Highlanders 2024
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@frugby no one is ahead of him next year. Moorby is leaving the Canes so I expect Sullivan to lock down the 14 jersey.
Rayasi isn't really a right winger and having both him and Naholo on both wings probably ruins the balance of that back three a bit as they are power wingers. Sullivan is a player that could do that role Moorby has been doing this year quite effectivily.
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Any outside back deciding to head to the Highlanders needs to believe they will be getting a better opportunity by moving. They either have to be better than Nareki or Tavatavanawai or a squad player in their current team and be happy on the bench or back themselves to displace a current player. That's why a winger, who could play centre may be someone being considered.
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@SouthernMann the current back three for the Highlanders could develop into one of the best in the comp. Hopefully they can stick around for a few years yet. If the Highlanders can sort out their midfield next year and can solidify their ten then they'll be looking pretty bloody good.
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@Canes4life we need at least one more true starter, Nareki just wont be able to put whole seasons together, i think we could have rotated him with someone like Bodago a bit more rather than running him until he breaks...jamming someone else in on short notice and then pulling them straight back out when Nareki is fit again
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Damn that is some crap news about Billy leaving, what a real shame. Timing for him was rough too when it came to the black jersey but good on him.
I wonder who else we having coming off contract that hasn’t been confirmed if they are staying or going yet similar to what someone said above. Eg TUJ. I would be happy to give him one more shot on a 1 year prove it deal because when he’s healthy he is 1 heck of a players and right now there isn’t a lot of other player around who can provide starter quality depth at 12.
Who is this hooker and outside back people who saying we’ve signed? I’ve seen it a few times name but nobody has actually dropped a name.
Bailyn Sullivan would be interesting, I actually rate him highly as a 13 and I’m sure that’s where he probably sees himself playing in the future. Behind Proctor up there has forced him out to the wing so I guess it comes down to if he’s happy staying there, and by all means why would he leave when they are playing that well and also with Moorby leaving next season. Hes probably a real long shot.
Hurley is still a year or 2 away from being a consistent super rugby player, kind of gives me Buxton Popoali’i vibes where he can give you a spot start here and there and do a job but unsure about a full time starter.
As someone said above, the outside back would have to be happy to start off on the bench and back themselves to take their chances if they want to get ahead of the 3 current starters. A young guy would make the most sense here.
I’m excited to see how Otago use Josh Whaanga and see how the Highlanders ease him in.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
Damn that is some crap news about Billy leaving, what a real shame. Timing for him was rough too when it came to the black jersey but good on him.
I wonder who else we having coming off contract that hasn’t been confirmed if they are staying or going yet similar to what someone said above. Eg TUJ. I would be happy to give him one more shot on a 1 year prove it deal because when he’s healthy he is 1 heck of a players and right now there isn’t a lot of other player around who can provide starter quality depth at 12.
Who is this hooker and outside back people who saying we’ve signed? I’ve seen it a few times name but nobody has actually dropped a name.
Bailyn Sullivan would be interesting, I actually rate him highly as a 13 and I’m sure that’s where he probably sees himself playing in the future. Behind Proctor up there has forced him out to the wing so I guess it comes down to if he’s happy staying there, and by all means why would he leave when they are playing that well and also with Moorby leaving next season. Hes probably a real long shot.
Hurley is still a year or 2 away from being a consistent super rugby player, kind of gives me Buxton Popoali’i vibes where he can give you a spot start here and there and do a job but unsure about a full time starter.
As someone said above, the outside back would have to be happy to start off on the bench and back themselves to take their chances if they want to get ahead of the 3 current starters. A young guy would make the most sense here.
I’m excited to see how Otago use Josh Whaanga and see how the Highlanders ease him in.
damn, havent though about Buxton for ages, loved that guy....more than a decade since he played for Otago/Highlanders is scary
im not sold on hurley, will be watching this NPC hoping to see him dominate....but wont be holding my breath
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
Damn that is some crap news about Billy leaving, what a real shame. Timing for him was rough too when it came to the black jersey but good on him.
I wonder who else we having coming off contract that hasn’t been confirmed if they are staying or going yet similar to what someone said above. Eg TUJ. I would be happy to give him one more shot on a 1 year prove it deal because when he’s healthy he is 1 heck of a players and right now there isn’t a lot of other player around who can provide starter quality depth at 12.
Who is this hooker and outside back people who saying we’ve signed? I’ve seen it a few times name but nobody has actually dropped a name.
Bailyn Sullivan would be interesting, I actually rate him highly as a 13 and I’m sure that’s where he probably sees himself playing in the future. Behind Proctor up there has forced him out to the wing so I guess it comes down to if he’s happy staying there, and by all means why would he leave when they are playing that well and also with Moorby leaving next season. Hes probably a real long shot.
Hurley is still a year or 2 away from being a consistent super rugby player, kind of gives me Buxton Popoali’i vibes where he can give you a spot start here and there and do a job but unsure about a full time starter.
As someone said above, the outside back would have to be happy to start off on the bench and back themselves to take their chances if they want to get ahead of the 3 current starters. A young guy would make the most sense here.
