Highlanders 2024
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Reckon regardless of what happens in the weeks that follow, this weekend probably defines our season. Snapping the hoodoo in front of a huge crowd, and kicking on to finish 6th (or if not a close 7th) probably feels like you'd give this season a B- sort of grade (at a minimum).
Lose, and even if we limp into 8th, would feel hard to justify this season as anything other than a fail. Granted we've a young team, but going 0/6 in derby games, and making the playoffs only on the back of wins over Moana (2x), the Force, the Waratahs and probably the Drua would feel pretty underwhelming to me.
For what it is worth, I think either side of that three-game blip, we have definitely improved this year. I'm pleased that the coaches seem to have learned from their mistakes, and I'm expecting the boys to front up and get themselves over the line - and I think it would be deserved, and would justify that we are heading in the right direction... and gee, in a season which threatened to go totally off the rails, they'd be something really amazing about landing what would be pretty much the final blow on the Crusaders.
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How good was last night?! Was it perfect? Of course not (something really funny that it was two tries to four) but we played a sensible smart game, against a side which is still laden with All Blacks. Reckon the coaches once again nailed the gameplan so full credit to them... but these young boys, they stepped up, and this might just be the night things took a turn for the better.
Thought de Groot and Holland were awesome, whilst that might be the best game Nikora Broughton has ever played. Cam Millar I think probably does have limitations to his game, but if nothing else he is always going to be a great backup first five... ice cool off the boot, 27 points against the Crusaders is nothing to be sniffed at!
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@frugby i think a lot of NZ fans could learn something watching someone like millar...we need to stop comparing everyone to DC...hell...stop comparing to almost any AB 10.....as long as he plays to his strengths (kick for territory, kick is goals, if out of options take the tackle and secure the ball)...we can make that work, we just need a variety of gameplans depending on which 10 we have
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@Nogusta said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby failed HIA wasn't it? Collected a swinging arm from Havili just before half time.
Oh really? I was at the game, he seemed to be limping so I assumed it was that. Could well have been an HIA - did they mention anything on TV about it?
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Where's Parkinson?
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@antipodean said in Highlanders 2024:
Where's Parkinson?
I wonder if he will be playing club this week. I was at the game last weekend and he was running around warming up and running opposition for the team during their warm up. Can’t be far away from being fully healthy. Possibly fallen out of favor with Dunshea and Tucker being back and doing a job?
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Parkinson is listed to play club rugby on the weekend. He was meant to have as well last weekend, but was pulled to be a fit tackle bag holder/late injury replacement. It looks like him and Max Hicks have both slipped down the pecking orders.
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Paul Dwyer saying there are rumours Timoci Tavatavanawai and Mitch Dunshea will be playing for Southland this year. This is great news for the Stags. He also slightly bemoaned the Dunedin based Southland acadamey. This is a very smart move from a Highlanders and lower south rugby perspective. We need as many of the decent layers getting opportunities as possible. Otago can't hoard all the young players and have Southland starving
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Absolutely, that would be huge news for the southern regions. Hopefully Otago can sign on some of these players that make their way down south, similar to what Sam Gilbert has done with Otago.
Does anyone know if Dunshea has signed with Otago or is he still with Canterbury? A lot of players are attached to their initial regions so it’s fair enough I guess.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
Absolutely, that would be huge news for the southern regions. Hopefully Otago can sign on some of these players that make their way down south, similar to what Sam Gilbert has done with Otago.
Does anyone know if Dunshea has signed with Otago or is he still with Canterbury? A lot of players are attached to their initial regions so it’s fair enough I guess.
In terms of Dunshea. As mentioned, in the Dwyer ODT article it reads like he is going to Southland. From a financial perspective, I'm against Otago recruiting established Super quality players. Keep bringing kids down at 18. Don't sign guys aged 25+. Too expensive. Just like what we did last year wirh Sanders. Did he offer more than Lio-Willie or Stodart. Nah. We certainly shouldn't be paying over market rates for Highlanders who are just average Super players.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
Absolutely, that would be huge news for the southern regions. Hopefully Otago can sign on some of these players that make their way down south, similar to what Sam Gilbert has done with Otago.
Does anyone know if Dunshea has signed with Otago or is he still with Canterbury? A lot of players are attached to their initial regions so it’s fair enough I guess.
In terms of Dunshea. As mentioned, in the Dwyer ODT article it reads like he is going to Southland. From a financial perspective, I'm against Otago recruiting established Super quality players. Keep bringing kids down at 18. Don't sign guys aged 25+. Too expensive. Just like what we did last year wirh Sanders. Did he offer more than Lio-Willie or Stodart. Nah. We certainly shouldn't be paying over market rates for Highlanders who are just average Super players.
