Highlanders 2024
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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
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@NateHill74 said in Blues 2023:
@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
Looks a bigger version of McDowall, who seemed like a small cannonball and whose size went against him.
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@SouthernMann I'd be intrigued to see them side by side. Funnily enough, Slades club side down here was Kaikorai and that's where Michaels has gone to. Anwyays, Slade was known to try and steam bowl players and wasn't too bad (ranfurly shield game vs Waikato 2018 for memory) Michaels is less of a contact ball carrier, likes to hit gaps but does run really strongly anyways
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Also (partially) posted in the Exodus thread:
According to this article on Stuff, Josh Dickson has signed with Steve Hansen's Toyota Verblitz. It hasn't been announced by the club, yet.
Josh Dickson has been announced as the latest signing for Toyota Verblitz in Japan, the club where Steve Hansen is a coaching consultant.
Pari Pari Parkinson, Will Tucker and Fabian Holland are the other specialist locks in the squad. Max Hicks was used at lock at times during Super Rugby Pacific, but the Highlanders have always regarded him as a No 6 in the longer term.
The Highlanders have an interest in young locks Reuben Palmer and Ale Aho, both of whom are in the Otago academy.
Palmer played for the Highlanders under-20s this year, and Aho made the shift from the Blues region after selection for the New Zealand under-19 side last year.
The pair have size and potential and stood out in the recent Otago internal trial, but realistically they are years away from the rigours of Super Rugby.
Quality big men are hard to find in New Zealand, with the Blues and Hurricanes forced to use No 6/lock hybrids this year, while the Highlanders moved Shannon Frizell into the engine room for the last part of the season.
The Chiefs and Crusaders look well stocked at lock despite the pending departures of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, but the other three New Zealand clubs could be competing for the same pool of players.
Dickson is expected to play for Otago in this year’s NPC before moving to Japan. -
I think we have no choice but to pick Max Hicks as a lock next year
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What do we reckon, a fullback or a winger?
