Highlanders 2024
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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.
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As a team, we have more to offer an up and coming outside back than a young hooker. A topline outside back stuck behind good players at their franchise, could be playing a lot of rugby for us next year. They will not be competing with All Blacks in Dunedin. Both Nareki and Tavatavanawai are 26, will be 27 at the start of next season. Wingers don't last forever.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
As a team, we have more to offer an up and coming outside back than a young hooker. A topline outside back stuck behind good players at their franchise, could be playing a lot of rugby for us next year. They will not be competing with All Blacks in Dunedin. Both Nareki and Tavatavanawai are 26, will be 27 at the start of next season. Wingers don't last forever.
Tavatavanawai and Nareki are both the sorts of players who I think could move into the midfield, but I doubt that will be at the Highlanders... that said we might only need them for another year or two. The internal goal is to be competing for the title by 2026, which with our young forwards sounds about right.
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2024:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
Bell is an All Black now
Say what?
Maybe not quite, but he is factually fourth pick behind Taukei'aho, Taylor and Aumua.
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby factually how?
World Cup last year. Was named as a train-on player when Aumua was injured.
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
As a team, we have more to offer an up and coming outside back than a young hooker. A topline outside back stuck behind good players at their franchise, could be playing a lot of rugby for us next year. They will not be competing with All Blacks in Dunedin. Both Nareki and Tavatavanawai are 26, will be 27 at the start of next season. Wingers don't last forever.
Tavatavanawai and Nareki are both the sorts of players who I think could move into the midfield, but I doubt that will be at the Highlanders... that said we might only need them for another year or two. The internal goal is to be competing for the title by 2026, which with our young forwards sounds about right.
Positions 11 - 14 are our biggest problem areas over the next few years. There are very few obvious midfield solutions locally. Whaanga for his fans, seems a few steps behind some of the real quality guys around the country. Our best young winger is on a mormon mission. Rangitutia and Augistine are probably the best outside backs in the age grade teams. Tangitau would be fantastic, as a guy to pick up from elsewhere. He has been at the blues for two years now.
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@SouthernMann josh? i was impressed with him in the NPC last year and hope he kicks on, will be watching
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2024:
He didn't look any better than any other hooker this year from what I've seen. Was a pile of shit to start the season.
Think that is harsh.
And even still, he is also only 22, playing in his first season of Super Rugby, in a dysfunctional side with locks who were clueless in the lineout.
When Codie Taylor was 22, he had just played a handful of games in his first year of Super Rugby, made the ABs in 2015 at the age of 24. Taukei'aho cracked the ABs at 23, but had year of experience under his belt already. Coles was 25 and had four seasons of Super under his belt.
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@African-Monkey said in Highlanders 2024:
@Bones Yup, his throwing was horrible. Clearly the worst out of the NZ hookers.
I'm sure he'll get better, but he can start by improving that part of his game.
I'm going to die on the hill that the locks were a way bigger issue in the Crusaders lineout. For all his upside, Hannah was consistently bullied. Cahill and Strange were no better.
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@Bones Bell threw 3/3 v MP (Taylor 10/13), Bell threw 2/2 v Blues (Taylor 13/14), Bell threw 4/5 v Brumbies (Taylor 9/11) Funnily enough the uptick in the lineout coincides with Hannah dropping to the bench, and the loose forwards being reshuffled.
