Highlanders 2024
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
@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.
I'm not sure why you replied to me with that, but since you did...ummm...whoop de doo?
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I'm enjoying the conversation about the second string Crusaders hooker and where he sits in the All Black's pecking order... in the Highlanders thread
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann josh? i was impressed with him in the NPC last year and hope he kicks on, will be watching
Josh Whaanga is the best midfield back produced out of the Otago/southland region in my memory. Which says more about our inability to bring theough midfield backs than his quality. The omly midfield backs I can remember coming from Otago/Southland in the professional era are Sio Tomkinson, Josh Timu and Matt Whaanga. Josh probably needs to become a bit more bulky, even though he is probably around 100kg. It is just he is very tall. I think there is enough there to say he will.be a stable Super player. Is he a Rieko, Billy Proctor, ALB or even Brayden Ennor? Probably not. May lack the top end speed..
Putting off making dinner, I did a bit of a check of players over the years, and plus the guys mentioned the only southern developed midfield backs I can come up with over the professional era are Michael Collins, Matt Faddes, Charlie Hore, Matt Saunders and Jason Kawau. We are certainly really shit at producing midfield backs in the south.
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@SouthernMann That's how the fern rolls 😉
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This post is deleted!
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@African-Monkey said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann That's how the fern rolls 😉
Some tribal protection around George Bell. I reckon we can guess which school one of the posters went to. Haha
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2024:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
Bell is an All Black now
Say what?
I mean like he’s already been in and around the AB’s environment. I forget you have to clarify down to a T on this forum haha
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@Landers92 so as much an AB as Paul Cooke really at this stage. Noted.
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2024:
@Landers92 so as much an AB as Paul Cooke really at this stage. Noted.
That’s exactly right mate.
But in and around the squad none the less and that was my point, just the wrong wording.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
I'm enjoying the conversation about the second string Crusaders hooker and where he sits in the All Black's pecking order... in the Highlanders thread
I mean you can take it out of context if you really want. Was more an extension of a conversation on whether the Highlanders might try to sign him for 2026.
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de Groot, Ainsley, Harmon are the only survivors of those who started our last QF in 2022... DLB, Ma'u, Hicks and Fakatava were all on the bench.
Certainly a few random names in there. Denny Solomona and Liam Coombes-Fabling were the two other reserve backs,
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
de Groot, Ainsley, Harmon are the only survivors of those who started our last QF in 2022... DLB, Ma'u, Hicks and Fakatava were all on the bench.
Certainly a few random names in there. Denny Solomona and Liam Coombes-Fabling were the two other reserve backs,
Denny Solomona, wow there’s someone who’s easy to forget. Heck of a player too but as soon on the Landers jersey he got injured. Classic.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
de Groot, Ainsley, Harmon are the only survivors of those who started our last QF in 2022... DLB, Ma'u, Hicks and Fakatava were all on the bench.
Certainly a few random names in there. Denny Solomona and Liam Coombes-Fabling were the two other reserve backs,
Denny Solomona, wow there’s someone who’s easy to forget. Heck of a player too but as soon on the Landers jersey he got injured. Classic.
And now he is an apprentice plumber in Wigan. What is clear is looking at the 2024 v 2022 side. Our current team is better and has a higher long-term ceiling.
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Paul Dwyer has a yarn to Riki Flutey and Hayden Mciahels. They chatted about managing the dirt trackers each week, Michael's debut, Riki Flutey's role, what the club expects out of club rugby appearances and a bit on the game this weekend. Highlanders playing club rugby this weekend; Wingham, Faleafaga and Thomas Umaga-Jensen. Flutey says TUJ is the fittest he has ever been, and has been back training with the squad for a month. https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/landers-chat/odt-landers-chat-hayden-michaels-and-riki-flutey
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
de Groot, Ainsley, Harmon are the only survivors of those who started our last QF in 2022... DLB, Ma'u, Hicks and Fakatava were all on the bench.
Certainly a few random names in there. Denny Solomona and Liam Coombes-Fabling were the two other reserve backs,
Denny Solomona, wow there’s someone who’s easy to forget. Heck of a player too but as soon on the Landers jersey he got injured. Classic.
And now he is an apprentice plumber in Wigan. What is clear is looking at the 2024 v 2022 side. Our current team is better and has a higher long-term ceiling.
If I recall correctly he was pulled in mid season as injury cover? I recall 1 game off the bench and 1 start and then he did his hamstring.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Paul Dwyer has a yarn to Riki Flutey and Hayden Mciahels. They chatted about managing the dirt trackers each week, Michael's debut, Riki Flutey's role, what the club expects out of club rugby appearances and a bit on the game this weekend. Highlanders playing club rugby this weekend; Wingham, Faleafaga and Thomas Umaga-Jensen. Flutey says TUJ is the fittest he has ever been, and has been back training with the squad for a month. https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/landers-chat/odt-landers-chat-hayden-michaels-and-riki-flutey
That’s awesome news about TUJ. I hope for his sake he can stay healthy. Awesome news coming into the Otago season
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Paul Dwyer has a yarn to Riki Flutey and Hayden Mciahels. They chatted about managing the dirt trackers each week, Michael's debut, Riki Flutey's role, what the club expects out of club rugby appearances and a bit on the game this weekend. Highlanders playing club rugby this weekend; Wingham, Faleafaga and Thomas Umaga-Jensen. Flutey says TUJ is the fittest he has ever been, and has been back training with the squad for a month. https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/landers-chat/odt-landers-chat-hayden-michaels-and-riki-flutey
That’s awesome news about TUJ. I hope for his sake he can stay healthy. Awesome news coming into the Otago season
Going to be an interesting midfield rotation of him, Gilbert, Te Hiwi, Timu? , Whaanga and potentially Jack Leslie. May end up seeing Whaanga play a fair bit on the wing. Which could impact the exposure of some of the young wing options. I'd almost be tempted to see if someone wants to head to Southland.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2024:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2024:
Paul Dwyer has a yarn to Riki Flutey and Hayden Mciahels. They chatted about managing the dirt trackers each week, Michael's debut, Riki Flutey's role, what the club expects out of club rugby appearances and a bit on the game this weekend. Highlanders playing club rugby this weekend; Wingham, Faleafaga and Thomas Umaga-Jensen. Flutey says TUJ is the fittest he has ever been, and has been back training with the squad for a month. https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/landers-chat/odt-landers-chat-hayden-michaels-and-riki-flutey
That’s awesome news about TUJ. I hope for his sake he can stay healthy. Awesome news coming into the Otago season
Going to be an interesting midfield rotation of him, Gilbert, Te Hiwi, Timu? , Whaanga and potentially Jack Leslie. May end up seeing Whaanga play a fair bit on the wing. Which could impact the exposure of some of the young wing options. I'd almost be tempted to see if someone wants to head to Southland.
but southland has reece for their midfield.....
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Southland will have its best season in nearly a decade if they have a good run with injuries.
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@Landers92 A shame about his injuries. I played rugby with him during our school days, he was 2 years younger than me but still played in the same teams as him and he was the best player I'd seen at schoolboy level and there were a lot of other guys who have gone onto much bigger things who played with and against us too.
He achieved a lot in League and union in Europe, but not gonna lie, I thought he was gonna have a huge career at the top.
