Highlanders 2023
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@Duluth really sums it up, for the first 2/3 of the seasons our attack was so predictable, it really was just through the hands and crash ball, id love to see those stats per game as it felt like we did better in the last few games with some variety...not much but a little
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@friedrugby I read constantly on this thread that you want more players from the Highlanders catchment, and you have 7 players on your (yellow) wish list from outside the region, 5 of them from the Crusaders catchment?
Have all those departures in red been confirmed?
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Re Sopoaga, i think im burnt with the idea of a senior player to help blood the next generation, i just dont think the season is long enough to do it properly, we'll default to him starting most games because every win is important, i fear all we'll do is frustrate the next generation parking them behind someone that might be past it...baptism of fire time, go all youth for new signings cream will rise to the top and all that stuff
@Stargazer i think its more me thats normally pushing more local talent rather than @friedrugby
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2023:
Re Sopoaga, i think im burnt with the idea of a senior player to help blood the next generation, i just dont think the season is long enough to do it properly, we'll default to him starting most games because every win is important, i fear all we'll do is frustrate the next generation parking them behind someone that might be past it...baptism of fire time, go all youth for new signings cream will rise to the top and all that stuff
At least Five is a NZer, better than defaulting to an aging Pom (International) journeyman.
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The Highlanders are yet to hit rock bottom, but their rise will be immense
The Highlanders have been methodical with their future planning, prioritising key positions when assembling their squad of the future.
sums up a lot of whats been said on here quite well i think
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Without knowing too much my thoughts are
- I reckon Hunt will be retained. He will be the experienced 10 cover, although unlikely to play in that position except off the bench.
- Gregory to potentially also be retained. It appears as if both of those guys are seen as good team men.
- It will be interesting to see whether Ajay Faleafaga performs well in the NPC. I expect he will be in the squad for next year.
- Also believe Rohan Wingham will be a loosehead replacement
- Wouldn't mind thinking they might try and get Solomon Pole back to Dunedin as well
- Locks will be fascinating. Don't see much floating around. I wouldn't be surprised if Max Hicks gets told he is a lock for next season.
- If Hicks is pushed into a locking role, they might bring Will Stodart in early.
- Midfield and outside backs will be fascinating. It looks like they have a lot of faith in the midget Hurley. Fihaki would be a decent get. Potentially two spots available. Some of the depth players in the Blues would be ideal. They would walk into our starting side. Just need some out and out pace.
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im not too worried if he kept Hunt as a 15 that covers 10 on occasion...but not as his primary postion
Midfield is what im most worried about
i also wish we'd kept Vahaakolo, had a knack for getting over the advantage line, given our below average midfield i think someone that can take coal and make slightly shiny coal would have been useful...rather than several "wings" that seem to require thing to be absolutely perfect
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Freedom is an interesting case. It seems as if something went on behind the scenes. I do think there is an opportunity for Bogado to give things a bit of a shake. I wonder if he is sticking around for the NZ domestic season? Interested to see how Jeremiah Asi potentially goes for Otago. I do wonder whether Oscar Schmidt-Uili will get a run for Otago. He has been fantastic in club rugby for three years. He out and out pace.
The key to any Highlanders turnaround will be focused on having a commanding 10, a quick centre, another strike winger alongside Nareki and a commanding fullback. Having some luck with injuries and managing the roster well.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
Freedom is an interesting case. It seems as if something went on behind the scenes. I do think there is an opportunity for Bogado to give things a bit of a shake. I wonder if he is sticking around for the NZ domestic season? Interested to see how Jeremiah Asi potentially goes for Otago. I do wonder whether Oscar Schmidt-Uili will get a run for Otago. He has been fantastic in club rugby for three years. He out and out pace.
The key to any Highlanders turnaround will be focused on having a commanding 10, a quick centre, another strike winger alongside Nareki and a commanding fullback. Having some luck with injuries and managing the roster well.
thats the Dunedin left wing? i watch the highlights when i can and he's scored some awesome tries
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Bang on. I understand there was talk of him focusing on his study for the last few years. Although it looks like he is available for the NPC. Is in one of the training groups.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2023:
i also wish we'd kept Vahaakolo
I googled what he's up to and apparently he's playing club rugby league in Auckland now. I assume his rugby career is over?
