Highlanders 2023
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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.
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@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
@SouthernMann I'd be fairly confident in saying Fabian Holland's brother won't be anywhere close to a Super Rugby player.
I would have no idea. Haven't seen the kid play. Just looks a similar size to his brother. Looks like he is playing eight for KHS. It seems all Otago/Southland is producing these days are loosies.
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@friedrugby I was going to mention Haig as a comparison.
There was an ex-OBHS lock that played for the NZ Barbarians U21s who obviously wasn't considered good enough for the Highlanders U20s. Eric Peita, and he looked to have some height.
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@SouthernMann I've seen him play... nowhere near the same size. A handy school boy, but not much more imo.
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Still a cool story. Coming out here and giving it a nudge. From a now future perspective. We have the opportunity to see Faleafaga and Taylor play this afternoon. Wellington on a good day weather up here. Will. Be good to see how those two go. Same with Hurley coming off the bench
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2023:
@SouthernMann I'd be fairly confident in saying Fabian Holland's brother won't be anywhere close to a Super Rugby player.
I would have no idea. Haven't seen the kid play. Just looks a similar size to his brother. Looks like he is playing eight for KHS. It seems all Otago/Southland is producing these days are loosies.
It is the genes. Short, dumpy, freckled women with thick calves can produce good loosies but not locks. There is a need for an injection of fresh DNA south of the Rangitata River.
