Highlanders 2020

[Bovidae]

@African-Monkey I mentioned him to make my point if they wanted to select a different young, local player to develop. I agree that he isn't good enough at this stage.

[Steven Harris]

@mikey07 that’s interesting one for me..I am not to fussed about it..but this will be a massive story given the circumstances

[mikey07]

@Steven-Harris Neither but as they say innocent til proven guilty so he’s getting the benefit of the doubt.

[Yeetyaah]

@mikey07 he pleaded guilty, he's currently in remand. Fucking joke of a signing.

[Stargazer]

@Yeetyaah Looking at his instagram, he's not in remand.

[Higgins]

@Steven-Harris Thanks, I see he was in the Otago NPC Team as recently as 2017. However nowhere to be seen in 2018 and 2019 for reasons unknown. The hookers used by Otago in 2019 (excluding the Canterbury game where I cannot find their team lineup!) were Liam Coltman (One start only v HB), Skeonaia Pole (4 starts and 4 x bench), Nic Souchon (3 starts and 4 x bench) and Steven Misa (2 starts and 1 x bench). Four hookers used and Ricky Jackson s not one of them. Is this a case of a club player bypassing NPC and making it directly into Super Rugby?

[Higgins]

@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2020:

@Yeetyaah Looking at his instagram, he's not in remand.

Next court appearance is November 15. Might struggle to get to training if he is thrown in the klink (or given Home D). Might also be problematical in obtaining entry visas to Sth Africa and Argentina with an assault conviction as well.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/116597699/rugby-player-kicked-victim-in-the-head-during-fight

[Stargazer]

@Higgins I assume they'll be able to rip up his contract if he ends up with a conviction. Apart from moral issues with this signing, it just doesn't make sense to sign someone who can't travel to away games.

[cgrant]

Possible starting XV :

DLB
Coltman
Tokolahi
Whetton
PPP
Frizell
Lentjies
TBN
Smith
Ioane
?
Walden
Thompson
?
McKay

[Bones]

@cgrant Kuridrani, Nabura and Tomkinson would all go OK on the wing.

[Kiwidom]

@Higgins He had a lengthy spell in hospital after suffering a serious leg infection in club rugby back in August. Made his comeback via the Otago development side later in the season

[sparky]

A lot of emerging talent for the Highlanders. My concern for them is the Hammett factor. Wherever he goes, there is never a harmonious dressing room.

[Bovidae]

@cgrant Johnstone could be the starting LH prop as he was often selected ahead of DLB this season.

[Stargazer]

@sparky It looked okay, last year, though?

[Steven Harris]

@Yeetyaah I have heard he was signed before the incident, so his circumstances could change hearing dependent..either way it’s probably not gonna go down well..

[Yeetyaah]

@Steven-Harris Yeah he signed at the end of least year on a dev contract.

[Stargazer]

Highlanders lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit has been convicted over an assault which left the victim with a fractured jaw.
Manaaki Selby-Rickit (22) appeared in the Invercargill District Court this afternoon facing a charge of reckless disregard for the safety of others.

Despite calls from his lawyer for him to be discharged without conviction, Selby-Rickit was convicted and ordered to pay the victim $8000 in reparations.

Nov 14, 2019

Highlander convicted over assault which left victim with broken jaw

Highlanders lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit has been convicted over an assault which left the victim with a fractured jaw. The 22-year-old appeared in...

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So, what now? Will the Highlanders/NZR terminate his contract?
Who'll be his replacement if they do?

[Tim]

@Stargazer So sentencing is still to come, or $8000 is it?

[taniwharugby]

@Tim sounds like $8,000 reparation is it? No Community Service or home D, probably lucky not to have a holiday.

[Stargazer]

@Tim This is it.