Highlanders 2023
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I think his career is now fairly set at the Landers while in NZ. Whether he likes it or not. In the last year most other franchises have set themselves up with younger halfbacks and will be bargaining on them. I still have high hopes he will flourish now he is injury free.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
Whether he likes it or not.
Why would he not like it? He's becoming the top dog and will get a lot of game time.
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@Stargazer dunners isn't exactly a tropic island
Smith also joined us along this joseph and brown and saw pretty steady improvement for a few years (forgetting 2013) and so i kind of got his commitment to us...fakatava hasn't as so might have been easier to lure away
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@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2023:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
Whether he likes it or not.
Why would he not like it? He's becoming the top dog and will get a lot of game time.
Two years ago he only stayed after his dad gave him the firm word. Quality players want to play around the best. He doesn't get that in Dunedin. Sure he gets a decent platform. But his backs for the next few years will continue to be a bit shit. Means defences know he is the no1 threat.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2023:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
Whether he likes it or not.
Why would he not like it? He's becoming the top dog and will get a lot of game time.
Two years ago he only stayed after his dad gave him the firm word. Quality players want to play around the best. He doesn't get that in Dunedin. Sure he gets a decent platform. But his backs for the next few years will continue to be a bit shit. Means defences know he is the no1 threat.
I'm not sure the backs will be shit for the next few years... We are going to be able to go over this in detail once the season is done, but if I was to have it a guess, the Highlanders main priorities will be a starting centre, and a starting winger. I'd be fairly confident, that the Landers land one of Lam, JRK & Tavatavanawai... maybe even two of them. In the midfield, Corey Evans is looking for a new franchise, and the other sides are pretty chocker, so seems logical he ends up in Dunedin.
It is partially true players weren't attracted, but part of that is presumably due to a bad culture, and as being stuck with shite players recruited years ago.
These things work in cycles, and I firmly expect that by 2025, the Landers are viewed as a title threat.
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Probably a bit late now, but @Steven-Harris mentioend Heremaia Murray had been called into the Highlanders as cover, he is a talented kid, played mostly on wing for Northland last year and had a crucial hand in several of our better tries, but I believe his preferred spot is mid-field.
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@taniwharugby "prefered position" is such an annoyance, you play where i fucking tell you
prefered position is how we get hunt at 10 rather than 15, same with nick evans back in the day, he thinks he can oust DC rather than just becoming a world beating 15...then realises hes wrong and goes overseas
even my club, i have a 10 that cant punt and loosies that should be props....because of their "prefered position"
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2023:
"prefered position" is such an annoyance, you play where i fucking tell you
I suspect you're misinterpreting what "preferred position" means. It's not the position where a player most "likes" to play. It's the position where he's played most during his career and is considered to be at his best.
Until it isn't anymore, because that can obviously change. -
@Stargazer ....no....think i pretty clearly explained situations where a player would be better in a different position but they prefer to play somewhere else, both hunt and evans moved teams to get time at 10 rather than 15
even thi northland kid...played mostly on the wing...or where they "normally play"...or where theyve played most...but prefer midfield
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Highlanders had their awards yesterday
Billy Harmon - MVP
Sam Gilbert - Back of the year
Jermaine Ainsley - Forward of the year (I presume the MVP can't win this as well?)
Nikora Broughton - Best Rookie
Jack Taylor - u20's player
Marty Banks - community champion
Aaron Smith - Highlander Man -
@Kiwiwomble in this case, I believe he has played most of his rugby in the mid-field, lined up alongside Corey Evans in the mid-field at club, has even played FB there too.
Seems an incredibly smart player, so I'd be inclined to think he has what it takes to play there, but at NPC has only played wing, although moved to m/f later in games, but clearly has the gas to play wing.
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@taniwharugby said in Highlanders 2023:
Probably a bit late now, but @Steven-Harris mentioend Heremaia Murray had been called into the Highlanders as cover, he is a talented kid, played mostly on wing for Northland last year and had a crucial hand in several of our better tries, but I believe his preferred spot is mid-field.
Let's hope the kid can go good!