Wow I didn’t even register in your previous message mentioning Dunshea haha my bad.
My thinking wasn’t what you mentioned above, my thinking was more of if some guys are moving to Dunedin for the Highlanders it would be good to get a few solid young guys we bring down on the books for Otago. It wouldn’t hurt because as we know, we are pretty limited to solid depth.
Agree on not overpaying older guys for the sake of it. Thankfully that doesn’t happen often.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
Absolutely, that would be huge news for the southern regions. Hopefully Otago can sign on some of these players that make their way down south, similar to what Sam Gilbert has done with Otago.
Does anyone know if Dunshea has signed with Otago or is he still with Canterbury? A lot of players are attached to their initial regions so it’s fair enough I guess.
In terms of Dunshea. As mentioned, in the Dwyer ODT article it reads like he is going to Southland. From a financial perspective, I'm against Otago recruiting established Super quality players. Keep bringing kids down at 18. Don't sign guys aged 25+. Too expensive. Just like what we did last year wirh Sanders. Did he offer more than Lio-Willie or Stodart. Nah. We certainly shouldn't be paying over market rates for Highlanders who are just average Super players.
Depends what you define as overpaying for 25+
If Otago were a serious union, you'd match what Southland are paying for Tavatavanawai and Dunshea... those are quality players who improve your team. Sanders will be on f all I imagine, more just that he lives here because he signed for the Landers.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
Absolutely, that would be huge news for the southern regions. Hopefully Otago can sign on some of these players that make their way down south, similar to what Sam Gilbert has done with Otago.
Does anyone know if Dunshea has signed with Otago or is he still with Canterbury? A lot of players are attached to their initial regions so it’s fair enough I guess.
In terms of Dunshea. As mentioned, in the Dwyer ODT article it reads like he is going to Southland. From a financial perspective, I'm against Otago recruiting established Super quality players. Keep bringing kids down at 18. Don't sign guys aged 25+. Too expensive. Just like what we did last year wirh Sanders. Did he offer more than Lio-Willie or Stodart. Nah. We certainly shouldn't be paying over market rates for Highlanders who are just average Super players.
Depends what you define as overpaying for 25+
If Otago were a serious union, you'd match what Southland are paying for Tavatavanawai and Dunshea... those are quality players who improve your team. Sanders will be on f all I imagine, more just that he lives here because he signed for the Landers.
It depends what you call Otago being a serious union. The NPC is a second tier competition. To me Otago being a serious union is having money to support community rugby, players flowing from inside the province (including being recruited out of school) to rep and Super and the teams being competitive with that system. The last couple of years Otago has primarily picked players developed through its systems, alongside with the Highlanders. Otago and Southland should be taking a shared approach when looking at players interested in settling down south. Southland have picked up Byron Smith, Otago already has two of the young first fives. Gives Smith a chance to show he can be the third 10. Otago will need to play some of its midfielders on the wing this season, and Tavatavatanawai can add a huge amount to the Stags. The more the three organisations can work together the better off rugby in the south will be. With Sanders, having him on the books also stands in the way of guys like Stodart, or it has him playing B rugby because we have too many loosies. Between Otago and Southland we are two smallish provinces and we need to work together.
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Thought this was interesting so will put in here for whoever is interested.
Tom Sanders named on the bench for his club up in Christchurch this weekend. Surely he should be playing some prem footy in Dunedin considering he’s contracted to Otago? Instead he’s playing Division 2 country rugby in Canterbury…… how did he get away with that?!
Positive is hes back on the field I guess.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
Thought this was interesting so will put in here for whoever is interested.
Tom Sanders named on the bench for his club up in Christchurch this weekend. Surely he should be playing some prem footy in Dunedin considering he’s contracted to Otago? Instead he’s playing Division 2 country rugby in Canterbury…… how did he get away with that?!
Positive is hes back on the field I guess.
He did only sign a one year contract with Otago. With the Highlanders it seemed like he was picked up as an insurance policy more than anything. Someone who can step in if Broughton and Stodart weren't quite ready. He has one more year to go and may just be a competent squad member. Interested to see where he plays his provincial rugby this year. Can't imagaine Canterbury will be busting a gut to get him back. Same with Lio-Willie and whether he will be back.
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When other franchises elevate young players who have come through the NZ U20 system, they are often the best players in the national squad. It seems some of our players, tended to just be squad members. Just because they are the best in Otago/Southland are they the right players to get quickly get elevated and do they deserve it or are they capable of the step up?
