Highlanders 2024
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@ploughboy said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@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.
not that im a morman but my understanding is you apply for your mission and wait to when you are told. kiseki hasnt been told yet but isnt as far as i know not playing any rugby at the moment. mission will be for two years. his sister has just come back from hers (18 months for females) and back playing for the steel and has talken most of the season to get back to speed and not back to where she was before going.so really a person by person thing i would think.
Thanks for the info @ploughboy, really interesting. He is certainly the sort of player that doesn't come up regularly down south. Hopefully he can get into the misssion, accomplish what the church needs him to and back to rugby. It is a shame he isn't playing while waiting to go on it too. Hopefully he can keep his skills up behind the scenes while on the mission. Sounds like we won't have him back into the system until 2027 and unlikely to be playing for the top team until the year after. Without the mission, he'd probably be playing for Southland this year and in the Highlanders the year after.
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Anyone heard those rumours about Sevu Reece signing with the landers?!?
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@HLD2023Champions said in Highlanders 2024:
Anyone heard those rumours about Sevu Reece signing with the landers?!?
That would be a massive signing, he's literally been the Saders best this year.
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There is a rumour that he is going to sign with Southland. I reckon it is more about Ta$man seeing little value in keeping an All Black who barely plays on their books. Even if there is a NZRU rebate for ABs. Would be awesome if we could land him. Seems it would be an interesting signing though. Our back three when they have been on the field have been great. May be Reece wants to play centre haha
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
.. May be Reece wants to play centre haha
Could actually play 12?
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This post is deleted!
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@HLD2023Champions said in Highlanders 2024:
Anyone heard those rumours about Sevu Reece signing with the landers?!?
That is a huge rumour to start throwing around. Where did you hear that?
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
@HLD2023Champions said in Highlanders 2024:
Anyone heard those rumours about Sevu Reece signing with the landers?!?
That is a huge rumour to start throwing around. Where did you hear that?
i think @SouthernMann heard it too
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In a publication called the Southland Tribune (behind a paywall), there is an article about Reece potentially joining Southland. Some people put 2 + 2 together and got 5. Reece linked with Southland. He will end up with Highlanders. Throwing in the mix Tavatavanawai is also linked with Southland too.Article https://southlandtribune.substack.com/p/savs-sidelines-all-black-wing-to
- All Blacks wing in maroon?… A couple of weeks ago the Sav’s Sidelines column suggested Highlanders lock Mitch Dunshea will be a high chance of linking with the Southland Stags for the 2024 NPC season.
We think we might be able to trump that this week when it comes to our signing speculation.
It’s understood the Stags are in line for one of most high-profile signings of all-time.It appears All Black wing Sevu Reece has shown some interest in joining the Stags this season.
The 27-year-old has been a regular in the All Blacks setup since 2019. Although he suffered an ACL knee injury during last year’s Super Rugby season and missed the All Blacks World Cup campaign.
Watch this space Stags fans.
Of course, there is a slight sticking point to the prospect of Southland landing Reece’s signature.
He has to be in All Blacks contention again in 2024, and if so, how often would we see him in a Stags jersey?
At the very least a high-profile player is interested in making Southland his provincial rugby home and that shouldn’t be scoffed at.
Reece has previously played for Waikato and Ta$man at NPC level
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@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
.. May be Reece wants to play centre haha
Could actually play 12?
Reece was a midfielder in his 1st XV and early club rugby days.
Southland have one of the lowest salary totals so would need to break the bank for Reece.
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Interesting way for the Highlanders to try and fix their midfield issue, if they are going after him. No midfield options out there. So, talk an All Black winger into getting his dream midfield opportunity.
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@Chris said in Highlanders 2024:
Yeah not sure this is happening
Colin Mansbridge was asked about Reece coming back to the Crusaders next season in a Radio interview a couple of days ago and He said Reece was back at the Crusaders next season.That's good. Now here's hoping Southland doesn't waste money on him.
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@Chris Well that should put it to bed then.
The man has been linked to all corners of the Globe since the beginning of the year.
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@African-Monkey said in Highlanders 2024:
@Chris Well that should put it to bed then.
The man has been linked to all corners of the Globe since the beginning of the year.
It was news talk ZB Jason Pine interview.
I am thinking. -
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Interesting way for the Highlanders to try and fix their midfield issue, if they are going after him. No midfield options out there. So, talk an All Black winger into getting his dream midfield opportunity.
Sometimes they talk themselves into it. Hi, Rieko...
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@Mr-Fish said in Highlanders 2024:
Reece has always said he wants to play in the midfield.
But it is all moot because he's not going to be playing much/any NPC.
He has and I read he was a centre but for some reason I thought early on he played 12, and given his love of turnovers and work ethic, he could be useful at 12..