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@Duluth said in Highlanders 2023:
Highlanders had their awards yesterday
Billy Harmon - MVP
Sam Gilbert - Back of the year
Jermaine Ainsley - Forward of the year (I presume the MVP can't win this as well?)
Nikora Broughton - Best Rookie
Jack Taylor - u20's player
Marty Banks - community champion
Aaron Smith - Highlander Manand i just saw Sam Gilbert won the fans vote for player of the year
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there would be a line of fans happy to buy him a new one if he had
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@FakatavaAllBlack said in Highlanders 2023:
there's a paywalled article on the Daily times site predicting the squad for next season, any interesting shouts in it?
The Highlanders’ season is still alive. But - with all due respect - we do not see them winning the Super Rugby Pacific title just yet. Hayden Meikle takes an early look at how the squad might shape up in 2024.
The end is nigh, so it’s time to dust off the crystal ball
The Highlanders’ season is still alive. But - with all due respect - we don't see them winning the Super Rugby Pacific title just yet. Hayden...
Hookers
None of the three veterans in the squad has really demanded selection, although Andrew Makalio has a physical presence and has started nine games to two each for Rhys Marshall and Leni Apisai. Makalio seems the likeliest to be kept.Under-20s star Jack Taylor made his debut off the bench this year and will presumably graduate to a full contract. And there will be much interest in how the massively improved Henry Bell returns from Major League Rugby.
Props
The easiest selection of all. All Blacks loosehead Ethan de Groot and under-rated tighthead Jermaine Ainsley are both on contract and will be your 2024 starters. Young back-up Saula Ma’u will still be around, Luca Inch might be finally injury-free, and there will be much interest in the development of Otago prop Rohan Wingham.Locks
Dutch dynamo Fabian Holland has one spot locked up, and Will Tucker has done reasonably well this year. But Pari Pari Parkinson did not have the season he wanted, it seems likely Josh Dickson will head overseas and Max Hicks is seen as more of a blindside. Need the NPC to throw up a new lock or two.Loose forwards
Shannon Frizell leaves a big hole, but a trio of captain Billy Harmon, unexpected star Hugh Renton and Sean Withy deserves respect. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u still has a lot to offer, Nikora Broughton is a nice project, and youngsters Oliver Haig and Hayden Michaels step up to full contracts. James Lentjes will be 33 next year and might be looking further afield. Halfbacks
Folau Fakatava, James Arscott and Nathan Hastie. Signed and sealed.First fives
Cameron Millar seems likely to be the regular starter. Mitch Hunt’s future is uncertain, Freddie Burns is heading to Japan and Marty Banks will presumably not be offered another contract. New Zealand under-20 squad member Ajay Faleafaga needs some NPC experience.Midfield
Josh Timu and Thomas Umaga-Jensen have both had injury issues but their combination shows promise, and they should get another crack. Rising star Jake Te Hiwi gets a full contract. Fetuli Paea had a run of starts without quite convincing, and Scott Gregory was limited to a couple of games on the wing. Ideally, the Highlanders could be in the market for someone like Jack Goodhue, whose future at the Crusaders is uncertain.Outside backs
Sam Gilbert (unless the midfield project becomes permanent), Jona Nareki and Jonah Lowe - there is a decent back three. Argentine winger Martin Bogado is back for a second year, but Mosese Dawai and Vilimoni Koroi might be done. Connor Garden-Bachop’s flashes of excitement need considering, but the Highlanders will again be watching the NPC closely for any emerging stars. Could under-utilised Crusaders fullback Chay Fihaki be a target? Could the Highlanders follow the Crusaders’ lead and raid Moana Pasifika for winger Timoci Tavatavanawai? Is Finn Hurley ready? -
Kind of a nothing projection really. The forwards generally pick themselves. Gilbert is now a midfielder from the Highlanders perspective it seems. Rule him out of the back three mix. As much as we would like Fihaki to come south, I can't see it happening. Although he would be guaranteed to 15 jersey. If Heremaia Murray is around the squad at the moment, I expect him to make it next year. Faleafaga depending on a bit of decent footy in NPC should make it. The midfield is a lottery and will depend on who is going. From what it seems TUJ is going. Timu I expect will be staying. So should be room for another 12.
