Highlanders 2023
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(Ignore my name I need to change it haha)
Is Lima Sopoaga actually a realistic option for the Highlanders next year as he is off contract with Lyon..
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2023:
@FakatavaAllBlack is this a good thing though? Who's likely to replace these guys? Can they afford to be losing guys so young, pretty worrying for the Highlanders.
Probably about as chaotic as if the canes lost Booth.
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@HLD2023Champions That is why I mentioned his name... my feeling would be is that he ends up in Japan, and he has also spoken of a desire to return to Wellington. All that being said, it is certainly a possibility with him departing Lyon. His next step will surely be either New Zealand or Japan.
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With only a few players futures seemingly still in the balance, just did the old Instagram check on TUJ, and discovered he follows the Shizuoka Bluerevs. Now, I'm not making any claims here, but seems a little random that he would follow them if there wasn't something going on there. Maybe he was always going to the, 'Blues' all along (Just a different team in Japan lol).
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@Canes4life my feeling...if we're going to have sub standard players...i'd rather have local sub standard players rather than feeling like we're paying a premium to bring these other guys down south and the dont give a shit, the guys we attract down need to first string...or we should look local in my mind
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@HLD2023Champions said in Highlanders 2023:
(Ignore my name I need to change it haha)
Is Lima Sopoaga actually a realistic option for the Highlanders next year as he is off contract with Lyon..
on Twitter when he said goodbye/paid respects on 26 May to Aaron Smith he also said it was a great club and city, so, it doesn't sound like he hates Dunedin/Otago...
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2023:
Maybe the Leiua link? Or Bryn Hall, since he was probably pretty active amongst the players?
Tuialii is a coach there too.
My guess is Malo Tuitama, who was from Scots college?
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@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2023:
Has Jermaine Pepe kicked on? He looked like a decent winger when I watched him at schoolboy level.
Google tells me he and Wingham were loaned to North Otago last year.
I suspect both him and Jeremiah Asi will get opportunities for Otago this year. So should see where theirceilings are.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2023:
@SBW1 kenny Lynn? dermody is around next year isn;t he?
Dermody will remain head coach, the assumption is that Kenny Lynn (who has signed) will replace Richard Whiffin as the attack coach.
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2023:
Has Jermaine Pepe kicked on? He looked like a decent winger when I watched him at schoolboy level.
Google tells me he and Wingham were loaned to North Otago last year.
I suspect both him and Jeremiah Asi will get opportunities for Otago this year. So should see where theirceilings are.
Having watched both, can't say either are very impressive and to me don't look like Super Rugby talents... Asi certainly anyway. I think he was probably largely signed to help us sign Faleafaga, which could prove a masterstroke in the long run.
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@friedrugby
There are plenty of guys who don't completely set the world on fire and then do at the higher level.
I'm happy for the likes of them, Ulli-Schmidt, Mefi Tupou, these two to have a run and see how they go.
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@SouthernMann yeah, sometimes they just need that full time training to step up
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@gt12 said in Highlanders 2023:
@Bones said in Highlanders 2023:
Maybe the Leiua link? Or Bryn Hall, since he was probably pretty active amongst the players?
Tuialii is a coach there too.
My guess is Malo Tuitama, who was from Scots college?
Hah, I'd skipped him as for some reason I thought he was from Northland.
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@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2023:
@SBW1 kenny Lynn? dermody is around next year isn;t he?
Dermody will remain head coach, the assumption is that Kenny Lynn (who has signed) will replace Richard Whiffin as the attack coach.
Yep, signed as assistant for 2024, I have high hopes for Kenny Lynn.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
@friedrugby
There are plenty of guys who don't completely set the world on fire and then do at the higher level.
I'm happy for the likes of them, Ulli-Schmidt, Mefi Tupou, these two to have a run and see how they go.
I mean maybe, but I think you are dreaming if they are going to be anything better than the current lot. They might have different strengths, but we are looking for Star Quality.
We kind of more or less have our squad filled out I think, we are looking for our starters... and even at Otago those guys struggle to get a game I'd think, though I've just had a look at the ORFU Player Profiles, and it appears Koroi and Ioane might well have taken early releases. At the moment the Golden O looks something like:
- Hastie
- Millar
- Nareki
- Faleafaga
- TUJ
- Te Hiwi
- Gilbert
Spares: Arscott and Timu.
On top of that, Bogado might be there, though he could take a rest/play for Southland, and Te Hiwi and Timu might well be injured - so the chances could be there for these guys to push for a WTG spot.
