Highlanders 2025
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@Mauss interesting insight mate good stuff. The other loose head you’re forgetting is George Bower. It will be interesting to see those 2 go head to head, might learn a thing or 2.
I see he was in the Hurricanes system back in 2023 but didn’t get a cap so a super environment wouldn’t be too foreign to him. Jamie Joseph has a way of getting into these fringe players who are Māori All Blacks ears so hopefully he’s the next.
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@Landers92 Yeah, fair call with regards to Bower.
I do hope Kumeroa gets a shot at the next level, his carrying offers a real edge to his game. It might be that he's more suited to the loosehead-side - his binding and positioning in the scrum might be more effective there - but BOP are well set on that side with Ross, Hetet, Bartlett and Seeling while being much less settled on the tighthead-side. So it makes sense that he's starting there at NPC-level.
I think he could be a dynamic option off the bench at the next level, coming on for someone like de Groot at the 60 minute mark.
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Can't say Soane Vikena has done anything in the NPC thus far that makes me think he is any better than what we already have... he has been poor for Auckland from what I have seen.
Positives have been the Otago and Southland based Highlanders, as well as Fakatava.
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Neither Vikena or Tangitau have shown the capability I was hoping to see during the initial NPC rounds. Jack Taylor has probably been the best of the three hookers we have signed for next year. Withy, Haig, Stodart, Holland, Ma'u, Fakatava, Umaga-Jensen, Hurley, JRK and Tavatavanawai have been great. Really enjoying how some of the lads are dominating and standing out.
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@SouthernMann Tangitau has been injured I think?
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann Tangitau has been injured I think?
He played against Wellington and was horrible under the high ball and defensively. Awesome on attack but obviously has plenty to work on to become an all round player.
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@Grooter said in Highlanders 2025:
Semisi Tupou the Stags 8 is a very strong ball carrier although his body frame reminds me more of a hooker
Fantastic ball careier. Might be seen as a bit one dimensional. He was an OBHS lad, who ended up down in Southland due to a lack of opportunities at Otago. While Stodart, a Southland lad, via school in Chch is with Otago. I'm sure Tupou will get some good pre-season footy with the Landers. With both Broughton and Stodart being young, there might not be a lot of room at the boot of the scrum.
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It's this guy:
Semisi TUPOU TA'EILOA profile and stats
Semisi TUPOU TA'EILOA : bio, stats, play time, birthdate, height, weight...
Not to be confused with this guy:
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@NateHill74 I'd be surprised. I've heard tighthead.
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I don't have high hopes in terms of landing an experienced tighthead. We are obviously trying to look under every rock, and most are coming up empty. I think we will probably end up with a player that makes most of us go WTF. A sort of Freddie Burns type player, but at tighthead. On the plus side, a lot of our guys have been having very good NPCs; Fakatava, JRK (needs to go back to FB though), Tavatavanawai, Withy, Holland (when not injured), Haig, Ma'u. Good to see Renton back as well, will be a cracking battle between him, Broughton and Stodart for the 8 jersey. The development of Arscott and Hastie is a concern though.
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Interesting times coming up at halfback. Pledger is clearly our most talented player in that possie. Just at the moment he still has the physical make up of a kid straight out of school. Which he is. Hastie is contracted through to the end of 2026, Fakatava through to the end of next season and unsure of Arcsott. Fakatava is now a dominant NPC halfback, who has never quite hit the levels expected. With Perenara leaving, he will be at best the 5th best halfback in NZ next year. Eligibility rules means he will be able to represent Tonga by the end of 2025? Seems likely next year will be his last in NZ. Hopefully that will ensure Pledger has a spot available. With Hastie, Arscott and Pledger in the Otago playing group it will be interesting to see how those three are managed at a provincial level. Do one of Hastie or Arscott get encouraged to go and line up for Southland. It seems redundant to have three Super halfbacks in one provincial squad.
Of the young inexperienced lads we signed to deals on promise like the halfbacks, Te Hiwi, the 10s, Michaels, Haig, Whaanga, Bell (his was more performance based), Taylor etc. Who are one and done players, contract wise and who will be mainstays. Some will be under pressure to show they have the ability to be apart of the playing group going forward. While others will be in demand locally and potentially around the world. Jack Taylor has been the best performing of the three hookers durind the NPC. Bells and Vikena have failed to fire during the NPC. Te Hiwi, the halfbacks, Michaels and Wingham probably have the most to prove. As a prop, Wingham will probably get a bit more time than some of the others. Holland, Haig, the 10s, and Taylor are probably the safest.
With Michaels, I was originally a fan. Now I'm seeing a bit more upside in the likes of Taylor and Casey than him.
Then there is the next group coming through. Kiseki Fifita after his mormon mission finishes. The giant lock Josh Tengblad. The Southland Dunedin Shark Josh Augistine. The second Dutchman Quentin Holland. The final Taylor and Muliaina out of Southland Boys. With limited quality coming out of the south and players recruiting from elsewhere difficult, they need to be very deliverate around who they lock down.
