Highlanders 2021

KiwiMurph

@Stargazer Brown has eyes. He saw Mitre 10 Cup. Fakatava demands game time with his performance.

Kiwiwomble

@Stargazer yeah, if it’s that simple it’s understanding

Hope he stays in dunners, maybe training with the squad a bit

Just read fletcher smith didn’t get picked up by anyone, he might be regretting leaving dunners

KiwiMurph

This is the trade off when you sign NMS. He's taking up a spot of a talented youngster.

@Kiwiwomble Fletcher Smith off to Aus apparently.

ARHS

Outside back signings seem crazy here. NMS over Josh Moorby is a shame. Not sure about Koroi for 15s. Maybe Vahaakolo will cover his spot? But McKay is a real talent too.

macmanus

Johnstone
Dixon
Tokolahi
PariPari
Dickson
Fizell/Squire
Lentjes/ Harmon
MMT
Smith
Ioane
Nareki
TUJ
Pae
Punivai
Alaimalo
Coltman
DLB
Hohneck
MSR
Squire/Frizell
Fakatava
Hunt
Collins

macmanus

@Kiwiwomble 2 days ago... Sin título.png

Kiwiwomble

@macmanus said in Highlanders 2021:

Johnstone

Dixon

Tokolahi

PariPari

Dickson

Fizell/Squire

Lentjes/ Harmon

MMT

Smith

Ioane

Nareki

TUJ

Pae

Punivai

Alaimalo

Coltman

DLB

Hohneck

MSR

Squire/Frizell

Fakatava

Hunt

Collins

Damn, not sure if change much, maybe collins, either starts or doesn’t play for me, not sure he offers enough, maybe koroi or nms

Kiwiwomble

@macmanus said in Highlanders 2021:

@Kiwiwomble 2 days ago...

A chance he has an opportunity in Aus or something?

Are wider trading groups still a thing

Stargazer

@Kiwiwomble I may be wrong but I think the (wider) training group consists - at least - of:

players on a full contract
players on a development contract
All Blacks replacements (first month of preseason)
injury replacements (for the duration of the injury of the player they're replacing)

Dice

What has Misiloi done to get a Super contract?

Choat and Lamborn would've been better additions to the Highlanders.

Stargazer

@Dice I can only assume he had a two-year contract.

Kiwiwomble

@Stargazer that was my thought, when he's played for Otago he's looked ok, MMT is going to first choice 8

family man

No Josh timu? I thought he played very well for otago,very unlucky I think

Kiwiwomble

@family-man oh yeah! think I would have preferred him to Sio I think

macmanus

@Stargazer Who will be in the WTG?

Tucker, Nu’u, Arscott, McDowall, Vahaakolo??

Stargazer

@macmanus If they don't publish the WTG squad members, I guess we'll have to wait for the preseason games to find out.

Yeetyaah

@Stargazer social media posts are always good for that too

Kiwiwomble

Stargazer

Looking at the balance of the loosies:

The opensides are clearly Lentjes and Harmon, but all other loosies can play both 6 and 8, as far as I know. Frizell has been used at lock in the past, too.

You'd have to assume that these players will be starters:

6 Frizell, 7 Lentjes, 8 Mikaele-Tu'u

So what will be the pecking order for the bench spot? I don't expect Misiloi to see much game time, he's right at the bottom, I think.
I assume they're more likely to go for a 6/8 than for an openside? So Harmon only for rotation and in case of injury to Lentjes?
Squire is the most experienced; Himeno will have to adapt to the NZ set-up/culture etc, but they'll play him at some stage as they need to justify signing an overseas' player. So it will be between Squire and TBN for the 20 jersey, in the first instance?

Kiwiwomble

@Stargazer

Lentjes is a bit of an known, injured for so long and already fighting for the 7 jersey with Hunt, id be interested to see Harmon play

think someone said Himeno has also played at 7 quite a bit so we might have him more in line for 6/7

yes, Frizell has played a lot of lock for Ta$man, not as much for us

There is a lot of fixability in these loosies , my money is on 6. frizell 8. MMT and Squire on the bench to start the season

The Silver Fern

Highlanders 2021