Highlanders 2022

[Bovidae]

More of a Development signing at this stage.

Promising teenage hooker Jack Taylor has signed with both Southland and the Highlanders for the next three years.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/126373375/teenage-hooker-jack-taylor-signs-with-highlanders-and-southland-stags

[Kiwiwomble]

@bovidae shit, look at him, has to be a hooker, not even good looked enough to be a prop, love em

[Stargazer]

Southland rugby definitely has the best media coverage. I wish we'd hear of development signings like these from other provinces & franchises.

[Bovidae]

Southland seemed to be the factory for young Otago/Highlanders 1st 5s too.

[Kiwiwomble]

@bovidae who are you thinking?

[Bovidae]

@kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2022:

@bovidae who are you thinking?

It's in the article.

[Kiwiwomble]

@bovidae apologies, thought you meant Southland the team making 1st 5's that then move to otago rather than someone like hurley for example who went to school in otago. but yes, its good to see people like cam millar coming out of southland and Kaea Nikora-Balloch, make me a little worried with Ajay Faleafaga coming down too, dont have room for them all at the top level

[SouthernMann]

Hooker is a position that really worries me at the Highlanders.

I have no idea how good this kid is. But, the guys we currently have in the full squad don't give a lot of confidence.

In terms of the 10s. I think they are pinning their hopes on Faleafaga. Cam Miller seems a great goal kicker, but there seems to be concerns about his general play. Finn Hurley seems like a bit of a tough guy 10 in the mould of a Tony Brown or a Hayden Parker.

[Kiwiwomble]

Sep 22, 2021

Speight's logo stays but Highlanders remove photos from Facebook

The Highlanders won't have to remove or amend the placement of the Speight’s logo on the team jersey and other promotional branding, after a...

fair enough

[shark]

@kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2022:

Sep 22, 2021

Speight's logo stays but Highlanders remove photos from Facebook

The Highlanders won't have to remove or amend the placement of the Speight’s logo on the team jersey and other promotional branding, after a...

fair enough

Phew. I was getting worried my 7 year old was going to ask me to purchase a dozen Speights tinnies after seeing the logo on a jersey.

[shark]

I've mentioned this before but I wonder what Eliot Dixon's plans are. He hasn't surfaced with an NPC squad which surprises me a little given he's only 31 I think and in a story maybe a couple of months ago he said he was open to it.

[macmanus]

@shark he’s in Biarritz

[Smudge]

Gareth Evans returns to the Highlanders.

Sep 24, 2021

Highlanders make another signing from 2015 side

They are putting the old band back together. Loose forward Gareth Evans will return to the Highlanders this season. Highlanders chief executive...

[Kiwiwomble]

@smudge bit of a random on but I like evans so not too upset, makes me think we’re looking at some of our younger guys longer term so just need a couple of old hats to hold down the fort as it were

I’ll always remember evans playing two games in one day, away with the development squad, 80mins, come back to watch the frist team and we had a couple of injuries in warm up so throws the gear on to sit on the bench and then had to go on in the first 30min, a bit of a legendary shift

[mikey07]

@smudge good signing super envious couldn’t you guys sign Prinseep instead?

[Bones]

@kiwiwomble yeah he's done a great job for us. Himeno isn't coming back right? Good replacement.

[Kiwiwomble]

@bones said in Highlanders 2022:

@kiwiwomble yeah he's done a great job for us. Himeno isn't coming back right? Good replacement.

unfortunately no, he's at least not coming back next season

[SouthernMann]

So our loose forwards will be

Harmon
Evans
Tu'u
Renton
Frizzell
Lentjes

With still a question mark over whether Squire will return.

I would like to see Withy get included.

Hopefully we can grab Kini Naholo. He has been outstanding for Taranaki.

Still looks to be a spot or two open in the midfield. Would like to see Va'ahakolo in there. I'd probably prefer him to Punivai as the centre/winger squad utility.

The third hooker spot is still up in the air, especially replacing Dixon.

[Duluth]

@southernmann said in Highlanders 2022:

So our loose forwards will be

Harmon
Evans
Tu'u
Renton
Frizzell
Lentjes

Who would you pick to start?

[Kiwiwomble]

@duluth

on form id go with

6. Frizell
7. Harmon
8. MMT

Lentjes/Evans and Renton on the bench

BUT....im struggling with frizell, so kind of happy of we dont see much of him so Evans might get some starts