Highlanders 2024
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At this stage, who has potentially played their last game for the team? Parkinson, CGB, Patchell (of course haha) and Bogado. Bogado was a bit of a failed experiment. Roll th3 clock back three or four years ago and there was plenty of hype around Parkinson and CGB. It is always interesting when players arrive and there is a bit of excitement and come their departure, they just drift away.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
talking with some of the boys at rugby last night and one of them know Patchell, apparently he's already back in the UK, id missed he was gone for the season, I know its a job for these guys but i cant help but think i'd hang around too support the team, i guess he has a family back home
Yep, left 2-3 weeks ago, all the Landers boys were wishing him well when we played the Blues. I have no issue with it, has a partner at home, can't blame him.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
talking with some of the boys at rugby last night and one of them know Patchell, apparently he's already back in the UK, id missed he was gone for the season, I know its a job for these guys but i cant help but think i'd hang around too support the team, i guess he has a family back home
Co-captaincy next will be interesting. EDG will maintain one of the spots. Will Withy step up as a co-captain? Someone will need to lead the team in the last 20 minutes while EDG is normally off. Doesn't look like any of the backs are options. Especially as Gilbert seems to have fallen out of favour as a leader.
I'd imagine de Groot will just be skipper... this co-captaincy thing is a smoke-screen. Grooter was 100% calling the shots (literally) v the Drua... Harmon a calming influence, but they've done the changing of the guard.
Withy will be VC I would imagine, maybe with Gilbert. Main reason Gilbert fell out of favour as I understand it was more because he was no longer assured of his place in the team, and Grooter has really stepped up as the season has gone on.
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@frugby yeah...dont know how many times i have to say i dont really have a problem either, lots of good reasons, i had just missed he was done was so a surprise and i guess it seems a little anticlimactic, and then on an almost separate note, if i was in the position i think i might have hung around (Me, not him) and seen it through, end of season celebration, bookend his adventure
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
talking with some of the boys at rugby last night and one of them know Patchell, apparently he's already back in the UK, id missed he was gone for the season, I know its a job for these guys but i cant help but think i'd hang around too support the team, i guess he has a family back home
Co-captaincy next will be interesting. EDG will maintain one of the spots. Will Withy step up as a co-captain? Someone will need to lead the team in the last 20 minutes while EDG is normally off. Doesn't look like any of the backs are options. Especially as Gilbert seems to have fallen out of favour as a leader.
I'd imagine de Groot will just be skipper... this co-captaincy thing is a smoke-screen. Grooter was 100% calling the shots (literally) v the Drua... Harmon a calming influence, but they've done the changing of the guard.
Withy will be VC I would imagine, maybe with Gilbert. Main reason Gilbert fell out of favour as I understand it was more because he was no longer assured of his place in the team, and Grooter has really stepped up as the season has gone on.
It is just working out who is best suited to captaining the side in the last 20 minutes. Often a high pressure environment. De Groot for all his upsides is a 60 minute prop. It is a big task leading a side home
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Be interesting to see if it is indeed Vikena who the Highlanders have signed at hooker... you'd imagine with the way agents talk they were aware of Codie Taylor re-signing for the Crusaders.
IMO considering the performances of Bell and Taylor this year, the obvious thing to do would be not to over-commit on another young guy, and rather have a crack at one of George Bell or McAllister for 2026.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
Be interesting to see if it is indeed Vikena who the Highlanders have signed at hooker... you'd imagine with the way agents talk they were aware of Codie Taylor re-signing for the Crusaders.
IMO considering the performances of Bell and Taylor this year, the obvious thing to do would be not to over-commit on another young guy, and rather have a crack at one of George Bell or McAllister for 2026.
It will be an interesting acquisition. Going on with their desire to promote from within, I'd be expecting they will be circling A-One Lolofie as a squad member in 2026. Which is why it is very disappointing Otago has brought Coltman on-board for this season. One point will be whether Ricky Jackson will be around for the NPC or not. George Bell should be a bit miffed he will be sitting behind Taylor for another few more years, or at least sharing the spot with him. He should be owning a starting spot already.
