Highlanders 2024
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Parkinson is listed to play club rugby on the weekend. He was meant to have as well last weekend, but was pulled to be a fit tackle bag holder/late injury replacement. It looks like him and Max Hicks have both slipped down the pecking orders.
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Paul Dwyer saying there are rumours Timoci Tavatavanawai and Mitch Dunshea will be playing for Southland this year. This is great news for the Stags. He also slightly bemoaned the Dunedin based Southland acadamey. This is a very smart move from a Highlanders and lower south rugby perspective. We need as many of the decent layers getting opportunities as possible. Otago can't hoard all the young players and have Southland starving
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Absolutely, that would be huge news for the southern regions. Hopefully Otago can sign on some of these players that make their way down south, similar to what Sam Gilbert has done with Otago.
Does anyone know if Dunshea has signed with Otago or is he still with Canterbury? A lot of players are attached to their initial regions so it’s fair enough I guess.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
Absolutely, that would be huge news for the southern regions. Hopefully Otago can sign on some of these players that make their way down south, similar to what Sam Gilbert has done with Otago.
Does anyone know if Dunshea has signed with Otago or is he still with Canterbury? A lot of players are attached to their initial regions so it’s fair enough I guess.
In terms of Dunshea. As mentioned, in the Dwyer ODT article it reads like he is going to Southland. From a financial perspective, I'm against Otago recruiting established Super quality players. Keep bringing kids down at 18. Don't sign guys aged 25+. Too expensive. Just like what we did last year wirh Sanders. Did he offer more than Lio-Willie or Stodart. Nah. We certainly shouldn't be paying over market rates for Highlanders who are just average Super players.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
Absolutely, that would be huge news for the southern regions. Hopefully Otago can sign on some of these players that make their way down south, similar to what Sam Gilbert has done with Otago.
Does anyone know if Dunshea has signed with Otago or is he still with Canterbury? A lot of players are attached to their initial regions so it’s fair enough I guess.
In terms of Dunshea. As mentioned, in the Dwyer ODT article it reads like he is going to Southland. From a financial perspective, I'm against Otago recruiting established Super quality players. Keep bringing kids down at 18. Don't sign guys aged 25+. Too expensive. Just like what we did last year wirh Sanders. Did he offer more than Lio-Willie or Stodart. Nah. We certainly shouldn't be paying over market rates for Highlanders who are just average Super players.
Wow I didn’t even register in your previous message mentioning Dunshea haha my bad.
My thinking wasn’t what you mentioned above, my thinking was more of if some guys are moving to Dunedin for the Highlanders it would be good to get a few solid young guys we bring down on the books for Otago. It wouldn’t hurt because as we know, we are pretty limited to solid depth.
Agree on not overpaying older guys for the sake of it. Thankfully that doesn’t happen often.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
Absolutely, that would be huge news for the southern regions. Hopefully Otago can sign on some of these players that make their way down south, similar to what Sam Gilbert has done with Otago.
Does anyone know if Dunshea has signed with Otago or is he still with Canterbury? A lot of players are attached to their initial regions so it’s fair enough I guess.
In terms of Dunshea. As mentioned, in the Dwyer ODT article it reads like he is going to Southland. From a financial perspective, I'm against Otago recruiting established Super quality players. Keep bringing kids down at 18. Don't sign guys aged 25+. Too expensive. Just like what we did last year wirh Sanders. Did he offer more than Lio-Willie or Stodart. Nah. We certainly shouldn't be paying over market rates for Highlanders who are just average Super players.
Depends what you define as overpaying for 25+
If Otago were a serious union, you'd match what Southland are paying for Tavatavanawai and Dunshea... those are quality players who improve your team. Sanders will be on f all I imagine, more just that he lives here because he signed for the Landers.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
Absolutely, that would be huge news for the southern regions. Hopefully Otago can sign on some of these players that make their way down south, similar to what Sam Gilbert has done with Otago.
Does anyone know if Dunshea has signed with Otago or is he still with Canterbury? A lot of players are attached to their initial regions so it’s fair enough I guess.
