Highlanders 2025
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@ploughboy said in Highlanders 2025:
fifita off to tonga nov 15 so will be playing again 2027
So 21 when he returns?
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:
@ploughboy said in Highlanders 2025:
fifita off to tonga nov 15 so will be playing again 2027
So 21 when he returns?
sorry not to sure
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Much of the ticket pricing is dictated by Forsyth Barr, not the highlanders. The prices they pay to practice on the pitch are absolutely absurd. The agreement they have is ridiculous
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Signing News.
TK Howden to the Highlanders, Will Tucker going the other way to the Canes - we are carrying three locks, that player is still TBC
Josh Bartlett is the prop from Australia... young Kiwi boy who played Western ForceNZ XV News
Jack Taylor, Oli Haig and Sean Withy expected to be named in the squad. -
@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
Josh Bartlett is the prop from Australia... young Kiwi boy who played Western Force
He is in the BOP squad again, and played one game for the Chiefs back in 2022. I'm not sure Bartlett is a better option than say Coxon.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
Signing News.
TK Howden to the Highlanders, Will Tucker going the other way to the Canes - we are carrying three locks, that player is still TBC
Josh Bartlett is the prop from Australia... young Kiwi boy who played Western ForceNZ XV News
Jack Taylor, Oli Haig and Sean Withy expected to be named in the squad.Really interesting loosie options with some big lads who can all switch into lock. Jospeh has talked about wanting to be the fittest pack, and not worry about being the biggest. This reflects it. Glad Taylor, Haig and Withy are being lined up. Hopefully they will be joined by some others like JRK, and even Ma'u. Millar should get a chance too
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It's our season! (Second team, I'm clearly a sado-masochistic bandwagoner)..
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So just racking the brain, a few things to note with the squad:
Props: I have heard Bartlett (player is from the Rebels or Force), but still not 100% on that one, as he is a loosehead. Potentially we are contracting seven props and have cut someone else? The other one from the Force could be Joel Hintz (would be a bizarre pickup I think?)... from the Rebels, Cabous Eloff could fit the bill.
Locks: JJ happy to carry three locks, as they are happy enough to get away with Stodart (and presumably Haig) on a matchday whilst they call someone else in. As for who that player could be, if they have let Tucker go, it is in theory someone better. Can discount Southland and Otago's others I think, so likely someone out of the region. Allan Craig, Hugo Plummer & Antonio Shalfoon are the first three who jump out - any other ideas?
Loose Forwards: We now have:
(6): Haig, Howden, Sanders
(7): Lasaqa, Withy, Michaels
(8): Renton, Stodart, BroughtonSanders is a candidate to have potentially been cut, because he has been unsighted and listed as a largely unexplained injury for Otago... could have made room for Howden, or they are simply carrying 9 because that was where the quality was available.
In theory the squad breakdown by position assuming nobody has been cut is: HK (3), PR (6), LK (3), LF (9), HB (3), FH (2), MF (6), W/FB (6)
Has Lowe and/or Sanders taken an early release so we can carry a third first five?
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This post is deleted!
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@HLD2023Champions said in Highlanders 2025:
@frugby Who are the Midfielders?
Gilbert, Umaga-Jensen, Tele'a, Whaanga x 2, Te Hiwi is my guess at the six. Matt Whaanga has been injured for Southland. The six outsides are' JRK, Tavatavanawai, Nareki, Tangitau, Hurley and Lowe.
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@SouthernMann shit I liked that before clicking to Lowe. I guess in form he can do a job, that's very infrequent though.
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann shit I liked that before clicking to Lowe. I guess in form he can do a job, that's very infrequent though.
Yeah the joy of signing him to a three year deal. He is going to get plenty of good tackle bag holding time next year. He probably still isn't going to be ready until a good few weeks into the comp. Peni from Southland could be worth a go. He just needs to get fit.
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@SouthernMann Gilbert and Nareki need to go, too many Otago players in that team. They’re all has beens.
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@HLD2023Champions said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann Gilbert and Nareki need to go, too many Otago players in that team. They’re all has beens.
Nareki is looking offshore for the end of the year last I heard, but still a very good winger - him and Gilbert are not even on the same planet.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:
@HLD2023Champions said in Highlanders 2025:
@SouthernMann Gilbert and Nareki need to go, too many Otago players in that team. They’re all has beens.
Nareki is looking offshore for the end of the year last I heard, but still a very good winger - him and Gilbert are not even on the same planet.
Nibble on the line!
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With the squad basically settled, think our team looks interesting. Like most years, suspect what we start the year with will look quite different to the end of the year:
- de Groot (c)
- Taylor
- Ma'u
- Dunshea
- Holland
- Haig
- Withy (vc)
- Broughton
- Fakatava
- Millar
- Tangitau
- Umaga-Jensen
- Tele'a
- Tavatavanawai
- Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
- Bell
- ?
- ?
- Howden
- Lasaqa
- Stodart
- Arscott
- Gilbert
I'm not normally a fan, particularly with the injury prone midfield we have, but particularly for games with the other NZ sides, an explosive 6-2 split where we can bring on a fresh loose forward trio could be a great option.
Note: I'm picking Renton and Nareki to start the season, before being slowly phased out - and obviously injuries will pay a part, and pretty much everyone in the squad will get a chance at some stage