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@frugby the Canes also have a raft of hookers, two will need to go. In camp atm we currently have Aumua, O'Reilly, Tuputupu (suspended), Devery (out all year injured) and Bason (Under 20s captain). Two of them won't pick up contracts next year so there's a couple more options.
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby the Canes also have a raft of hookers, two will need to go. In camp atm we currently have Aumua, O'Reilly, Tuputupu (suspended), Devery (out all year injured) and Bason (Under 20s captain). Two of them won't pick up contracts next year so there's a couple more options.
Those are some top notch options. Surely they top three are Aumua, Tuputupu and Bason. O'Reilly for all his sins is thr sort of bloke you want as a third stringer. The Highlanders also have former NZ Schools hooker Shaun Kempton coming through as well. A NZ U20s hooker in Lolofie and a former schools hooker in Kempton.
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@SouthernMann I feel Devery will definitely be the one that misses out. O'Reilly has definitely stepped up in the last year so he will likely keep his spot. So I guess the last spot will be either Tuputupu or Bason. Unless they sign both or sign Bason on a dev contract.
Devery wouldn't be a bad player for the Landers to pick up. He would have been no2 for the Canes this year if he was fit but because he hasn't had a chance to push his case he will likely move aside for those that have performed this year.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
Be interesting to see if it is indeed Vikena who the Highlanders have signed at hooker... you'd imagine with the way agents talk they were aware of Codie Taylor re-signing for the Crusaders.
IMO considering the performances of Bell and Taylor this year, the obvious thing to do would be not to over-commit on another young guy, and rather have a crack at one of George Bell or McAllister for 2026.
It will be an interesting acquisition. Going on with their desire to promote from within, I'd be expecting they will be circling A-One Lolofie as a squad member in 2026. Which is why it is very disappointing Otago has brought Coltman on-board for this season. One point will be whether Ricky Jackson will be around for the NPC or not. George Bell should be a bit miffed he will be sitting behind Taylor for another few more years, or at least sharing the spot with him. He should be owning a starting spot already.
Depends how good they think A-One is... also think Lolofie is probably a more likely candidate for regular NPC rugby in 2025, so shouldn't be an issue this year.
H Bell may even end up being Otago skipper given who has left.
If the Highlanders can get George Bell though, I think they will bend over backwards to do it, because I think that sends a bit of a message if we can bring home a guy who is being touted as the next big hooker for the All Blacks.
There is pretty much no chance the Crusaders hold onto all three. McAllister may look overseas I suppose, but if I was the Highlanders I'd also be moving heaven and earth to get Bell home. Not often is it that you have a chance to sign a player of that quality, so worth pursuing IMO... and with H Bell and Taylor, that would be three great hooker options.
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann I feel Devery will definitely be the one that misses out. O'Reilly has definitely stepped up in the last year so he will likely keep his spot. So I guess the last spot will be either Tuputupu or Bason. Unless they sign both or sign Bason on a dev contract.
Devery wouldn't be a bad player for the Landers to pick up. He would have been no2 for the Canes this year if he was fit but because he hasn't had a chance to push his case he will likely move aside for those that have performed this year.
Moot point because we've already picked up a hooker from Auckland, but if we can't get a top player, they won't go out of the region I don't think. Devery would be meh. If he isn't considered in the Canes top three, then he shouldn't be in our top two.
George Bell is an exception because of how good he is, and the fact he is a local boy.
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@frugby I can't see the Landers getting Bell. I reckon he will happily share the duties with Taylor at the Crusaders. Similar scenerio to Aumua and Coles of late. Aumua learnt his craft under Coles and now it's bearing fruit. Would be a great signing for the Landers if they can nab him though. A bit of brotherly competition for that two jersey wouldn't be a bad thing either.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann I feel Devery will definitely be the one that misses out. O'Reilly has definitely stepped up in the last year so he will likely keep his spot. So I guess the last spot will be either Tuputupu or Bason. Unless they sign both or sign Bason on a dev contract.