In terms of Dunshea. As mentioned, in the Dwyer ODT article it reads like he is going to Southland. From a financial perspective, I'm against Otago recruiting established Super quality players. Keep bringing kids down at 18. Don't sign guys aged 25+. Too expensive. Just like what we did last year wirh Sanders. Did he offer more than Lio-Willie or Stodart. Nah. We certainly shouldn't be paying over market rates for Highlanders who are just average Super players.
Depends what you define as overpaying for 25+
If Otago were a serious union, you'd match what Southland are paying for Tavatavanawai and Dunshea... those are quality players who improve your team. Sanders will be on f all I imagine, more just that he lives here because he signed for the Landers.
It depends what you call Otago being a serious union. The NPC is a second tier competition. To me Otago being a serious union is having money to support community rugby, players flowing from inside the province (including being recruited out of school) to rep and Super and the teams being competitive with that system. The last couple of years Otago has primarily picked players developed through its systems, alongside with the Highlanders. Otago and Southland should be taking a shared approach when looking at players interested in settling down south. Southland have picked up Byron Smith, Otago already has two of the young first fives. Gives Smith a chance to show he can be the third 10. Otago will need to play some of its midfielders on the wing this season, and Tavatavatanawai can add a huge amount to the Stags. The more the three organisations can work together the better off rugby in the south will be. With Sanders, having him on the books also stands in the way of guys like Stodart, or it has him playing B rugby because we have too many loosies. Between Otago and Southland we are two smallish provinces and we need to work together.
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Thought this was interesting so will put in here for whoever is interested.
Tom Sanders named on the bench for his club up in Christchurch this weekend. Surely he should be playing some prem footy in Dunedin considering he’s contracted to Otago? Instead he’s playing Division 2 country rugby in Canterbury…… how did he get away with that?!
Positive is hes back on the field I guess.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
Thought this was interesting so will put in here for whoever is interested.
Tom Sanders named on the bench for his club up in Christchurch this weekend. Surely he should be playing some prem footy in Dunedin considering he’s contracted to Otago? Instead he’s playing Division 2 country rugby in Canterbury…… how did he get away with that?!
Positive is hes back on the field I guess.
He did only sign a one year contract with Otago. With the Highlanders it seemed like he was picked up as an insurance policy more than anything. Someone who can step in if Broughton and Stodart weren't quite ready. He has one more year to go and may just be a competent squad member. Interested to see where he plays his provincial rugby this year. Can't imagaine Canterbury will be busting a gut to get him back. Same with Lio-Willie and whether he will be back.
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When other franchises elevate young players who have come through the NZ U20 system, they are often the best players in the national squad. It seems some of our players, tended to just be squad members. Just because they are the best in Otago/Southland are they the right players to get quickly get elevated and do they deserve it or are they capable of the step up?
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Big confirmation last night that we just don't have the depth... we actually did alright in the first half. Looking at the starting pack particularly, Ainsley is obviously moving on, and Dunshea is at his peak, but the other six are only going to keep getting better.
Five of them are 23 and younger, so I think that is a positive - particularly as they all played quite well. Haig, Withy, Stodart is going to be a hell of a loose forward trio in a few years time.
The starting backline also went reasonably well, but once again without Tele'a we fell to bits. Save the second half comeback against the Chiefs, and the annihilation in Brisbane (where he played) the difference when he is and isn't on the field is crazy.
Defensively particularly... 12-47 v Hurricanes, 31-47 v Rebels, 6-15 (Second Half only) v Crusaders, 0-21 v (Second Half only) Blues... this is clearly not just a coincidence. Midfield is going to get a big overhaul, because J Whaanga already coming in, and I'd guess Timu and M Whaanga leave... probably TUJ too, so by my reckoning we need at least one more, which is likely to be a 13. Gilbert to stick around as a utility. Whoever it is simply has to have some pace.
The attack also fell apart when Millar went off, so we were exposed for not having Faleafaga on the bench. I understand the thought process in backing Millar, but when we had so many injuries anyway, having Hurley on the bench over him was just a bit stupid IMO.
The outside backs have been on the whole the best we have seen in years, though Bogado has been a bit disappointing. We've already signed a winger to replace him, and my understanding is that it is from another franchise... Sullivan is the obvious one who is off-contract, but that would feel really bizarre, because JRK has gone well at 15, and we've supposedly already signed Hurley (why?) so unlikely to be a fullback.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
Big confirmation last night that we just don't have the depth... we actually did alright in the first half. Looking at the starting pack particularly, Ainsley is obviously moving on, and Dunshea is at his peak, but the other six are only going to keep getting better.
