Highlanders 2023
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Locally there is also Will Stodart and Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa as well. I believe they have high hopes for Stodart
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@SouthernMann I think they are both at least a year away from Super Rugby... but with that in mind, I wouldn't be surprised if we don't actually sign a loose forward. If they truly believe Hicks is a blindside, then they will have:
6: Withy, Hicks, Haig
7: Harmon, Withy, Michaels
8: Renton (I imagine they will be re-signing him now), Broughton, HarmonLock is a much bigger priority, because we already have a good batch of young loosies. At lock, a long-term partner for Holland is needed, so can see us going for a real up-and-comer, as well as making a play for someone a little more established, e.g Strange/Dunshea.
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Depending on how much game time Stodart gets this season in the NPC I wouldn't be surprised if he makes it next year. However, I do only see him getting limited NPC gametime while Lio-Willie is still with Otago. That'll change in 2024 when I expect Lio-Willie will be gone. Loosies will be the first playing group where they make up will be primarily from players who have come through the Highlanders system. By 2025 Withy, Michaels, Haig, Stodart, will all be in the squad
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
Depending on how much game time Stodart gets this season in the NPC I wouldn't be surprised if he makes it next year.
Stodart is versatile (lock, 6, 8 ) but what is his best position?
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I think his preferred position is probably no8.
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@SouthernMann Forward pack in general I'd say... reckon EDG, Ainsley and Ma'u will still be here + I think Bell and Taylor will be there. Will just leave a starting hooker and a loosehead prop, (probably Inch) from not in the region as the starting group. I expect DLB to still be here in 2024, but could easily see Pole/Wingham if not both to be in the squad by 2025, because Johnstone will surely be gone.
Likewise, at lock there will be Holland and Tucker, and who knows, could Mike McKee end up in the squad next year? Feels like everything might be about to fall apart at MP.
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@Crucial im not even sure his form dropped that much, injury in the first game gave renton a shot and he's taken it with both hands, all jokes aside id say renton has been as impressive for us this year as MMT was previously
contract up and he might just see too many people ahead of him and a black jersey
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@Kiwiwomble he was being talked up pre-season as having the game for higher honours.
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@Crucial This is a great question, and one I'd love to know the answer to. Hard to think this contract was signed before the season, because coming into this year, he was a genuine shot at the ABs, having been probably next cab off the rank on the Northern Tour last year.
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MMT was definitely in line for higher honours, based on last season's form and his ABs XV call-up. He was one of the stand-outs in the ABs XV game he played. But then the injury at the beginning of the season happened. He missed quite a few games, and after his first game back he was interviewed and said that he wasn't back to match fitness yet and that his ribs were still bothering him a bit. But they did select him anyway.
I think he's had one start; the 2nd game after returning from injury IIRC.
I'd say that that injury and time not playing, and then not getting many minutes have affected his form.
Knowing he was going to leave and not getting the starts probably did not help his return to form after the injury either. -
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Or maybe his injury made him reassess his career and future income prospects?
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@Nepia said in Highlanders 2023:
Maybe he had a chat with Razor/Ryan and was advised he's probably not in their plans next year so thought it was a good time to head off make some coin and maybe play for Samoa?
yeah, you'd hope players in the fringe are able to reach out to the AB's coaches for get a clear message
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He's a good player, who didn't reach his potential. Hope he has a good career up in Japan and hopefully one with Samoa as well. In terms of locks, Paul Dwyer in his ODT video reckon Reuben Palmer at Dunedin has a big future. Interested to see how Fabian Holland's brother goes over the next few years too.
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@SouthernMann I'd be fairly confident in saying Fabian Holland's brother won't be anywhere close to a Super Rugby player.