Devery wouldn't be a bad player for the Landers to pick up. He would have been no2 for the Canes this year if he was fit but because he hasn't had a chance to push his case he will likely move aside for those that have performed this year.
Moot point because we've already picked up a hooker from Auckland, but if we can't get a top player, they won't go out of the region I don't think. Devery would be meh. If he isn't considered in the Canes top three, then he shouldn't be in our top two.
George Bell is an exception because of how good he is, and the fact he is a local boy.
Has that been announced has it? Surely it will be Vikena then, he's behind both Eklund and Riccitelli at the Blues and I can't really see that changing anytime soon. Is Vikena someone that will jump ahead of the current Landers hookers though?
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann I feel Devery will definitely be the one that misses out. O'Reilly has definitely stepped up in the last year so he will likely keep his spot. So I guess the last spot will be either Tuputupu or Bason. Unless they sign both or sign Bason on a dev contract.
Devery wouldn't be a bad player for the Landers to pick up. He would have been no2 for the Canes this year if he was fit but because he hasn't had a chance to push his case he will likely move aside for those that have performed this year.
Devery is too similar dimension wise to Bell and Taylor, and I doubt he'd want to move to Dunedin to hold tackle bags and be the no3. At least with Vikena he is a bigger body and has a point of difference to the other two.
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@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby I can't see the Landers getting Bell. I reckon he will happily share the duties with Taylor at the Crusaders. Similar scenerio to Aumua and Coles of late. Aumua learnt his craft under Coles and now it's bearing fruit. Would be a great signing for the Landers if they can nab him though. A bit of brotherly competition for that two jersey wouldn't be a bad thing either.
I can't see it happening either, considering Taylor will be 34 at the end of the next Super season, but I'm more forecasting that they'd probably try, so will be interested to see whether the new hooker is indeed Vikena, and then to see how long his contract is
The word is that we have signed one of Vikena and Tangitau and considering the contractual situation of the other Blues hookers, Vikena would be the obvious one... but again, comes back to my original point of presumably the Highlanders would have known Taylor is re-signing, so why overcommit, when a better player may be available in a year when hooker isn't necessarily pressing.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
Be interesting to see if it is indeed Vikena who the Highlanders have signed at hooker... you'd imagine with the way agents talk they were aware of Codie Taylor re-signing for the Crusaders.
IMO considering the performances of Bell and Taylor this year, the obvious thing to do would be not to over-commit on another young guy, and rather have a crack at one of George Bell or McAllister for 2026.
It will be an interesting acquisition. Going on with their desire to promote from within, I'd be expecting they will be circling A-One Lolofie as a squad member in 2026. Which is why it is very disappointing Otago has brought Coltman on-board for this season. One point will be whether Ricky Jackson will be around for the NPC or not. George Bell should be a bit miffed he will be sitting behind Taylor for another few more years, or at least sharing the spot with him. He should be owning a starting spot already.
Depends how good they think A-One is... also think Lolofie is probably a more likely candidate for regular NPC rugby in 2025, so shouldn't be an issue this year.
H Bell may even end up being Otago skipper given who has left.
If the Highlanders can get George Bell though, I think they will bend over backwards to do it, because I think that sends a bit of a message if we can bring home a guy who is being touted as the next big hooker for the All Blacks.
There is pretty much no chance the Crusaders hold onto all three. McAllister may look overseas I suppose, but if I was the Highlanders I'd also be moving heaven and earth to get Bell home. Not often is it that you have a chance to sign a player of that quality, so worth pursuing IMO... and with H Bell and Taylor, that would be three great hooker options.
All I know about Lolofie is the people who have seen him rate his work rate around the field. He just needs to get a bit of a shot. George Bell would be nice. Just doubt we will see it. Every 10 or so years we give a cracker like him or McCaw to the bloody Cantabs. From the same part of the country too. Bell is a good shout to be Otago captain. Either him, Gilbert, George Bower or a roughie Fabian Holland.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
Be interesting to see if it is indeed Vikena who the Highlanders have signed at hooker... you'd imagine with the way agents talk they were aware of Codie Taylor re-signing for the Crusaders.
