Highlanders 2024
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2024:
The Blues have just listed off a bunch of players who are leaving... notably, no Akira Ioane & Mark Telea. Alex Hodgman however is now confirmed as departing, though the comments seemed to think he was going to Japan. Surely we haven't actually signed Akira Ioane. Cannot see why we would want him, and more importantly, why he would want to come here. Steve is generally pretty accurate, but having a hard time believing this rumour is true.
i would guess...IF we have got AI...and i dont think we have...we would want him simply because we're losing frizell, and the management is thinking "senior 6 out the door? better get one in"
I'm not his biggest fan...this would feel very nonu like vibe wise and im not sure how well he would work in dunners...but you never know
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@Bones You keep saying this, but I never said Frizell has been good this year. He was garbage aside from a stretch at lock. I guess if the choice was between Hugh Renton and Akira Ioane (I think that is what it would be) then I could potentially have my arm twisted. But there is more to this than just rugby. Why is he coming? How will it work off the field? Is it all to do with money? It just seems like a sticking plaster, for a guy who has been in and out of the All Blacks because he is inconsistent. Entirely possible he never plays for the ABs again. Reckon the new regime (including Ryan) will give him far less scope.
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@Kiwiwomble I think Haig is the Frizell replacement though, which is why they got it locked in early. Harmon, Withy, Broughton and in theory Renton will be the most used loosies next year... which is why I lean towards it more being instead of Renton, which could be why he has not be re-signed publicly. Perhaps Broughton was signed in the knowledge MMT might look off-shore, so was done a year early. There is plenty of planning done...
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Tangitau from the Blues is my big interest point. If he isn't going to the 7s, I want our grubby mits on him.
However, centre is still a massive problem for us next season.
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how old is haig? he's not a straight up replacement for a 25 cap all black in frizell, long term maybe.
i say again....i dont think we have AI...but if we have then i guess i can see why they would take the oportunity to bring him in, even if that wasn't always the plan
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@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2024:
how old is haig? he's not a straight up replacement for a 25 cap all black in frizell, long term maybe.
i say again....i dont think we have RI...but if we have then i guess i can see why they would take the oportunity to bring him in, even if that wasn't always the plan
Haig would be mid 190s I'd say and probably about 110. That'd be a guess, He can play lock as well.
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@Kiwiwomble I'm not saying Haig is a direct replacement, but I'm saying it is more likely that Broughton takes on more game-time... and to add to that, Haig has been in the system for a couple of years, so will be ready for gametime, even if he isn't a first choice. He has big, big potential, so I doubt they'd want to block the path. When you consider we also have Stodart also still potentially to add to this battery of loose forwards, I don't think Akira Ioane is someone they'd target. I hate to say it, but Hodgman is probably most likely, though I also think that the rumour could just be crap.
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The ceilings of Stodart, Withy, Haig and Michaels are all quite high.
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@SouthernMann I need to see more of Stodart, and I don't think Michaels has world-beater potential, but Haig and Withy could easily be All Blacks at the next World Cup.
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@Kiwiwomble blues media announced all players leaving Barrett,RTS,Plumtree,Tucker, Laulala,JKR,Caleb Tangitau (7s),Hodgman (France)
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Where is Plumtree going? His career has completely stalled, but there is talk of him going overseas?
@Kiwiwomble that post is in the blues thread.
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@SouthernMann Yeah. Hayden is a strong running loosie. Pretty big unit for a 7. Similar to Slade McDowall if you remember him. Good over the ball. He's a Southlander as you said and been in the Landers 20s side the last 2 years with an academy spot for landers. He's contracted for Highlanders in 2024 and I think 2025
