Highlanders 2024
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@SBW1 said in Highlanders 2024:
Sounds like the Highlanders will go offshore for a lot of their recruiting, does that seem likely?
I wouldn't think so. That is not the solution. International is listed as an option in the article below, however, I doubt it would be more than one player.
Article from the ODT talking to Roger Clark about Dermody and recruitment.
All three hookers off contract. Unsure about Hicks, Parkinson and Hunt.
Dermody given full backing by Landers boss
Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark thinks his rookie head coach did an "admirable" job this season. Clark has also revealed the Highlanders...
*Dermody given full backing by Landers boss
Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark thinks his rookie head coach did an "admirable" job this season.
Clark has also revealed the Highlanders could be looking for three hookers, another lock and another first five for the 2024 campaign.It was not, as any observer noted, a wonderful season for the Highlanders.
They missed out on the playoffs — only on points difference, but never a great look when eight teams out of 12 get to carry on playing — and won just five games from 14.
But they also blooded plenty of new talent, learned a lot about what they need to find to be more competitive, and got plenty of valuable experience in the first season since sweeping changes at all levels of the club.
Results were "not what we wanted, obviously", Clark said.
"We head into reviewing our season knowing we need to get better in 2024.
"Identifying where and how we need to improve is part of the review process."
That process has been all-encompassing since the Highlanders walked off the field at Eden Park after their final game of the campaign.
Extensive one-on-one interviews and debriefs have been held, and while the club HQ is now emptied of giant young men, work continues to collate the review feedback and plot the next steps.
Clarke Dermody has the full backing of his boss as the burly Southlander looks back on his first year as head coach.
"I thought Clarke did an admirable job considering it was his first year as head coach and he had a new coaching team," Clark said.
"Again, he will be interested in where he can improve in 2024."
Dermody, incumbent assistants Dave Dillon and Tom Donnelly, and new assistant coach Kendrick Lynn are the only contracted coaches for 2024 at this stage.
English assistant coach Richard Whiffin has headed home, leaving skills coach Riki Flutey and mentor Chris Boyd as the only question marks.
The playing roster is set for something of a refresh with a combination of player departures and a wave of young talent coming through.
Aaron Smith, Shannon Frizell, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u and Scott Gregory have all announced they are heading overseas in 2024.
Clark also confirmed yesterday that veteran lock Josh Dickson, who did not play much in his final season as he dealt with his late brother’s illness, was heading to Japan and had played his last game for the Highlanders.
Rising star Fabian Holland is one contracted lock, and it seems likely Will Tucker will return, but the future of Pari Pari Parkinson and Max Hicks is unclear, so another option or two in the second row may be needed.
All three hookers — Andrew Makalio, Rhys Marshall and Leni Apisai — are coming off contract.
It would be a shock if all three were let go, though it is presumed rising Southlander Jack Taylor will get a contract, and there will be interest in the form of Otago rake Henry Bell when he returns from the United States.
Speculation that former Highlanders favourite Liam Coltman might come back early from France appears to be off the mark.
First five could be another fascinating position.
Cameron Millar is on contract but Mitch Hunt is coming off contract and Marty Banks has likely finished his Super Rugby career.
Clark declined to reveal exactly how many players the Highlanders had on contract.
"We are still working in that space and like all Super clubs won’t finalise our complete squad until after the NPC."
It will be interesting to see what of mix the Highlanders come up with from local talent, other NPC options, and even internationally, following the appearance of English first five Freddie Burns.
"We will consider all options, both locally and internationally," Clark said.
"We have some great local talent that we will look to incorporate in the next few seasons but we have also enjoyed benefits from bringing in foreign talent like Freddie, Kazuki Himeno and Martin Bogado."*
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Kereru-Symes... no thanks. He was meant to be the next big thing. If he was any good, he'd be with the Canes now. On the understanding that we have signed two young hookers, we'll either want an established player (Thompson) or an older player (Coltman). Kereru-Symes is neither of those two categories.
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Article says it won't be Coltman
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@friedrugby Kereru-Symes has been set back by injuries; he missed almost the entire 2021 season. That gave our third-ranked hooker Devery the chance to get a lot of game time (behind Ash Dixon) in 2021 and that's how he ended up at the Canes instead of KKS. The Canes didn't have anymore spots. There's no doubt he's better than Devery though. Possibly overtaken by Thompson, which is no surprise, but KKS has just been unlucky. As I said, the Highlanders signed Apisai, which is really ridiculous if someone like KKS is available.
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@Stargazer Apisai was a poor signing, but KKS wasn't the answer either. They should have signed Bell, the local player. We don't need another injury prone player lol.
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@SouthernMann Realise that. Coltman was an example, though I wouldn't write it off either, because Hayden Meikle never really seems to be on the pulse. This is the same outfit which claimed MMT was going to offer plenty in 2024, only for him to sign overseas the next day. I'm not saying Coltman will sign for the Landers - and I never did either, but I'm 99% confident he is not returning to Lyon next season.
That leaves three realistic options.
A) Takes up in a contract in Japan, and his family stays in NZ
He Signs for the Highlanders
C) He retires/only plays NPC -
I think it more inferred that Clark said he won't be back. I think the likely thing for a guy like Coltman is that he just retires.
I have no idea who our third hooker will be. Could be anyone, is an absolute lottery. Will likely be alongside Benn and Taylor though.
Some of the guys I'd be keen for us to chase are the lads who made the All Blacks XV who aren't regularly starting for other franchises.
It would have been Tyrone Thompson, but I would think he has probably already turned us down. Same with AJ Lam. I'd be keen to hear about the availability of Bailyn Sullivan, playing too much footy for Wainui for someone of his talent.
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@Stargazer what a waste. Should be playing underlights each week. Not in the Hutt Valley
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@SouthernMann The Canes will have a new head coach, next season. It will be interesting to see whether and how things change. Sullivan has been injured a lot in 2023, too.
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One positive, is that we might have snaffled the two of the best hookers on the market. The only two others who are potentially available are Thompson and Moananu. I'd guess one ends up at the Blues, and the other at the Chiefs, but I'd think we will also be in the running, unless they are happy with Bell and Taylor, and are looking for a more experienced option.
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Good news (maybe?), we can rule out Tuipulotu you'd think because Phoenix Karaka (his wife) has re-signed with the Mystics in the ANZ Premiership.
Leaves Hodgman, A. Ioane or Mark Telea... (or of course the rumour is horseshit, but what fun is there in that?!)
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@friedrugby said in Highlanders 2024:
Good news (maybe?), we can rule out Tuipulotu you'd think because Phoenix Karaka (his wife) has re-signed with the Mystics in the ANZ Premiership.
Leaves Hodgman, A. Ioane or Mark Telea... (or of course the rumour is horseshit, but what fun is there in that?!)
i thought someone confirmed talea had resigned with the Blues....i might be a pessimist.....but i just cant see us managing to lure a current first choice AB...somethign would have had to have gone very wrong in auckland
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@Kiwiwomble Haha, there is no way we sign Telea. I just add it in, because seriously, I'd rather we didn't sign A Ioane or Hodgman... I think it is entirely possible that we've signed a New Zealand XV player and there is a slight miscommunication. AJ Lam, sitting on the bench - the Chris Boyd link through his brother and we have tried to get him before.