IMO considering the performances of Bell and Taylor this year, the obvious thing to do would be not to over-commit on another young guy, and rather have a crack at one of George Bell or McAllister for 2026.
It will be an interesting acquisition. Going on with their desire to promote from within, I'd be expecting they will be circling A-One Lolofie as a squad member in 2026. Which is why it is very disappointing Otago has brought Coltman on-board for this season. One point will be whether Ricky Jackson will be around for the NPC or not. George Bell should be a bit miffed he will be sitting behind Taylor for another few more years, or at least sharing the spot with him. He should be owning a starting spot already.
Depends how good they think A-One is... also think Lolofie is probably a more likely candidate for regular NPC rugby in 2025, so shouldn't be an issue this year.
H Bell may even end up being Otago skipper given who has left.
If the Highlanders can get George Bell though, I think they will bend over backwards to do it, because I think that sends a bit of a message if we can bring home a guy who is being touted as the next big hooker for the All Blacks.
There is pretty much no chance the Crusaders hold onto all three. McAllister may look overseas I suppose, but if I was the Highlanders I'd also be moving heaven and earth to get Bell home. Not often is it that you have a chance to sign a player of that quality, so worth pursuing IMO... and with H Bell and Taylor, that would be three great hooker options.
All I know about Lolofie is the people who have seen him rate his work rate around the field. He just needs to get a bit of a shot. George Bell would be nice. Just doubt we will see it. Every 10 or so years we give a cracker like him or McCaw to the bloody Cantabs. From the same part of the country too. Bell is a good shout to be Otago captain. Either him, Gilbert, George Bower or a roughie Fabian Holland.
Part of it may depend on timing. I mean potentially the Highlanders being on the up, the chance to play with his brother, and the Crusaders being a bit of a mess with another new coach coming in, could be enough of a draw to bring him home... particularly if he is left in the stands behind McAllister.
I see it as very unlikely, but will be interesting. The other point is, what if it is actually Tangitau who is the correct signing, and we have signed another stop gap at hooker for 2025? Would allow them to go after G Bell with the fallback options of McAllister and Lolofie for 2026.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby I can't see the Landers getting Bell. I reckon he will happily share the duties with Taylor at the Crusaders. Similar scenerio to Aumua and Coles of late. Aumua learnt his craft under Coles and now it's bearing fruit. Would be a great signing for the Landers if they can nab him though. A bit of brotherly competition for that two jersey wouldn't be a bad thing either.
I can't see it happening either, considering Taylor will be 34 at the end of the next Super season, but I'm more forecasting that they'd probably try, so will be interested to see whether the new hooker is indeed Vikena, and then to see how long his contract is
The word is that we have signed one of Vikena and Tangitau and considering the contractual situation of the other Blues hookers, Vikena would be the obvious one... but again, comes back to my original point of presumably the Highlanders would have known Taylor is re-signing, so why overcommit, when a better player may be available in a year when hooker isn't necessarily pressing.
Tangitau would be a fantastic signing. Hopefully a guy who can hopefully take Nareki's spot, when he is injured and if he goes in the next couple of years.
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George Bell would be interesting. Would the prospect of being the outright starter be enough for him or are the AB’s big men wanting him to stay in Canterbury. I’m sure the All Blacks would prefer him to be starting week in and week out too.
I’m sure the Crusaders would do all they can to keep him around, similar to what Canes said above another Coles and Aumua. But imo, Bell is an All Black now and if you ask me, All Blacks should be getting minutes regularly. I’ve never been a huge fan of All Blacks being selected when they aren’t always starters in their super teams.
All in all, he’s a pipe dream. But one you can talk yourself into and get your hopes up simply because he’s from the region. If we are being real, there’s probably a very very slim chance he leaves the Red and Blacks.