Five of them are 23 and younger, so I think that is a positive - particularly as they all played quite well. Haig, Withy, Stodart is going to be a hell of a loose forward trio in a few years time.
The starting backline also went reasonably well, but once again without Tele'a we fell to bits. Save the second half comeback against the Chiefs, and the annihilation in Brisbane (where he played) the difference when he is and isn't on the field is crazy.
Defensively particularly... 12-47 v Hurricanes, 31-47 v Rebels, 6-15 (Second Half only) v Crusaders, 0-21 v (Second Half only) Blues... this is clearly not just a coincidence. Midfield is going to get a big overhaul, because J Whaanga already coming in, and I'd guess Timu and M Whaanga leave... probably TUJ too, so by my reckoning we need at least one more, which is likely to be a 13. Gilbert to stick around as a utility. Whoever it is simply has to have some pace.
The attack also fell apart when Millar went off, so we were exposed for not having Faleafaga on the bench. I understand the thought process in backing Millar, but when we had so many injuries anyway, having Hurley on the bench over him was just a bit stupid IMO.
The outside backs have been on the whole the best we have seen in years, though Bogado has been a bit disappointing. We've already signed a winger to replace him, and my understanding is that it is from another franchise... Sullivan is the obvious one who is off-contract, but that would feel really bizarre, because JRK has gone well at 15, and we've supposedly already signed Hurley (why?) so unlikely to be a fullback.
I wouldn't be surprised if we have lined someone up to take over from Nareki in a year or two. He has struggled with injuries and might want to cash in for his family. Could 2025 be the last in Landers colours for Nareki. Head to Japan, take a decent contract and aim to play a world cup for Fiji? What about Heremaia Murray (who spent a few weeks last year) or a Kade Banks. Some of the better young players, I can't see being let go by their franchises.
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While we still have three games left, it is always interesting to have a think about who may come and go. We certainly won't see 16 go like last year, there should still be a few though. Thinking to the start of the season my goal was to beat a NZ team (check), not be the worst NZ team (check), make the play offs (likely to scrape in), and get some answers about some of our young players (check). We have been walloped several times, that should have always been expected though. The Blues are a top side now. Five years ago they were dog tucker. It takes time turn things around.
- Hooker. Taylor and Bell stay. Jackson will probably stick around as the third hooker for another year.
- props: DLB and Ainsley goooone. The rest I'd say will be sticking around. No obvious replacements for those two. Hunter Fahey may be worth a look.
- locks: Parkinson and probably Hicks goone. No one jumps out in the local system. Hugo Plummer likely to get one of the spots.
- loosies: The only players I can see leaving are Renton and Harmon. Both probably at a time in their careers where they could make a bit in Japan or elsewhere. Especially Harmon. There was a weird rumour floating around that the St George Dragons were looking at Renton. At least one needs to go to make room for Stodart in the loosie mix.
- halfbacks: All three are under contract
- First five: Millar and Faleafaga under contract. Big opportunity for Byron Smith to have a good year with Southland.
- Midfield: Te Hiwi, Gilbert and Tele'a will be there. This area likely to see our biggest shift in players. I can see Umaga-Jensen, Timu, M Whaanga moving on. Josh Whaanga replacing his brother. Jonah Lowe will be in the last year of his contract. I can see them deciding to use him primarily as midfield cover, to open up a spot for an outside back. Unless we can land one of the better 20/21 year old midfielders.
- outside backs: Bogado already confirmed to be leaving. Hurley coming in. @frugby has heard rumours of another outside back from a NZ Squad. Being a betting man, I reckon we will see Nareki head off-shore over the next couple of years to push for a Fijian WC spot. The player coming in might be for CGB, who surprisingly was pretty good in the games he played this year. So any new guy in, should be set up to replace Nareki. I think they have high hopes for Josh Augustine, he will be at least a couple of years away. Should get a glimpse of what he is like for Southland during the NPC. Seems to be doing some good things in Dunedin Club rugby.
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@SouthernMann Wouldn't Asi and Rangitutia be ahead of Augustine in the outside backs?
