only come out during this season NPC is a step up from school boy stuff....lets give him and any other young guy enough time to reach their full potential
Sure, but I think equally he'd be better off shifting position before it is too late. From what I have seen, I'd be pretty confident in saying that unless injuries ruin him, Cam Millar will be the better first five of the two, because he seems to control the game better, and has a much better kicking game. There is a gap at 12 for both Otago and the Highlanders, and I really think Faleafaga could own it... but here is the other thing - and it is a little bit grim.
It might just be that Faleafaga isn't quite as good as Highlanders fans want him to be. Probably a bit of a red flag that he wasn't ever used at 10 by the NZ U20s or U19s, despite Kemara hardly being a world-beater.