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@Duluth i assume so, seemed like a good bloke, met him at the super round game last year, was wearing my old Dunedin RFC jersey and he and fakatava came over for a picture, one of those guys that wanted to earn his spot and didn;t think he was entitled too it. But yeah, feel there was some drama behind the scenes, hopefully nothing more than just not the right fit
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@Kiwiwomble wasnt he living rough a few years back, guess there may be other issues at play.
I think they have had a league background with his sister playing for NZ league (before coming to rugby)
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@taniwharugby the story was he was living rough or couch surfing before getting a scholarship to auckland grammer, from memory...so we're talking pre breaking it into professional rugby
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@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2023:
@friedrugby I read constantly on this thread that you want more players from the Highlanders catchment, and you have 7 players on your (yellow) wish list from outside the region, 5 of them from the Crusaders catchment?
Have all those departures in red been confirmed?
The ones with a location listed, barring Makalio (Which is a fair hunch of mine) are unconfirmed. Of those which are unconfirmed, the only ones I am iffy on are Johnstone, Hunt and Gregory.
- I sort of just expect Johnstone will leave because he hasn't played much, but if he is happy to stay, can't see why we would get rid of him
- Hunt, everyone says, he will be kept around, but what if he doesn't want to be kept around? Constantly abused, and at 27, could be a good time for him to go overseas. I am not necessarily against keeping him, because there is a bit of a concern the squad is light in leadership, so he could be there instead of Sopoaga, but IMO he doesn't have the kicking game of the modern 10, so I sort of just think he leaves.
- Gregory, I mean he could well stay, but I struggle to see why he would have had his contract extended. I know they are looking for backs, so can see him being dumped to free up space.
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2023:
Without knowing too much my thoughts are
- I reckon Hunt will be retained. He will be the experienced 10 cover, although unlikely to play in that position except off the bench.
- Gregory to potentially also be retained. It appears as if both of those guys are seen as good team men.
- It will be interesting to see whether Ajay Faleafaga performs well in the NPC. I expect he will be in the squad for next year.
- Also believe Rohan Wingham will be a loosehead replacement
- Wouldn't mind thinking they might try and get Solomon Pole back to Dunedin as well
- Locks will be fascinating. Don't see much floating around. I wouldn't be surprised if Max Hicks gets told he is a lock for next season.
- If Hicks is pushed into a locking role, they might bring Will Stodart in early.
- Midfield and outside backs will be fascinating. It looks like they have a lot of faith in the midget Hurley. Fihaki would be a decent get. Potentially two spots available. Some of the depth players in the Blues would be ideal. They would walk into our starting side. Just need some out and out pace.
- Falefaga likely to be contracted judging off what Wheeler said, Hurley the same. I suspect Faleafaga might be more a midfielder which is a good thing
- Rohan Wingham is at least a year away from Super Rugby, and that is of course if he is any good...
- By Solomon Pole, I'm guessing you mean Abraham Pole? He is tidy, and you'd certainly have him, I just sort of expect he will stay at MP but could be wrong
- Locks is fascinating... I understand that the backs are (correctly) viewed as a bigger priority so could be a case of kicking the can down the road, to see whether Parkinson can return to form... he was great v the Blues and showed his ability, so perhaps with a good NPC behind him he rebounds. Dunshea is just a name, think it is more likely they get someone younger.
- With Hicks, they keep saying he is a blindside (even though I disagree) so I am working on the assumption that they will stick with him there. Stodart is clearly a good talent, I like the look of him, though he is probably a year away, but in that sense, if someone like Parkinson (who is off-contract next year) leaves, that then opens up a space in the loosies.
- I worry about Hurley, but I think they keep him. With the backs, the way I calculated it was five spots (+ Faleafaga and Hurley). Two of them will be reserve first fives/a midfielder. One of those could be Gregory, though I think more likely they contract three 10s + Faleafaga. Hollinshead a solid third choice, then on top of that I looked at Falcon, F Smith and Sopoaga. On top of that will be three marquee players, I'm picking a centre, a winger and a fullback. Evans, Tavatavanawai and Fihaki are all off contract, and I would think getable. AJ Lam and JRK have both turned us down before, so I'd be inclined to look at those other three first. Of course, TUJ could say, but the noises and hints suggest he won't. Should hopefully be a fun off-season!
