Highlanders 2023
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@Chris I thought I read Murray is going to the Blues, but he is just another one of those players that is 'alright'. The Highlanders have signed too many of those recently, they need to go out and get a top quality fullback/right winger. Gilbert, CGB and probably even Lowe don't crack most other squads, let alone 23.
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@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
@Chris I thought I read Murray is going to the Blues, but he is just another one of those players that is 'alright'. The Highlanders have signed too many of those recently, they need to go out and get a top quality fullback/right winger. Gilbert, CGB and probably even Lowe don't crack most other squads, let alone 23.
Fair point.I haven't heard the Murray to the Blues, but if Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is Chiefs bound then that would make sense.
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@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
@Chris I thought I read Murray is going to the Blues, but he is just another one of those players that is 'alright'. The Highlanders have signed too many of those recently, they need to go out and get a top quality fullback/right winger. Gilbert, CGB and probably even Lowe don't crack most other squads, let alone 23.
I think CGB would have a crack at most squads when fit
@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
K Naholo (Supposedly some work ethic issues there so perhaps a good dodge)
thats exactly the kind of player that thrived down south in the past, dont think we have the same culture but the Joseph Highlanders sorted out some blokes
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@Kiwiwomble Whilst Wellington admittedly have a good backline, CGB can't even get a start there. Solid enough play, but doesn't have top end pace and can't stay fit...
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@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2023:
JRK was disappointing for Taranaki this season compared to 2021. I would be hoping that the Chiefs have signed a winger better than him and Naholo.
JRK had barely played any rugby and had a few injuries in fairness. Sort of player that would thrive with gametime.
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@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
@Kiwiwomble Whilst Wellington admittedly have a good backline, CGB can't even get a start there. Solid enough play, but doesn't have top end pace and can't stay fit...
with any luck Otago will lure him down south then
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2023:
@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
@Kiwiwomble Whilst Wellington admittedly have a good backline, CGB can't even get a start there. Solid enough play, but doesn't have top end pace and can't stay fit...
with any luck Otago will lure him down south then
He has young twins in Wellington, so likes the ability to live 50/50 I understand.
The interesting thing with the Highlanders squad, is they generally announce top line players individually. Yet these guys haven't announced anymore except Lowe. Next year will be a tough watch.
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@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
@Bovidae said in Highlanders 2023:
JRK was disappointing for Taranaki this season compared to 2021. I would be hoping that the Chiefs have signed a winger better than him and Naholo.
JRK had barely played any rugby and had a few injuries in fairness.
Injuries are the concern. Naholo hardly played because of injury when he was last with the Chiefs. JRK is only 21 so I'm not writing him off.
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@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
@Chris I thought I read Murray is going to the Blues, but he is just another one of those players that is 'alright'. The Highlanders have signed too many of those recently, they need to go out and get a top quality fullback/right winger. Gilbert, CGB and probably even Lowe don't crack most other squads, let alone 23.
Lowe managed to crack two other sides and was basically a starter if not injured (which is often) for the most recent side. CGB would crack most sides as a utility back I'd think. He's one of the better Highlanders.
Kini Naholo is overhyped and has been since school, the Chiefs were stupid to go with him over Lowe (if that's what they actually did).
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@Nepia said in Highlanders 2023:
Kini Naholo is overhyped and has been since school, the Chiefs were stupid to go with him over Lowe (if that's what they actually did).
Cold!
If Naholo is joining the Chiefs I hope it's just on a 1 yr contract to see how he performs, and there should be better options in 2024. Lowe was offered a 3-year deal at the Highlanders (he said job security) whereas the Chiefs might not have been so generous.
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I have a sneaky freling there will be a player or two that will turn up, be a nobody and suddenly turn good. Well that is the hope.
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@SouthernMann that's always the hope since 2015. I feel like Browny dropped the ball hard this year with that, so many different players getting one shot then getting dropped.
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@Yeetyaah said in Highlanders 2023:
@SouthernMann that's always the hope since 2015. I feel like Browny dropped the ball hard this year with that, so many different players getting one shot then getting dropped.
Just want a 2023 version of a Naholo, Buckman or Fekitoa to just turn up. Talent identification these days is much better.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
@Yeetyaah said in Highlanders 2023:
@SouthernMann that's always the hope since 2015. I feel like Browny dropped the ball hard this year with that, so many different players getting one shot then getting dropped.
Talent identification these days is much better.
Apparently not
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@Yeetyaah said in Highlanders 2023:
Talent identification these days is much better.
Was meaning by other franchises. With them ensuring the dregs didn't include diamonds floating downstream to the Highlanders. Highlanders talent ID certainly fell by the wayside over the last seven years, but the others really picked up. The biggest disappointment was seeing guys in our systems buggering off elsewhere.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
@Yeetyaah said in Highlanders 2023:
Talent identification these days is much better.
Was meaning by other franchises. With them ensuring the dregs didn't include diamonds floating downstream to the Highlanders. Highlanders talent ID certainly fell by the wayside over the last seven years, but the others really picked up. The biggest disappointment was seeing guys in our systems buggering off elsewhere.
Feeder franchise.
I do think that there is still room for good recruitment though. Every year we do a 'who was unlucky to miss out' excercise and there are good players in there. Enough to do a version of what Rennie did at the Chiefs years ago and look for hard workers that can have their base talent enhanced or those that may thrive with opportunity.
Look at the players that have looked the goods (super level) for MP that weren't on any other franchise. One has even gone as far as to catch the AB selectors eye. Stop looking for stars and settling for wannabes.
Players like Jared Page would serve you guys well and ink in a spot so the tinkering can be finessing rather than searching for a team.