I’m excited to see how Otago use Josh Whaanga and see how the Highlanders ease him in.
damn, havent though about Buxton for ages, loved that guy....more than a decade since he played for Otago/Highlanders is scary
im not sold on hurley, will be watching this NPC hoping to see him dominate....but wont be holding my breath
Likewise. Heck of a talented player but super rugby is a huge jump. Need to own the 15 jersey for Otago this year more than anything. Hopefully in a year or 2 we see him develop. Would be good for both Otago and the Highlanders.
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@Landers92 i hope im wrong but i just think his size is always going to limit him too much, just doesnt have the levers to be big kicker or out jump others under the high ball, hes fast but not lightning, hes doesnt seem to have that ability to shrug off a tackle like nareki...his real assets seems to be some vision fearless in the tackle, the more i see him play the more surprised i am he hasn;t become a halfback
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
@Landers92 i hope im wrong but i just think his size is always going to limit him too much, just doesnt have the levers to be big kicker or out jump others under the high ball, hes fast but not lightning, hes doesnt seem to have that ability to shrug off a tackle like nareki...his real assets seems to be some vision fearless in the tackle, the more i see him play the more surprised i am he hasn;t become a halfback
Well we might just find out on Saturday...
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It is clear Hurley is our back-up fullback for 2025. The provincial season will be big for the little fella. Here is hoping he has a confidence boosting campaign. Needs to stop playing like a confused sevens player and rag doll like he did last year.
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@SouthernMann he need to get it hammered into him to always run to support and not get caught...never go to ground...if he cant connect and offload then he should just plug a corner
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In terms of Josh Whaanga. I have a feeling he will play a fair bit of the NPC on the wing. With Gilbert, Te Hiwi, Kack Leslie and may be Timu and TUJ (if they are still around) getting the midfield time. I would have liked to have seen Asi and Kyan Rangitutia as genuine wingers get a go.
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@SouthernMann hurley preferred 15?
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann hurley preferred 15?
That would be my hope. Especially if the Highlanders view him as our back-up 15. Considering the options, it appears as if there will be a lot of players who are midfield/wingers. There might end up being a lot of mixing of players each week. Some of the young locks may be interesting to watch. While loosies, halfbacks, first five and midfield will need to be rotated during the provincial season.
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Paul Dwyer talks to Highlanders award winners https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/landers-chat/odt-landers-chat-highlanders-awards-2024?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1ExiuqFR9RsTlyia2ZtIt8MRsKIyhdvA9ZOmESlLW5GQXURgEDm22YEGs_aem_AVjSU5_rwknuagioMyx6dgoUetZxZD9_H0E8_0mMVULqofc5VnBcwEQcGDU7OWPBtWEEcKiZRCX1Gp-m_KJ0WL5T
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2024:
Outside back required? That guy Punivai at the canes might be a good pickup.
Big
Strong
FastSurely he's off to the Blues to make sure he gets the full set
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@ploughboy said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@frugby said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@frugby said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@SouthernMann said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
An issue the Highlanders also face is that Dunedin is a great place to be 18 - 23 and 35+, it is just a lot of people leave the city in their mid 20s to early 30s. This means players may get pressure from their partners to leave, or feel lonely if the majority of their friends leave Dunedin. What we can do is hope that a few make the All Blacks and others feel close and want to stay. Three - five years is realistic for a lot of the guys who will never make the All Blacks.
Which goes back to my point, that local guys are more likely to stay because they at least have something to hold them here.
For example, there was nothing to hold Tyrel Lomax here, so he left.
Of course. As someone mentioned as well, home franchises tend to keep their better players as well. That helps too. We just need to keep the flow of players coming, and have some decent talent ID running around the country.
Exactly. For every Aidan Morgan, there is a Daniel Lienert-Brown who falls in love with their adopted club and stays for a lengthy period of time.
If you can have a good local core, and a decent contingent of All Blacks, sprinkle in a few loyal players from elsewhere and you can stay competitive for a while. Highlanders have the right idea in regards to the first part, stage two is watching some of these guys trickle into the ABs...
In a best case scenario of the current squad, I think the following could have ABs careers:
de Groot
Holland
Haig
Withy
Stodart
Fakatava
Faleafaga
Ratumaitavuki-KneepkensStill need a top end midfielder, but you can see a spine of a very competitive side there.
Out of the age grade players I'll add in Dylan Pledger and I really hope Kiseki Fifita returns down south. He looks to be the best outside back the lower south has produced in a long time. Dam Mormon missions!
kiseki hasnt even left for his misson. gone for two years when he goes. has already turned down another team to sign for highlanders academy
@ploughboy that is really good news that he will be returning to the Highlanders. What is the process around these missions? How is it decided when and where he goes? How long do you think it will take him to get up to speed after returning? I'm not hugely knowledgeable in the world of mormon processes.
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Didn't a high profile player decide not to go on a mission recently, deciding his rugby career would take precedence? I can't remember if he put it off until after his career or isn't doing one at all. Something is telling me that it was Clarke, but I could be wrong about that.
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